Moynalvey claimed the two points on offer in this round 7 game of the Div. 3 B League when defeating visitors Ratoath on a 1-13 to 0-13 score line at Kilmore Park on Wednesday evening July 1st.
Moynalvey 1-13 Ratoath 0-13
An under strength Moynalvey side minus ‘thunderstruck’ Brian Conneely & Barry O’Keeffe picked up their third win of the 2015 B League when inflicting a second defeat on Ratoath who heading into this game were top of the Division 3 table. Trailing from the off it was home side who pushed on from taking the lead for the first time in the 41st minute finishing the stronger of the two sides, with a total of eight different players scoring throughout the 60 odd minutes.
The first two scores of the game came in the opening four minutes from Ratoath full forward Frank Coyne. A brace of Moynalvey points, the first from young exciting talent Sean Duggan following good play out the field by the robust Eamonn Walsh and the second from a Ciaran Ennis ’45 had the side’s level 0-2 apiece after 12 minutes. Ratoath regained their two point advantage following points in the 15th and 16th minutes with an effort from play and a converted free. Moynalvey’s William Harnan split the uprights in the 18th minute, reducing the deficit to the minimum.
Two Ratoath points within sixty seconds of each other, the first a Coyne free and the second an effort from play saw three points between the sides, 0-6 to 0-3 after 20 minutes. Moynalvey points from midfielder Eamonn Walsh & Shaun Deering following neat interplay with Kerry man James O’Neill, with a Frank Coyne free sandwiched in between left two between the sides with four minutes of the first half remaining.
Ratoath’s Enda Cahill pointed in the 27th minute before Moynalvey’s supple Ciaran Collins and Ratoath’s Coyne traded scores prior to the half time whistle, leaving three between the sides at the interval, 0-9 to 0-6 in favour of the visitors. Upon the resumption a determined Moynalvey hit three points on the trot within five minutes of the restart, drawing the side’s level for just a second time. Half time substitute Fearghal McCabe slotted over the first after being played through by Sean Duggan, whose performance will surely be relayed to Barry O’Keefe. Further points from James O’Neill and Ciaran Ennis left it 0-9 apiece.
Moynalvey took the lead for the first time in the 41st minute with a free from the elusive and aerodynamic Ciaran Ennis, but the lead was short lived as a minute later Ratoath levelled. Eamonn Walsh fired over his second point of the evening on the three quarter mark handing the advantage back to Moynalvey again, one they weren’t to relinquish.
The game’s only goal arrived in the 47th minute when the gentle hands of William and Brian Harnan set up Fearghal McCabe for a goal chance, McCabe not lacking in confidence made no mistake firing low past Ratoath net minder Eoin Doody leaving four between the sides, the most there was between the sides at any stage during this tightly contested affair.
A Frank Coyne free and a point from play by Mark Daly in the 49th and 51st minutes had Ratoath back to within two of their hosts, 1-11 to 0-12. An Ennis free from 50 yards out was helped over the black spot by Ratoath hands to leave jus the goal between the sides after 53 minutes of play. Both sides added a point to their tally in the final five minutes; Moynalvey’s a close range effort by James O’Neill after the ball was scooped back to him by William Harnan, while Ratoath’s effort was another Frank Coyne free.
Ratoath tried in vein to grab that elusive goal in the remaining five minutes but an excellent save by Moynalvey ‘keeper Paul Conneely, yes you read that correctly, in the dying minutes saw him and Moynalvey keep their clean sheet in tact, leaving the goal between the sides at the full time whistle, 1-13 to 0-13 in favour of Moynalvey.
Best for the winners were the former Aussie Rules star Robbie Kiernan, Brian Harnan, Eamonn Walsh, Ciaran Ennis, and game changing sub David Durkan.
Moynalvey: Paul Conneely, Robbie Kiernan, David Kane, Eoghan Mitchell, Shane Browne, Anthony Brien, Paul Weldon, Brian Harnan, Eamonn Walsh (0-2), William Harnan (0-1), Ciaran Ennis (0-4, 2f & 45), Sean Duggan (0-1), James O’Neill (0-2), Ciaran Collins (0-1), Shaun Deering (0-1).
Subs: Fearghal McCabe (1-1) for Mitchell, David Durkan for Browne, Gary Crowley for Deering.
