Moynalvey turned the tables on Blackfort Gaels from their group game result in this Division 3 Minor Football League semi-final played in Dunganny on Tuesday, August 11th.
Moynalvey 3 – 6 Blackfort Gaels 0 – 8
The winning margin flatters Moynalvey who needed a strong second half display to see off the Kilmainhamwood/St. Michael’s combination and qualify to meet St. Ciaran’s in the final.
The first half was a cagey affair with Blackfort dominating possession for the majority and but for a string of wides would have enjoyed superiority. Phelim Cunningham, who was accurate from placed balls all evening, opened the scoring for the south Meath men with a free which was responded to in kind by Blackfort. Mark O’Sullivan then showed his class by picking up a loose ball and running 30m before blasting to the net to give Moynalvey a lead the would never lose. Blackfort then took control for the remainder of the half with Moynalvey’s only response to incessent pressure a Cunningham free. The north Meath men failed to make their dominance count on the scoreboard though and could have been punished further when Cunningham released O’Sullivan who was unlucky to see his pile-driver crash off the crossbar. Moynalvey led 1 – 2 to 0 – 4 at the break.
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Moynalvey started the second half a different team. The switch of William Mahady and Sean Carroll was particularly effective as both gave outstanding second half displays. Two points from Cunningham and a long range effort from O’Sullivan gave Moynalvey a cushion before Blackfort got off the mark for the half. In a five minute spell midway through the half Moynalvey ended the game as a contest. First O’Sullivan released Shane McGann who had plenty to do before finishing expertly to to bottom corner and minutes later Darren Brennan collected a kick out before playing a neat one-two with O’Sullivan and again released McGann who finished well to the other corner.
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Blackfort rallied and were unlucky to see a penalty come back off the post as well a shot from open play. O’Sullivan capped a fine display with a point as Moynalvey qualified for a second minor final in 3 years.
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Moynalvey – Gavin Byrne, Shane Browne, Sean Carroll, Sean Burke, William Mahady, Darren Brennan, William Harnan, Mark Munnelly, Padraig Kelly, Mark O’Sullivan (1 – 2), Nicky Madden, Phelim Cunningham (0 – 4), Shane McGann (2 – 0). Subs: Sean Egan for Madden, Anthony Ford for Harnan, Cathal McCabe, Sean Dunleavy, David Reilly.
