An under strength Moynalvey side lost out to St. Michaels’ in the quarter final of the U-21 ‘A’ football championship by a 10 point margin at Simonstown on Sunday afternoon November 3rd.
Moynalvey 1-6 St. Michaels 2-13
Moynalvey fielding without a number of players including the 2011 and 2012 Meath young footballers of the year lost out to a far a slicker and more superior St.Michaels outfit in their first outing of the 2013 U-21 ‘A’ championship. Right from the off St. Michaels were in control of this game, opening up a 0-5 to 0-00 lead after a quarter of an hour play. Moynalvey’s first score arrived in the 16th minute when Fearghal McCabe found the back of the Michaels’ net to narrow the deficit to two points. Three minutes later McCabe registered his second score of the game following a surging run from centre field from county player Padraic Harnan, leaving the minimum between the sides. However this was as close as Moynalvey got to their opponents throughout the game. A converted free from Michaels in the 21st minute put two between the sides again, before a James Reilly free for Moynalvey in the 27th minute left just a single point between the sides. A goal from St. Michaels midfielder in the 29th minute left four between the sides at the break, although Moynalvey may have found themselves unfortunate to be behind at the interval as a string of excellent saves from the St. Michaels ‘keeper made sure they held the advantage at half time on a 1-6 to 1-2 score line.
Three minutes after the restart a James Kelly free for Moynalvey reduced the deficit to three points. Two quick fire points from Michaels left five points between the sides after 38 minutes of play, 1-8 to 1-3. James Reilly’s second point of the afternoon left four between the sides, before another brace from the Michaels left six between the sides on the three quarter hour mark. A Willie Harnan goal attempt was once again expertly saved by the Michaels goalkeeper, with the ball rebounding over the bar off a Moynalvey player. On a rare occasion that the Michaels ‘keeper was beaten; Padraic Harnan’s goal bound effort unluckily shaved the outside of the post in the 51st minute. A point apiece within sixty seconds left five between the sides, 1-11 to 1-6, with just five minutes remaining. A late scoring flourish from the Michaels left them running out 10 point winners on a 2-13 to 1-6 score line.
Moynalvey: C. O’Malley, D. Branigan, S. Browne, J. Munnelly, B. Harnan, J. Reilly (0-2), P. Harnan, D. Brennan, J. Kelly (0-2), S. Dunlevy, F. McCabe (1-1), W. Harnan, S. Deering. Subs: D. McLoughlin for Deering, C. Gorman (0-1) for Dunlevy, T. Mahady for McCabe.
