An upward learning curve
November 30, 2009Since the 2008 Meath GAA Yearbook was put to bed, PJ Cummins' charges went on to claim a memorable outright triumph in the Leinster Club Junior Football Championship. That was achieved with a 0-11 to 0-5 victory over Westmeath side St Mary's in Rochfortbridge in December of last year.
Although St Mary's had a very experienced centrefield pairing in David Mitchell and Damien Gavin, Moynalvey led by 0-5 to 0-3 at the interval on a crisp afternoon. Damien Dixon was in outstanding form at centre back, Cathal Sheridan took the individual scoring honours with six points, four frees, with Brian Gilsenan and Mark O'Sullivan (two each) and Stephen Donoghue getting the other scores for the winners.
The Moynalvey team in the 2008 Leinster Club JFC final was: O Regan; R Kiernan, P Donoghue, D Kane; P Weldon, D Dixon, D Donoghue; S Donoghue, G Fagan; J Donoghue, C Sheridan, R Quinlan; B Gilsenan, W Byrne, M O'Sullivan. Subs: S Reilly for Quinlan, B Conneely for Fagan, PJ Walsh for Sheridan.
Moynalvey began their 2009 programme of games with an All-Ireland quarter-final outing against John Mitchells from Liverpool at Pairc Tailteann on January 11 when the cross-channel representatives caused a surprise with a 1-10 to 1-8 victory.
The Meath side appeared to be on the way to another win when leading by 0-6 to 0-2 at the halfway stage, Cathal Sheridan having kicked over four points, three from frees, in the first half.
It took Moynalvey 16 minutes to score after the switching of ends with Sheridan converting another free. By then John Mitchells had 1-5 on the board. They led by 1-9 to 0-7 before substitute James Weldon finished to the net. However, his side were edged out in an exciting finish.
After being idle for the opening round, Moynalvey took to the pitch for their first game in the IFC since 2002 when facing Ballinlough in Athboy. It was a difficult start in the higher grade as Ballinlough were beaten semi-finalists the previous year and were in senior ranks as recently as 2007.
Moynalvey had three teams who were recently in the top ranks - Kilmainhamwood and Cortown being the other two - with Castletown completing the quintet. The promoted side finished in fourth place after, one win, one draw and two defeats, enough to keep clear of the relegation zone..
The first loss was incurred at the hands of Ballinlough who won by 2-7 to 1-7 on the May Bank Holiday Monday. A goal, shot to the net by Peadar Byrne, was conceded in the early stages and Moynalvey were in arrears by 0-3 to 1-4 at the break. The south county side rallied in the second half and Cathal Sheridan scored their goal after a penalty kick taken by him was saved.
Just when it looked as if Moynalvey would take something from the tie, they conceded the late goal which was the difference between the sides at the final whistle.
Moynalvey's only victory on their return to the IFC was gained at the expense of 2007 beaten finalists Castletown on a 1-8 to 0-10 scoreline. That win kept them off the bottom of Group B, Castletown filling that spot after all the games were played.
A goal from teenager Mark O'Sullivan was the crucial score in a game in which the men in maroon were in arrears by 0-2 to 0-6 at the break. However, they turned the game right around in the second half with Cathal Sheridan (two), Ciaran Ennis, John Donoghue, David Durkan and Brian Gilsenan putting over points.
Late in that game Ollie Regan brought off a crucial penalty save and there were fine defensive displays from Paul Weldon and Damien and Brendan Dixon.
Moynalvey turned in another battling display when earning a 0-11 to 2-5 draw with Kilmainhamwood in a mid September Tuesday evening clash under lights at Pairc Tailteann as they fought back from arrears of six points to share the spoils.
Moynalvey trailed by 0-0 to 1-2 eight minutes after the start and although the arrears were reduced to the minimum, the 'Wood struck for a second goal to leave them 2-3 to 0-4 to the good at the break.
