A spirited second half performance wasn’t enough to save Moynalvey from the dreaded drop as they lost out to Skryne by four points in this Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship Relegation Final played at Walterstown on Sunday morning October 8th.
Moynalvey 0-11
Skryne 1-12
Moynalvey’s twelve-year stint in the senior grade came to an end against the longest serving club in the top tier of Meath football in this relegation final.
Such is the competitive cut throat nature of the Meath Senior Championship, having been quarter finalists last year and picking up three points in the group stages this year Moynalvey still found themselves in relegation trouble come the conclusion of this year’s group stages.
Having been down so many personnel through emigration and injury, staying senior this year was always going to be a tough task from the outset, yesterday that fear became a reality as a four point loss to Mick O’Dowd’s Skryne side sees the men in maroon fall back to the Intermediate ranks for the first time since 2011.
Moynalvey’s trait of starting slowly and giving teams a head start in this year’s championship came to the fore here again, falling five points behind at half time and seven behind within six minutes of the second half, leaving them a huge mountain to climb.
It was Moynalvey who opened the scoring with a David McLoughlin point from play after thirty seconds to lead for the only time, that was as good as it got for Moynalvey in the opening period.
Three points from Conor O’Brien, John Finnerty and Oisin Keogh put the Skryne men 0-3 to 0-1 ahead with four minutes played.
Moynalvey’s top scorer Cillian O’Sullivan opened his account in the 8th minute, but Skryne responded with a Conor O’Brien point who became a constant thorn for the Moynalvey defence in the first half.
Three Ian Davis frees extended Skryne’s advantage out to five points, 0-7 to 0-2 with five minutes of the half remaining.
O’Sullivan and Davis traded scores to leave the Tara men five points ahead at half time, 0-8 to 0-3.
Darragh Campion and David McLoughlin traded points early in the second half, with another brace of Skryne points from Conor O’Brien and John Finnerty pushing Skryne’s advantage out to seven points, 0-11 to 0-4.
But then the Moynalvey fight back commenced, dominating the game from here on and putting the Skryne men completely on the backfoot and in the process outscoring their opponents six points to no score between the 40th and 54th minutes to narrow the deficit to just a point with six minutes of normal time remaining.
The half time introduction of Donal Smith to the middle third gave Moynalvey the platform to take control of the midfield battle and dominate possession in the second half.
As he has done so often in the past it was that man Cillian O’Sullivan who led the fight back on the scoring front for Moynalvey, accounting for five of his side’s second half points.
Moynalvey’s only other scorer David McLoughlin added three second half points.
With momentum completely with Moynalvey in the second half, a defensive error led to Padraig Finnerty’s goal in the 55th minute which essentially put an end to the Moynalvey fightback.
There was still plenty of additional time due to stoppages but despite Moynalvey’s second half rally they couldn’t reel their opponents in and it’s Skryne who continue their tenure in the senior ranks for another year, while Moynalvey drop to the Intermediate ranks.
Huge thanks for Caoimhin King and his management and all the players for their commitment throughout the year, it’s the Intermediate ranks it is for Moynalvey in 2024 where they will look to bounce back at the first time of asking. 
Finally, thanks to Walterstown for the match day hospitality, excellent pitch and facilities; with printed and digital scoreboard programmes, ample stewarding and parking for the large crowd that attended this game.
Best for the losers here were David Reilly, Brian Harnan, Mark O’Sullivan, Donal Smith, Padraic Harnan, Vinny Walsh and Cillian O’Sullivan.
Moynalvey team and scorers:
Conor Egan, David Reilly, Fearghal McCabe, Craig Gilsenan, Darragh Branigan, Mark O’Sullivan, Brian Harnan, Stephen Donoghue, Padraic Harnan, Darren Brennan, Cillian O’Sullivan (0-7, 1f), Conor Shirren, Vinny Walsh, Michael Brady, David McLoughlin (0-4, 2f).
Subs used: William Harnan for Brady, Donal Smith for Shirren, Conor Quinn for Branigan, James Kelly for McCabe.
