A late second half rally wasn’t enough for visitors Ratoath who went down to Moynalvey on a 3-13 to 2-10 score line in round 10 of the All County Division 2 A League at Kilmore Park Moynalvey on Tuesday night July 15th.
Moynalvey 3-13 Ratoath 2-10
With both sides missing regular starters, it was Moynalvey who collected the two points on offer and in the process leap frog their opponents in the league table, maintaining a push for promotion.
Ratoath started the game the better of the two sides, opening up a two point advantage after five minutes, with both scores coming from their wing forward Conor Rooney. The visitors lead could have been extended further in the 6th minute, only for Moynalvey net minder Ray Ryan pulling off a fine save to deny a Ratoath goal. The sides were level, 0-2 apiece, after nine minutes after two consecutive frees were converted by Moynalvey full forward James Weldon in the 7th and 9th minutes respectively. Moynalvey took the lead for the first time in the 13th minute when John Donoghue sent over with a left footed effort; sixty seconds later Moynalvey’s lead was doubled when the same player pointed again, this time with the right foot from the right wing. Moynalvey corner forward Ciaran Ennis opened his account for the evening in the 16th minute when clipping over a fine point, extending Moynalvey’s advantage to three. Ratoath centre forward Cian O’Brien registered Ratoath’s third point in the 18th minute, but Moynalvey’s three point advantage was restored two minutes later when Daniel Treacy pointed. Two minutes later, referee Ciaran Flynn pointed to the penalty spot after Shane Lenehan was fouled, James Weldon stepped forward to take the resulting penalty only to see his effort well saved by Ratoath goalkeeper Andrew Smith. Good interplay from the two Conneely brothers resulted in Shane Lenehan sending over Moynalvey’s 7th point in the 24th minute. A brace of Ratoath points narrowed the deficit to two, 0-7 to 0-5, but further Moynalvey points from a James Weldon free and Darren Brennan handed the home side a four point interval advantage on a 0-9 to 0-5 score line.
Moynalvey got off to the perfect start they wanted in the second half when a surging run forward from Darren Brennan set up Ciaran Ennis for a goal chance, who expertly dispatched low to the back of the Ratoath net. Ten minutes into the second period Shane Lenehan sent over his second point of the game, leaving Moynalvey ahead 1-10 to 0-5. The visitors hit three points on the trot in the 41st, 45th and 46th minutes courtesy of Conor Rooney and Cian O’Brien (2), leaving five between the sides at the three quarter hour mark. Two Ciaran Ennis frees and a converted penalty from John Donoghue after Darren Brennan was hauled down on another one of his bursts forward handed Moynalvey a commanding ten point lead with 8 minutes remaining on the clock. A late Ratoath rally yielded 1-3, with the goal arriving from the games third penalty. With a minute of normal time remaining only a kick of the ball separated the two teams, 2-13 to 2-10. Following his two earlier assists for the penalty and Ciaran Ennis’ goal, man of the match Darren Brennan rounded off a fine individual performance when scoring Moynalvey’s third goal in the 61st minute, leaving them six point victors on a 3-13 to 2-10 score line.
Best for the winners were: Darragh Branigan, Darren Brennan, John Donoghue, Shane Lenehan, James Weldon and Ciaran Ennis.
Moynalvey: Ray Ryan, Anthony Brien, Paul Weldon, Darragh Branigan, Darren Brennan (1-1), Brian Harnan, David Donoghue, Stephen Donoghue, Brian Conneely, Daniel Treacy (0-1), John Donoghue (1-2), Paul Conneely, Shane Lenehan (0-3), James Weldon (0-3), Ciaran Ennis (1-3).
Subs used: Luke Duffy for J. Weldon, Ollie Regan for Ryan, Ray Ryan for Ennis.