Cathal Sheridan had kicked a penalty award wide after David Donoghue was fouled. However, the veteran forward made a notable contribution with nine of his side's 11 points.
Kilmainhamwood struck for the first score after the restart but Moynalvey were on level terms with a little over 10 minutes to go. After the north county men regained the advantage, Sheridan drove a 45 between the uprights to save the night!
However, with nine of their players lining out in their third championship game (football and hurling) in seven days, Moynalvey lost their final group game as 2008 beaten finalists Cortown advanced to the next phase on a 2-13 to 1-10 scoreline at Bective.
The promoted side had to play that game without two key men, John Donoghue (hamstring problem) and Paul Weldon (away on holidays) and they made light of the losses by starting promisingly to put over four points before their opponents got on the board.
The advantage was increased to seven points when Cathal Sheridan slotted a penalty kick past John McFadden after Brian Gilsenan was fouled and it was 1-7 to 0-5 at the break.
After Cortown got on level terms soon after the restart, Moynalvey rallied to regain the lead with two points to spare. However, despite the efforts of Daniel Treacy, Willie Byrne, Gilsenan and Sheridan up front, Moynalvey began to be affected by the heavy schedule and bowed out of the title race.
One of Moynalvey's best results in 2009 was the 1-14 each draw with St Ultan's in a Feis Cup clash on their own Kilmore Park pitch. That first round tussle went to extra-time, it was 1-12 each after an hour's play. The senior side proved too strong in the replay at Newman Park, Bohermeen, advancing on a 1-14 to 2-3 scoreline.
John Donoghue is one of a number of dual players dividing their playing between hurling for Kiltale and football with Moynalvey and he agreed that it was a tough year.
"After losing to John Mitchells, we were soon out again in the league. We were playing games at a time when we would have been training in other years. We didn't really have a break but playing in the Leinster and All-Ireland championships was a great experience for u," he said.
"We were finding it hard to get going again in the spring and there were a few injuries going into the game against Ballinlough. That was played in Athboy on a wet day and we lost by a goal. It was a disappointing start to the intermediate championship for us.
"However, we built up a winning run in the league and then the win over Castletown gave us a big boost. A great save from a penalty kick by Ollie Regan was a crucial factor in that match and it was great to get the two points.
"Then with Meath going so well, we had to wait three months before our next championship outing. It's understandable that the county team is the number one priority but I thought that local championship games could have been played between the matches against Mayo and Kerry.
"We should have taken full points from the game against Kilmainhamwood but we conceded two goals and had to be satisfied with the draw. While we had those three games in seven days, there's little point in making excuses.
"We had the winning of the game against Cortown and it looked good for us at half-time. But we missed some chances in the second half and they took some good scores."
John Donoghue is quite optimistic about Moynalvey's future, saying, "there isn't much between any of the teams in the intermediate grade and I would be hopeful that we can do better next year."
"A lot of good work is being put in at underage levels in the club. There is some very good underage talent on the way up and I would hope to see us back in the senior grade in the next four or five years," he concluded.
Moynalvey enjoyed outright success in the Under 16 Football League Division 1A, the title being annexed with a 3-7 to 0-8 victory over local rivals Dunshaughlin in the final at Pairc Tailteann.
The youngsters in maroon and white were well on the way to the win at the interval when leading by 3-5 to 0-2. Influential centre forward Paul Kelly netted two of the goals and Cillian O'Sullivan also raised the green flag.
Remarkably they were the only two scorers for Moynalvey on the day with Kelly chalking up an impressive total of 2-7. Sean Burke and Sean Brennan dictated the midfield exchanges at midfield while Anthony Forde captained the team from centre back.
The winning under 16 Moynalvey team was: C O'Malley; C Egan, S Browne, B Harnan; D Hoban, A Forde, C McCabe; S Burke, S Brennan; D Brannigan, J Kelly, C Gorman; C O'Sullivan, P Harnan, E Ryan. Tweet
