Moynalvey opened their 2010 A league account when defeating Meath Hill in torrential rain in Moynalvey on Thursday evening May 13th.
Moynalvey 1-14 Meath Hill 1-9
The visitors started the game in determined fashion firing over a hat trick of points in the opening minutes, with Moynalvey responding through a Mark O’Sullivan free. Moynalvey levelled matters in the 10th minute with an O’Sullivan free and a John Donoghue effort. The sides traded free kicks in the 13th minute with O’Sullivan once again converting after Anthony Brien had won the free kick. Midway through the half Meath Hill struck the net to raise the first green flag of the evening. Five minutes later Moynalvey levelled matters up again with a point from Daniel Treacy, an O’Sullivan free and a smart piece of opportunism from Ray Ryan resulted in him volleying over the bar after the keeper spilled the ball in the greasy conditions. O’Sullivan was in inspirational form splitting the posts with a mammoth score in the 22nd minute before adding a goal to his first half tally of five points three minutes later, leaving the half time score reading 1-8 to 1-5 in favour of the home side.
The second half resumed in similar fashion with another O’Sullivan point. Willie Byrne maintained the three point margin between the sides when slotting over in response to a Meath Hill free in the 36th minute. Further scores from Ray Ryan and an effort from Byrne from a seemingly impossible angle near the end line gave Moynalvey a four point advantage with eight minutes remaining. However 60 seconds later Moynalvey were caught napping as Meath Hill almost sneaked in for a second goal, only to see the maroon and white shirt of David Durkan clearing off the goal line. Meath Hill did close the deficit to three points in the 56th minute, however resolute defending from the Moynalvey full back line in the final minutes meant Meath Hill could not reel the home side in. Two further security points deep into injury time from Byrne & substitute Ciaran Collins gave Moynalvey a long overdue win on a score line of 1-14 to 1-9.
Team & scorers: O. Regan, R. Kiernan, P. Weldon, D. Kane, D. Durkan, D. Smith, B. Dixon, J. Donoghue (0-1), D. Treacy (0-1), A. Brien, M. O’Sullivan (1-6), R. Ryan (0-2), B. Gilsenan, W. Byrne (0-3), A. Donnelly. Subs: R. Quinlan for Brien, C. Collins (0-1) for Gilsenan.
