Ballinlough  1-11 Moynalty  2-6

Fresh from promotion to Division 3 last year and already with 2 wins from 2 games in 2019, Moynalty came to Ballinlough looking to make it three in a row. This was the first meeting of these two teams in a first team competitive game since 1986 and both sides were eager to take the spoils today. Moynalty came out of the blocks quickest creating a goal chance with the first play of the game, only to be denied by the reflexes of Dereck Muldoon in the Ballinlough net. They did however open the scoring with a pointed free on 04mins. This action seemed to spur on the home side who kicked into action sending over the next 5 points without reply, with Niall Farrelly sticking two frees and Paddy Briody, Benji Smith and Joshua Lynch all scoring from play.

Struggling against the stiff breeze it took Moynalty until the 19th minute to add their second point, again from a placed ball, and 22 minutes to score their first from open play to get themselves back in the game. They went on to take the lead a moment later when the ball found its way into the Ballinlough net to give the visitors a much needed boost. It was only to last for a minute however, as Ballinlough reacted superbly to the concession of the goal by producing some of their finest football and great work by Benji Smith working the ball up the field leaving Niall Farrelly with the simple task of palming the ball to the net to give the hosts the lead once again. Farrelly was on target again just before halftime with a pointed free to leave the home side three ahead at the break on a scoreline of 1-06 to 1-03.

Ballinlough opened the scoring in the second half with a point from play from the boot of Joshua Lynch before Niall Farrelly missed a free from a difficult angle against the breeze. Again Moynalty came looking for a goal to get themselves back into the game and again they produced the goods to lower the deficit to one point with 35 minutes gone on the clock. Further points were traded both from frees before Jonnie Reilly got himself forward and sent the ball over the bar on 41 minutes and again two minutes later to push Ballinlough’s lead back out to three points.

Moynalty hit back with a contentious point, with the referee over-ruling his own umpire to award the score, and another point from a free on the 46th minute mark to leave just one between the teams again. What followed was a period where Ballinlough retained possession well, cautious not to cough up any easy ball to the Moynalty attack, whilst also making ground up the field. It paid off too when a lapse in concentration in defence led to a free in for the hosts and Niall Farrelly put two points between the sides once again in the 55th minute. This was to be the last score of the game and despite referee Martin Dawson playing over 4 and a half minutes of added time,Moynalty couldn’t get that third goal that would have left them unbeaten in the League. Instead it was Ballinlough’s day and with 5 points from a possible 6, Stephen Baxter’s men are currently sitting comfortably in third place in the League standings. Next up for Ballinlough is an away game in two weeks time with neighbours Drumbaragh providing the opposition. 

Ballinlough: D.Muldoon, N.McDonnell, P.Muldoon, M.Farrell, R.Farrell, E.Smith, Jonnie Reilly 0-2, L.Maguire, M.McCullen, P.Briody 0-1, M.Geraghty, B.Smith 0-1, J.Lynch 0-2, N.Farrelly 1-5, Junior Reilly. Subs: T.McCullen for Junior Reilly on 37mins

Moynalty Report

MOYNALTY 2-06, BALLINLOUGH 1-11. 

Moynalty played Ballinlough on Sunday in A League Div 3 in Ballinlough. 

Moynalty were the quickest to get on the scoreboard with a free from Paul Lynch, which was their only score for a while asthe home side kicked over five unanswered points. Bryan McCormack pointed another free for the visitors. Moynalty then went on to get the deficit back and take the lead after James Cassidy scored their first point from play. New senior players Adam Reilly and Bryan Mc Cormack, fresh from the Meath Minors last year, showed that the step up to adult level is no problem with Reilly putting Moynalty in to the lead by one with a goal. That lead was short lived as Ballinlough worked the ball up the field and got a goal of their own, they also pointed a free which was to be the last score of the first half. Half time score Moynalty 1:03, Ballinlough 1:06. 

Ballinlough got the first point of the second half. It was then Moynalty's Meath minor Bryan Mc Cormack who reduced Ballinlough's lead to just one when he found the net with a fine goal McCormack levelled the game soon after. But Ballinlough hit the next three scores two from play and one from a free. McCormack added another two to his tally to leave the minimum between the teams once more. 

But it was to be Ballinlough's day when they scored the last point from a free. 

Over all it was a good team performance from the Junior side against last year's Intermediate finalists. Final score Moynalty 2:06, Ballinlough 1:11. 

Moynalty: Jonathan Lynch, Michael Lynch, Nicholas Mc Kenna, Sean Lynch, Ronan Lynch, Cormack Kearney, Richard Gilsenan, Anthony Nevin, James Cassidy 0-1, Adrian Maguire, Adam Reilly 1-0, Carl Lynch, Christy Cahill, Paul Lynch 0-1, Bryan Mc Cormack 1-4. SUBS: Ollie Sheridan For Ronan Lynch, Niall O' Connor For Sean Lynch. 

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