Moylagh have impressed with their consistency in the Junior Football Championship in recent years, but when it has come to the knockout action, despite their potential, they just haven't been able to push on strongly enough to get through to the final. By Paul Clarke. 

That's demonstrated in their championship campaigns over the past few seasons. Back in 2006 they lost a quarter-final to their bogey team Dunsany, Moynalvey eliminated them at the semi-final stage in 2007 and it was also Dunsany who ended their title ambitions in the following two years, firstly in a quarter-final and then in a semi-final.
Moylagh were again on most short lists for outright success this year when they had Boardsmill man Dessie Hamilton acting as manager, with Sean Fox and former county player Paddy Traynor the selectors. After taking the group stages of the championship by storm, winning their five games, they successfully negotiated the first knockout hurdle with a quarter-final victory over Drumbaragh.
But with just one step to take to a place in the decider they were beaten in a semi-final by Ballivor, once again leaving the men from the north-west of the county to contemplate what might have been.
Moylagh were drawn in group C of the Junior Championship which had all the appearances of a section from which a team with their consistency should emerge. The other stand out team was 2006 runners-up Kilmainham, while it also contained Slane, Kilbride, Meath Hill and Dunboyne's second string.
Slane endured a difficult time this year and they proved no match for Moylagh when the championship got under way. This game took place at Moynalty where they fell behind narrowly in the early stages, but recovered to lead by 0-6 to 0-2 at the interval. The second period was very one-sided, with Moylagh pushing clear to win by 1-12 to 0-3 after David Hand had scored the goal.
One of their star performers, Justin O'Reilly, had missed that opener due to injury, but he returned for the second round meeting with Kilbride at Cortown where Moylagh maintained their progressive start to the championship with a 1-12 to 2-3 success.
Eanna Brody scored a first half goal and Moylagh led by 1-4 to 0-2 at the break. They steadily extended their advantage and they were well clear by the time they leaked two late goals to Dave Harford penalties. Justin O'Reilly marked his return to action by scoring three points and Brody, Tommy O'Reilly, Sean Martin and Keith O'Reilly were particularly impressive.
Moylagh and Meath Hill both had 100 per cent winning records when they faced up to each other in the third round at Moynalty and despite tallying 11 wides it was Moylagh who made it three wins from as many championship outings when winning by 1-10 to 1-5.
Joe Melia flew home from Spain for this match and Justin O'Reilly returned from Kerry and their dedication was justified. Moylagh led all the way, including by 0-6 to 0-2 at half-time, and a goal from Barry Smith seven minutes into the second period copper-fastened their position of supremacy. Mark Tully hit back with a late goal from a penalty for Meath Hill, but the issue was well beyond doubt at that stage.
Moylagh were well on their way to the knockout stages and a strong second half performance did the trick next time out against Dunboyne at Dunderry where they won by all of 14 points on a 3-11 to 0-6 score line. They led by 1-4 to 0-3 at the interval and stamped their authority on proceedings in the second half when adding 2-7 and limiting the St Peter's men to just three points.
Kilmainham were always likely to be the team in the group which would cause Moylagh most problems, but a five-point victory was achieved when they met the Kells parish side at Ballinlough. Moylagh were then looking forward to knockout football, but Kilmainham were out of the championship.
Melia and Colm Fanning are key players for Moylagh and they gave them a strong footing at midfield for much of the contest. Justin O'Reilly scored a first half goal from a penalty after 10 minutes and that helped earn a slender 1-4 to 0-6 interval lead and when Melia netted at the three-quarter stage it was all over bar the shouting. Shane Butler scored a late goal for Kilmainham and it finished 2-9 to 1-7.
The victory meant Moylagh had sailed through the group campaign with five wins from as many outings, but they faced a tough quarter-final test against a Drumbaragh side which had exited the championship at the semi-final stage the previous year when losing to eventual winners Longwood.
This match took place at Carnaross where Moylagh could afford the luxury of a dozen wides and still won by 2-12 to 0-12. Justin O'Reilly goaled on 17 minutes and that helped secure a 1-5 to 0-7 lead at the break. The advantage stood at 1-8 to 0-8 by the three-quarter stage and it was still all to play for.
When Willie McGrath scored Moylagh's second goal early in the last quarter they were well on their way to the last four and it was only a matter of consolidating their position after that. Justin O'Reilly was their top marksman with 1-2.
The dream of a place in the final lived on, but it soon lay in tatters as Ballivor defeated Moylagh by 1-10 to 0-10 when the teams clashed in a semi-final at Athboy. Melia had sustained an injury in a hurling match and was less than fit which hampered Moylagh's prospects.
The key score was a third quarter goal from Derek Doran which enabled Ballivor to open up a seven-point lead and left Moylagh with an almost impossible task.
Moylagh struggled in attack where Tommy O'Reilly was their leading marksman with four points and they trailed by 0-3 to 0-8 at the break. Doran's 38th minute goal left Ballivor ahead by 1-9 to 0-5 and while Moylagh rallied with four successive points and held the opposition scoreless for 20 minutes they had left themselves with a mountain to climb.
The teams managed only a point each after that as Moylagh missed chances on what was another disappointing semi-final day for the club.
Joe Melia is one of Moylagh's top players and will best be remembered as a vital part of the Meath minor football team which reached the All-Ireland final in 2002, only to lose to a very strong Derry side. He was as down as anybody associated with the club after their championship elimination against Ballivor.
"Losing the semi-final was a big disappointment, but Ballivor deserved to win," Joe said. "It was particularly annoying because we knew we didn't play as well as we could. We left ourselves with a mountain to climb. They got a goal early in the second half. It was a fortuitous sort of score, but it's hard to say it wasn't coming.
"They were all over us at the time. That left us seven points behind. We got it back to three and we had goal chances which didn't come off. But it would have been an injustice to Ballivor if we had caught them.
"It's hard to put a finger on what the missing ingredient is that's stopping us from making further progress in the championship. That was our third semi-final in four years. We won all our group games this year and our last group match against Kilmainham and the quarter-final against Drumbaragh went well. I really thought we were making progress. The defeat against Ballivor was a very disappointing end to the championship."
Securing the services of a coach of Dessie Hamilton's quality was a huge boost to Moylagh going into the 2010 campaign and Joe was highly impressed with him, adding that he hoped he would continue in the role for the 2011 campaign as they continue the search for that elusive junior title.
"Dessie was great to work with," Joe added. "He's a clever man and we were very fortunate to get him. My previous association with Dessie was as a member of a Meath under-14 development squad. That wasn't yesterday or today! We had internal managers for the previous three or four years and we felt that a fresh face would bring a different side to it.
"He's a very good coach and goes about things in a very calm manner. He taught all of us something. It would be great to hold onto him for next year. We are a generally young team, with a few exceptions. Willie McGrath is only 17 and as well as being a fine footballer he's a very talented hurler too.
"Tommy O'Reilly is 21 and is another very good player. He has a great engine. Dessie has brought him on well, brought a lot more to his game. I believe the work Dessie has done with us this year will help us in the future. Going out in the semi-final was disappointing, but we will be as optimistic as ever next year."


