The final round group game of the Meath Cleaning Supplies Div. 4 Premier Football Championship saw Moynalvey defeat Clann na nGael by seven points at Kilmore Park Moynalvey on Sunday morning June 18th.
Moynalvey 2-20
Clann na nGael 1-16
With Clann na nGael travelling with limited numbers, both teams fielded at 13 a side.
Two veterans manned the number one jersey for Moynalvey throughout the hour, Anthony Brien in the first half with John Donoghue taking over just after half time, both producing crucial saves in each half.
It was Darren Brennan who opened the game’s scoring in the second minute sending over off his left boot for the first of his six points.
A brace from Clann na nGael put them in front for the only time, the lead short lived as Darren Brennan pointed his second to leave it 0-2 apiece after five minutes.
1-3 without reply saw Moynalvey hold a 1-5 to 0-2 lead with 10 minutes played, points from Shaun Deering (2), Darren Brennan and the goal from Vinny Walsh.
Three Clann na nGael points were countered by four from the home side, coming from Vinny Walsh, Shaun Deering, Donal Smith and Paul Corcoran to leave it 1-9 to 0-5 after twenty minutes.
The home side outscored their opponents 0-4 to 0-3 over the remaining ten minutes of the half to lead 1-13 to 0-8 at half time. The four points coming from David Durkan, William Harnan, John Donoghue and Darren Brennan.
A point blank reflex save from Anthony Brien with his boot saw him deny Clann na nGael a goal in the 29th minute.
The visitors were first off the mark after half time with a point but a further three Moynalvey points, two from Donal Smith and a fifth off the game for Darren Brennan saw the home side’s lead extended to ten points eight minutes into the second half, 1-16 to 0-9.
Soon after, having swapped the number 11 jersey for the number 1 jersey, John Donoghue faced up to a Clan na nGael penalty but stood up brilliantly to save and deflect over the crossbar for a point.
Clann na nGael briefly broke the Moynalvey scoring with a brace, before points from Conor Quinn and Shaun Deering were followed by Vinny Walsh’s second goal, pushing Moynalvey’s advantage out to thirteen points and effectively killing off the game.
Despite John Donoghue’s penalty heroics Clann na nGael did manage to find the net and add a further seven points in the final quarter. Moynalvey added points from Darragh Branigan and Darren Brennan to leave them seven point winners on a 2-20 to 1-16 score line and progress to a semi-final in the process.
A fine team performance with ten different players getting on the scoresheet, with all bar a point coming from play, best for Moynalvey were Conor Quinn, Darragh Branigan, William Harnan, Vinny Walsh, Donal Smith, Shaun Deering, Darren Brennan and centre forward come penalty saving goalkeeper John Donoghue.
Moynalvey team & scorers:
Anthony Brien, Conor Quinn (0-1), Darragh Branigan (0-1), David Durkan (0-1), William Harnan (0-1), Vinny Walsh (2-1f), Paul Corcoran (0-1), Donal Smith (0-3), Shaun Deering (0-4), John Donoghue (0-1), Robert Keane, Darren Brennan (0-6), Aidan Gilsenan.
Subs: Craig Gilsenan for Keane, Charlie McCormack for Gilsenan, Keane for Durkan, Gilsenan for Walsh.
