Moynalvey recorded a nine point win over Syddan in this final round game of the J.M Food Services Div. 2 football league played at Kilmore Park Moynalvey on Saturday evening 6th July.
𝗠𝗼𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝟮-𝟭𝟰
𝗦𝘆𝗱𝗱𝗮𝗻 𝟭-𝟬𝟴
Heading into this final round game bottom side Syddan knew they would definitely be in the relegation semi-finals, while Moynalvey pretty much knew the same faith despite a slim outside chance of escaping, however as the results panned out yesterday evening it will now be Moynalvey and Syddan who face off against each other in one relegation semi-final, while Duleek-Bellewstown will face Walterstown in the other.
Despite being competitive in the majority of the eleven games and unlucky not to pick up a couple of more points along the way, it’s a case of too little too late for Moynalvey as having picked up their third win in a row and seven points from a possible eight in their last four games they finish up fourth from bottom and into the relegation semi-finals.
From the start it was Moynalvey who took control and dominated possession for most parts of the game especially in the first half and but for some wayward finishing they could have been further ahead at half time.
It was David McLoughlin who opened the game’s scoring in the third minute from a free and a brace of Cillian O’Sullivan advanced marks put the home side three points to no score up after five minutes.
A pair of McLoughlin points, the first a free and the second a brilliantly struck ’45 into the wind left it 0-5 to 0-0 in favour of the men in maroon with thirteen minutes played.
Midway through the half talisman Daire Rowe opened Syddan’s scoring.
Barry Walsh replied for the home side before a pair of Syddan points left it a double scores game, 0-6 to 0-3, with twenty five minutes played.
Moynalvey rounded off the first half scoring with points from David McLoughlin and Vinny Walsh to leave it 0-8 to 0-3 when referee Liam Reddy blew his whistle for half time.
𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲:
𝗠𝗼𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝟬-𝟴
𝗦𝘆𝗱𝗱𝗮𝗻 𝟬-𝟯
Syddan accounted for the first score of the second half with a Ryan Summersby point to make it double scores again, 0-8 to 0-4.
The game’s first goal came via the penalty spot when Cillian O’Sullivan was bundled over when about to shoot at close range, O’Sullivan dusted himself off to dispatch the spot kick to the net, making it 1-8 to 0-4 five minutes into the second half.
A pair of Syddan points were countered by Moynalvey points from Cillian O’Sullivan and David McLoughlin, with another Syddan point leaving six between the sides at the three quarter hour mark, 1-10 to 0-7.
Points from O’Sullivan and McLoughlin extended Moynalvey’s advantage out to eight, but a quick free caught Moynalvey off guard and Cormac Rowe netted for Syddan to leave five between the sides with ten minutes remaining, 1-12 to 1-7.
A second Moynalvey goal two minutes later from substitute David Reilly put the game to bed as Moynalvey’s advantage now stood at eight points with eight minutes remaining, 2-12 to 1-7.
Syddan did add another point to their tally, but late points from David McLoughlin and Vinny Walsh rounded off the game’s scoring to secure the nine point win for Caoimhin King’s men on a full time score of 2-14 to 1-8.
The sides will now meet again in the relegation semi-final to see who survives in Div. 2 and who goes down to Div. 3 next year.
Best for Moynalvey here were Paul Corcoran, Darragh Branigan, Cathal McCabe, Ciaran Harnan and top scorers Cillian O’Sullivan and David McLoughlin.
𝗠𝗼𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 & 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀:
Paul Brennan, Darragh Branigan, Cathal McCabe, Keelan Taylor, Darren Brennan, Michael Brady, Ciaran Harnan, Padraic Harnan, Stephen Donoghue, Barry Walsh (0-1), Mark O’Sullivan, Vinny Walsh (0-2), David McLoughlin (0-7, 4f), Cillian O’Sullivan (1-4, 1p & 2f), Fearghal McCabe.
𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱:
David Reilly (1-0) for Taylor, Luke O’Halloran for M. O’Sullivan, Luke Duffy for B. Walsh, Cillian Kelly for Branigan, Ronan Thompson for Donoghue, Charlie Benson for F. McCabe, Patrick Roddy for C. McCabe.
