A FL Div 4 final: Lynch lands league title for Moynalty

July 15, 2018

Moynalty's Anthony Nevin with Ballivor's Shane Farrell and Kevin McKeon during the Meath Division 4 FL final at Pairc Tailteann.

Team captain Paul Lynch scored 2-6 as Moynalty pipped Ballivor in a thrilling decider at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday morning.

Moynalty 2-9  Ballivor 0-14

The scores were tied five times before sub Christy Cahill pointed in added time to settle matters. 

Moynalty laid the foundations for this success with a brace of goals at the old swimming pool end around the midpoint of the first-half. 

To their credit, Ballivor rallied and hit the front in the 54th minute when Brendan McKeon landed his fifth free to leave it 0-14 to 2-7.

In the next attack a Thomas Raleigh point attempt rebounded off an upright. Seconds later Michael Cahill became Moynalty's fourth scorer when pointing to tie the scores for the final time. 

In the first minute of added time, Ballivor's Kevin McKeon saw a 45-metre free, from the hands, drop shot. A minute later Cahill struck the decisive score to secure a trophy that means much to Moynalty. 

Assisted by whatever advantage the cross breeze offered, Ballivor were first to show when playing towards the town end. 

Two Brendan McKeon frees sandwiched a Mark Healy effort from play. The team in maroon were 0-3 to 0-0 to the good with six minutes gone. 

Team captain Joe McLaughlin added another from play for Ballivor in the 11th minute. 

Matters turned Moynalty's way dramatically. Paul Lynch netted with aplombs seconds later with Ollie Sheridan and Anthony Nevin central in the build-up. 

Before the opening quarter ended Moynalty were ahead with their captain netting a second following Cathal Reilly's delivery. 

Two further Lynch points (one free) left it 2-2 to 0-4 after 21 minutes. 

The tide turned Ballivor's way in the lead-in to half-time that included over four minutes of added time.

Kevin McKeon (free) got the sequence going in the 25th minute with Ballivor's first score since near the end of the first quarter.

Nicky Potterton added two great scores from play before Thomas Raleigh landed a 45 to leave it 0-8 to 2-2 at half-time. 

Moynalty shaded the third quarter and were two points clear, 2-6 to 0-10, by the 42nd minute. Then their top scorer was wide with a free that appeared scoreable. 

Boosted by this let-off, Ballivor rallied with four of the next five scores that set up that thrilling finale. 

Moynalty: Johnny Lynch; Michael Lynch, Nicholas McKenna, Matthew McKenna; Ronan Lynch, James Cassidy, Cormac Kearney; Anthony Nevin (0-1), Cathal Reilly; Gavin Lynch, Michael Cahill (0-1), Carl Lynch; Donal Lynch, Paul Lynch (C) (2-6, 0-2 fs), Ollie Sheridan. Subs: Christy Cahill (0-1) for M McKenna (ht)

Ballivor: Conor Smith; Jamie Smyth, Jacob Ryan, Martin Browne; Shane Farrell, Thomas Raleigh (0-1 45), Cillian Canavan; Keith Keoghan, Kevin McKeon (0-4fs); Mark Healy (0-1), Joe McLaughlin (0-1), Martin Healy; Brendan McKeon (0-5 fs), Richie Sherrock, Nicky Potterton (0-2). Subs: Brian Perry for Browne (17), Paul Fagan for Kevin McKeon (bs 28-29), Eoin Potterton for Farrell (ht), Paul Fagan for Sherrock (47)

Referee: Joe Synnott (Donaghmore-Ashbourne)


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