Moynalvey’s long journey to Pilltown proved to be in vein as they left Pairc Ui Ris Piltown empty handed with the home side running out three point winners on a 1-13 to 1-10 score line in this Div. 2 A League round 8 encounter played on Tuesday evening 2nd June.
St. Colmcilles 1-13 Moynalvey 1-10
St. Colmcilles maintained their push for promotion securing their fifth win of the campaign, with their opponents rooted in a relegation position at the foot of the Div. 2 table following their sixth defeat from eight outings.
Playing with the breeze at their backs it was visitors Moynalvey who looked to take control of the game early on, holding a 1-4 to 0-1 lead on the quarter hour mark. It was St. Colmcilles’ wing half back Cathal Hilliard who opened the scoring after 40 seconds, sending over the first of his three first half points. Moynalvey opened their account in the 3rd minute when a Dan Treacy ball played Ciaran Ennis through to fist over when perhaps there was a sniff of a goal chance. Sixty seconds later a goal chance did come Moynalvey’s way when full forward Shane Lenehan saw his effort saved by Cilles’ net minder Keith Magill.
A William Harnan point in the 5th minute was followed two minutes later by the game’s first goal when quick hands from Donal Smith set up James Weldon who blasted to the back of St. Colmcilles’ net leaving it 1-2 to 0-1. Moynalvey midfielder Stephen Donoghue split the uprights from the left hand side off his weaker left foot in the 10th minute and five minutes later Ciaran Ennis extended the visitors advantage when sending over the first of his five frees.
The tide then turned in favour of the home side as they registered 1-6 without reply between the 16th and 28th minutes. Moynalvey centre half forward Dan Treacy sent over the final score of the opening period in the 29th minute leaving it 1-7 to 1-5 in favour of the Cilles at half time.
Three minutes after the restart St. Colmcilles’ midfielder Joe Sweeney pointed to extend their advantage to three. Ennis landed his second free of the evening in the 38th minute when half time substitute James O’Neill was fouled in possession and two minute later another Ennis free had just the minimum between the sides, this time after wing back Anthony Forde was fouled on one of his many second half rampages forward, leaving it 1-8 to 1-7.
St. Colmcilles’ James Conlon put two between the sides again in the 41st minute, but another Ennis free after Forde was once again hauled down and an excellent point from Forde himself on the three quarter hour mark had the side’s level for just the second time, 1-9 apiece.
Three St. Colmcilles’ points from Hilliard, Conlon and Damien Beakey left three between them once again after 54 minutes of play. An Ennis free in the 56th minute proved to be Moynalvey’s only score of the final quarter. St. Colmcilles’ midfielder Joe Sweeney sent over his second and the game’s final score with two minutes remaining leaving the East Meath side three point winners on a 1-13 to 1-10 score line.
Moynalvey: Ray Ryan, Robbie Kiernan, Darren Brennan, Darragh Branigan, Anthony Forde (0-1), David Donoghue, Eamonn Walsh, Donal Smith, Stephen Donoghue (0-1), James Weldon (1-0), Dan Treacy (0-1), Fearghal McCabe, Ciaran Ennis (0-6, 5f), Shane Lenehan, William Harnan (0-1).
Subs: James O’Neill for McCabe, Anthony Brien for D. Donoghue, Sean Duggan for Treacy.
