Moynalvey preserved their senior status for 2022 at the first time of asking with an eight point win over Navan O’Mahonys in the first of the Relegation Quarter Finals played at Trim on Sunday afternoon 26th September.
Moynalvey 1-15
Navan O’Mahonys 1-7
While neither club would have liked to be involved in the relegation playoffs it was John Donoghue’s Moynalvey side who won’t have to worry any further about relegation with their year now wrapped up, while Davy Nelson’s O’Mahonys side will now play the losers of Skryne and Curraha in their relegation semi-final.
For the most part of this game little separated the sides at any one stage until the final quarter, although Moynalvey’s failure to convert first half goal chances played a huge part in this.
Moynalvey were first to trouble the score keeper when captain Mark O’Sullivan sent over a free from distance. However, Moynalvey’s lead was cancelled out two minutes later when a superb solo run from midfield saw Aodhán Mallon fire to the back of the Moynalvey net for the game’s first goal and O’Mahonys first score.
A brace of Moynalvey points from Sean Duggan and Cillian O’Sullivan had the sides level for the first time with seven minutes played. Another Mark O’Sullivan free put Moynalvey a point up at the first half water break, 0-4 to 1-0.
O’Mahonys Jake Regan levelled matters again with a brilliantly struck ’45 in the 21st minute and three minutes later the same player put his side in front again, this time with a free.
A pair of Cillian O’Sullivan frees saw the men in maroon and white lead by the minimum at the half time break, 0-6 to 1-2.
Two minutes after the restart O’Mahonys Eoin Joyce levelled matters for a third time. Moynalvey replied with three points from the O’Sullivan brothers, Mark (2) and Cillian to extend their lead to three points.
However, three O’Mahonys points in a row had the sides level for a fourth time 12 minutes into the second half, 0-9 to 1-6.
Points from David Reilly and substitute Brian O’Reilly gave Moynalvey a two point advantage at the second half water break, 0-11 to 1-6.
Cillian O’Sullivan extended Moynalvey’s advantage out to three points again with Brian O’Hanlon responding for the Navan side with what would prove to be their last score of the game in the 53rd minute.
O’Mahonys failed to cope with the direct running of Moynalvey in the final 10 minutes or so which yielded 1-3 without reply, the goal an opportune one after Stephen Donoghue fielded and buried from close range after a scuffed David McLoughlin point attempt fell short, with the points from Cillian O’Sullivan (2) and McLoughlin to put that extra bit of gloss on the full time score board, 1-15 to 1-7.
Best for Moynalvey were defenders Conor Harnan, Darren Brennan, Fearghal McCabe and David Reilly who apart from the goal limited O’Mahonys to just two points from play, while Padraic Harnan drove the team forward from centre field and the ever energetic Cillian O’Sullivan led the forward line ably assisted by his brother Mark accounting for 11 points between them.
Although the year is over for Moynalvey, we wish all our dual players involved with Kiltale and David Reilly involved with Drumree all the best for the Senior and Intermediate Hurling Championships for the remainder of the year.
Moynalvey:
Chris O’Malley, Darren Brennan, Conor Harnan, Cathal McCabe, Conor Shirren, Fearghal McCabe, David Reilly (0-1), Padraic Harnan, Donal Smith, Sean Duggan (0-1), Mark O’Sullivan (0-4, 3f), Michael Brady, Cillian O’Sullivan (0-7, 2f), Adam Murphy, Ciaran Harnan.
Subs: Brian O’Reilly (0-1), for Brady, Brian Harnan for Shirren, Stephen Donoghue (1-0) for Smith, David McLoughlin (0-1) for Murphy, James Weldon for Duggan.
