Moynalvey secured their place in the semi-final of the U-21 ‘B’ Football championship with a hard earned 3 point victory over Syddan in the quarter final played in Martry on Sunday afternoon November 15th.
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Moynalvey 1-8 Syddan 0-8
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Syddan opened the stronger of the two sides and took the lead through a converted free kick in the 5th minute. A minute later last years winners of the U-21 ‘C’ grade drew level when wing forward Shane McGann pointed from close range. However, as the game wore on Syddan settled into the game better, and added three points without reply in a 7 minute period. Moynalvey had to wait until the 24th minute for their next score, when Donal Smith broke a Syddan kick out to Ray Ryan who beat his man before splitting the posts. With the last attack of the half, Mark O’Sullivan’s fisted effort at a point rebounded back to him off the post before he blasted over when perhaps a goal was on, leaving the half time score reading 0-4 to 0-3 in favour of Syddan.
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Syddan were once again first to score upon resumption of the second period, before Moynalvey’s top scorer Ray Ryan registered his second of the day 7 minutes into the half. Although Moynalvey were on top possession wise, they were struggling to get the better of their opponents on the score board, with Syddan breaking up the field to put two between the sides within a minute of Ryan’s score. In the 40th minute Ryan was put through on goal after a delivery from Feidhlim Cunningham found Luke Duffy, who combined well with O’Sullivan to set up Ryan, only to see his effort tipped over the bar by the Syddan keeper.
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Syddan tagged on another point, before the defining point of the game arrived in the 50th minute when Luke Duffy was hauled down when bearing down on goal. James Weldon stepped up to take the resulting spot kick only to see his effort expertly saved by the opposition keeper. However within 30 seconds Weldon redeemed himself when punching the resultant 45 from ray Ryan to the net. This left Moynalvey ahead for the first time in the game and when Syddan had a man dismissed, the men in maroon & white pushed on to finish the stronger adding scores from McGann, Cunnningham & Ryan in response to a solitary effort from Syddan.
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Best for Moynalvey on the day were Sean Carroll, Johnny Duffy, Dan Treacy, Mark O’Sullivan & Ray Ryan, who now take on St. Colmcilles in the semi-final.
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Team & scorers: B. Reilly, S. Carroll, J. Duffy, S. Courtney, W. Mahady, F. Cunningham (0-1), D. Smith, D. Treacy, S. McGann (0-2), J. Weldon (1-0), M. O’Sullivan (0-1), R. Ryan (0-4), L. Duffy. Sub: S. Weston.
