Moynalvey picked up their third win of the Division 3 A League campaign with a well deserved 1-14 to 2-9 victory over Na Fianna at Kilmore Park Moynalvey on Tuesday evening May 31st.
Moynalvey 1-14 Na Fianna 2-9
Moynalvey took control of proceedings from an early stage racing into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead after 18 minutes with five of the six starting forwards and midfielder Dan Treacy hitting the target during this period. Four minutes later Na Fianna raised the first green flag of the evening reducing the deficit to two points. Centre half back Barry O’Keefe got forward to hit the home side’s seventh point of the evening in response to a Na Fianna effort. In the 29th minute good interlink play between James Weldon and Ray Ryan resulted in Ryan unselfishly passing across the goal to Ciaran Collins who punched home to the back of the net. A converted free from Ryan in injury time of the first period provided the platform for a six point half time lead for the men in maroon and white on a score line of 1-8 to 1-2.
After the interval Moynalvey began as they had finished the opening period when another Ryan free in the 4th minute extended their lead to seven points. However Na Fianna pounced within sixty seconds to find the back of the net for a second time. Midway through the half the Enfield/Baconstown outfit had narrowed the margin to two points. Another Ryan free after substitute Willie Byrne was fouled brought the difference between the sides back to three points. With four minutes remaining Na Fianna had reduced the deficit to a solitary point on a 1-12 to 2-8 score line. An inspirational score from the right hand touchline from captain John Donoghue along with another Ryan placed ball pushed Moynalvey back into a three point advantage. Heroic defending from Moynalvey in the final few minutes of normal time denied Na Fianna finding the net for a third time. The visitors looked to have snatched victory from under the home side’s noses when a penalty was awarded in injury time. However the spot kick was sent wide of the post and Moynalvey held on for a well deserved two point victory.
Best for Moynalvey were Barry O’Keefe, John Donoghue and Willie Byrne
Moynalvey: G. Drum, R. Kiernan, P. Weldon, P. Donoghue, D. Donoghue, B. O’Keefe (0-1), W. Mahady, D. Treacy (0-1), S. Donoghue, R. Ryan (0-7), J. Donoghue (0-1), J. Weldon (0-1), C. O’Sullivan (0-1), C. Collins (1-1), K. Hyland (0-1). Subs: W. Byrne for Hyland, O. Regan for Drum.
