Moynalvey had five points to spare over Ratoath in this Div. 1 A League game played at Kilmore Park Moynalvey on Sunday evening 20th May.
Moynalvey 2-12
Ratoath 1-10
While both sides were depleted due to county football & hurling commitments, it was Moynalvey who picked up the two points on offer to move level with their opponents on five points in the all county Div. 1 A league table.
Just four weeks ago Moynalvey suffered a heavy defeat in the championship to the same opposition, but this time Moynalvey were fully deserved winners, picking a much needed league win.
Both full forwards were to the fore early on, Moynalvey’s David McLoughlin opened the scoring after 45 seconds, with Ratoath’s Cian Rodgers replying with a brace for the visitors, with McLoughlin tying matters at two apiece in the 7th minute.
Ratoath’s Brian Daly pointed in the 9th minute, with the game’s next score not arriving until the 17th minute when Moynalvey’s Shane Lenehan pointed to draw the sides level for a third time. Two minutes later Ratoath regained the lead, before another barren scoring spell, then eventually following a few lengthy delays due to injury the game’s next score came when David McLoughlin pointed in the 30th minute, drawing the sides level for a fourth time.
Moynalvey reeled off a further three points in the ensuing additional injury time to take a three point lead as they headed for the dressing room. The scores came from Anthony Forde, Scott Tuite and Ray Ryan, leaving the half time score 0-7 to 0-4 in favour of Moynalvey.
Two Ratoath points within four minutes of the restart had the deficit down to the minimum, before Moynalvey scored the game’s first goal in the 40th minute. Quick hands from Ray Ryan transferred the ball to the on rushing David McLoughlin who made no mistake, blasting to the back of Dara McPartland’s net via the underside of the cross bar.
Ratoath replied with a point within sixty seconds, leaving the goal between the sides, 1-7 to 0-7. With five minutes remaining on the clock the goal still separated the sides as two Ray Ryan frees in response to a brace of Ratoath points left the score 1-9 to 0-9 after 55 minutes.
An inspirational point from James Weldon off the right wing, followed by another Ryan free, were followed by a Conor Rooney point for Ratoath, leaving it 1-11 to 0-10 with a minute of normal time remaining.
Just as there had been in the first half there were several additional minutes added to the second half, which saw time for another 2-1. Firstly James Weldon bravely set up Shane Lenehan to finish to the net, with a Conor Rooney drive at goal taking a deflection on its way to the Moynalvey net, before Moynalvey substitute Darragh Branigan rounded off the scoring with the last kick of the game to give Moynalvey their much needed second league win of the campaign.
In a fine all round team performance, best for the winners were Darren Brennan, Scott Tuite, Anthony Forde, Shane Lenehan, Donal Smith and David McLoughlin.
Moynalvey: David Brennan, Scott Tuite (0-1), Robert Lawless, Brian Harnan, Shane Lenehan (1-1), Darren Brennan, Fearghal McCabe, Donal Smith, John Donoghue, James Weldon (0-1), Stephen Donoghue, Anthony Forde (0-1), Ray Ryan (0-4, 4f), David McLoughlin (1-3), Sean Duggan.
Subs used: Darragh Branigan (0-1) for Duggan, Shaun Deering for Ryan.
