Moynalvey lost out to neighbours Summerhill by two points in this entertaining Fairyhouse Steel Meath SFC Group A opening round at Trim on Friday evening July 31st.
Moynalvey 1-12
Summerhill 0-17
Moynalvey started the game at a frantic pace playing some superb football in the first 20 minutes to open up a 0-8 to 0-2 lead, with points from Adam Murphy, David McLoughlin, Mark O’Sullivan (2) and Cillian O’Sullivan (4).
Unfortunately, Moynalvey’s momentum was broke on the stroke of the first water break with the loss of midfielder Padraic Harnan who had been exerting his influence on the game up until his early departure in the 16th minute through injury.
Two minutes after the water break Moynalvey were unlucky not to extend their advantage further when a David McLoughlin shot at goal rebounded off the butt of the post.
Cillian O’Sullivan and David Larkin traded scores before Barry Dardis reeled off three points in a row, one from a ’45, one from free and another from play to leave the half time score a lot healthier looking from the ‘Hill’s point of view, 0-9 to 0-6.
Summerhill commenced the second half as they had finished the first, with two points in as many minutes narrowing the deficit to the minimum.
A Cillian O’Sullivan point was followed by a Conor Frayne point and a Dardis free to draw the game level for just the second time since the 4th minute.
A second injury nightmare hit Moynalvey with the loss of another Harnan brother Conor with a shoulder injury in the 38th minute.
David Larkin put Summerhill in front for the first time in the 40th minute, followed by a Conor Frayne point to leave it 0-12 to 0-10.
Points from Mark O’Sullivan and David McLoughlin had the sides level after 43 minutes.
Summerhill regained the lead on the three-quarter hour mark when Diarmuid McCabe with the responsibility of shackling Padraic Harnan relieved began to enjoy some freedom around the St. Loman’s pitch scoring the 3rd of his four points.
The lead exchanged hands again when Cillian O’Sullivan expertly dispatched a penalty past Summerhill veteran ‘keeper Tony McDonnell in the 48th minute after David McLoughlin had been fouled, leaving it 1-12 to 0-13 with 12 minutes remaining.
A couple of late Moynalvey chances went the wrong side of the uprights and Summerhill’s big game experience came to the fore, patiently adding four points without reply from Dardis (2), McCabe and Frayne to earn a hard fought two point win for Declan McCabe’s charges on a 0-17 to 1-12 score line.
Credit must go to Trim GAA for an excellently organised event given the current Covid restrictions and guidelines, from the correspondence to clubs in the build-up, to the stewarding of the game and the pitch in pristine order as always. Also thanks to We are Meath for providing live commentary for those who couldn’t make the game.
Moynalvey:
Ray Ryan, Conor Harnan, Robert Lawless, Cathal McCabe, Darren Brennan, Brian Harnan, David Reilly, Padraic Harnan, Donal Smith, David Donoghue, Mark O’Sullivan (0-3, 2f), Shane Lenehan, Adam Murphy (0-1), Cillian O’Sullivan (1-6, 1p & 4f), David McLoughlin (0-2).
Subs used: Fearghal McCabe for P. Harnan, William Mahady for Conor Harnan, Stephen Donoghue for Smith, Ciaran Harnan for D. Donoghue, James Weldon for Lenehan.
