St. Michaels got the better of Moynalvey by two points in this JM Food Services Division 2 League on a 0-13 to 0-11 score line in this round four game played at Deerpark on Saturday evening 13th April.
St. Michaels 0-13
Moynalvey 0-11
With Moynalvey pitch still being unplayable after the deluge of rain over the past few weeks, home advantage was conceded and with St. Michaels’ home pitch also being unplayable the game was moved to St. Michaels’ alternative Deerpark venue. Credit to the Deerpark pitch, it was in great condition considering the recent incessant rain.
It was the North Meath side who got the better of their South Meath opponents to move themselves up the Div. 2 League table, while Moynalvey remain firmly rooted to the bottom of the table as the only team yet to pick up a point.
With the game played in a swirling wind, scores from play were at premium with six of the ten first half scores coming from frees.
It was Michaels who opened the scoring with corner forward Cian McFadden pointing two frees for the game’s first two scores.
Moynalvey responded in the ninth minute with a Michael Brady free and five minutes later the sides were level, 0-2 apiece, this time Vinny Walsh converting a free, the first of his seven points for the evening.
The host side then hit three points in a row, the first a sweetly struck effort off the outside of the boot from centre back Matthew Halpin, followed up by another pair of McFadden frees to leave it 0-5 to 0-2 after nineteen minutes.
Assisted by the wind at his back Michael Brady fired over a free from distance, with Darragh Branigan following up with a point from play in the 28th minute to leave the minimum between the sides, 0-5 to 0-4.
St. Michael’s corner back Brian O’Reilly had the final say of the half as his point left St. Michaels’ two points up when referee Kieran Smith blew the half time whistle, 0-6 to 0-4.
Half Time Score:
St. Michaels 0-6
Moynalvey 0-4
Having missed several guilt edge opportunities in the opening half including a couple of goal chances, whatever Caoimhin King said to his side when they re-grouped at half time had the desired effect. Moynalvey came out and hit the first four scores of the second half to reverse that two point half time deficit into a two point lead, all four points coming from the boot of Vinny Walsh, three frees and one from play to leave it 0-8 to 0-6 to the men in maroon.
A Daniel Murphy point for the Micks’ briefly interrupted Moynalvey’s third quarter dominance, with another pair of Moynalvey points from Vinny Walsh and Mark O’Sullivan leaving the visitors three points to the good at the three quarter hour mark, 0-10 to 0-7.
St. Michaels’ then hit their own purple patch of scoring with four points without reply giving them a one point lead with nine minutes remaining, 0-11 to 0-10.
Vinny Walsh’s fifth free of the evening levelled matters again, 0-11 apiece, with four minutes remaining.
A combination of Moynalvey being guilty of not taking another couple of second half goal chances and some brilliant saves from the Micks’ goalkeeper Conor Gilsenan meant St. Michaels’ held on and two Gearóid O’Malley points rounded off their two point win, their first of the Div. 2 league campaign on a 0-13 to 0-11 score line.
Next up for Moynalvey is a trip to Moynalvey next Thursday evening to Duleek/Bellewstown.
Moynalvey Team & Scorers:
Conor Egan, Cillian Kelly, Cathal McCabe, Luke O’Halloran, Conor Quinn, Michael Brady (0-2, 2f), Darragh Branigan (0-1), Eoin Corrigan, Padraic Harnan, Donal Smith, Vinny Walsh (0-7, 5f), Barry Walsh, Kyle O’Malley, Mark O’Sullivan (0-1), Fearghal McCabe.
Subs: Aidan Gilsenan for O’Malley, Patrick Roddy, Ronan Thomspon.