A real hurling talent

Hurling is a very important part of the Moylagh club and one and all were justifiably proud of the performances of one of their own in the Meath jersey during 2010.
When Meath lost to Westmeath by 18 points in the Leinster Minor Championship at Mullingar back in April Willie McGrath wasn't part of the team, but as the year went on and the Royal County improved their preparations the Moylagh youngster was demonstrating what a fine talent he is.
He was a real hero when Meath scored a sensational victory over Kildare in the Leinster Minor Shield final at Pairc Tailteann in late July. The small group of spectators who turned up at the Navan venue were treated to an engrossing contest which Meath won by 4-21 to 3-22 after extra-time.
And it was full-forward McGrath who got the winning goal after 79 minutes of thrilling action. That was the 50th score of the game and the most important one. McGrath was hugely influential in the success and tallied 2-2 overall.
Meath also participated in the All-Ireland 'B' Championship and McGrath contributed 2-1 to the 6-28 to 0-2 quarter-final victory over Mayo at Pairc Tailteann which paved the way for another meeting with Westmeath four months after they had outclassed their neighbours at Mullingar.
The semi-final took place at Pairc Tailteann and while Meath didn't manage to win they did demonstrate the extent of their improvement. This time they lost by just two points (1-10 to 1-12) and McGrath scored 1-1.
Moylagh were drawn in group A of the Junior Hurling Championship this year and after receiving a bye in the first round they got their campaign under way when losing to Wolfe Tones (0-6 to 3-9) at Kilskyre,
Sean Nolan's team then drew with Ratoath (2-7 each) at Kilmessan, before scoring a comfortable 2-10 to 1-4 victory over Boardsmill at Kildalkey. They concluded their group programme when losing to Kilskyre by 1-7 to 1-11 at Athboy.
Moylagh, who enjoyed a more successful campaign in Division 3 of the Hurling League, finished fourth in their championship group on three points.


MHL Div 2 final: Moylagh/Kilskyre pushed all the way 

Moylagh/Kilskyre defeated a very gallant Kildalkey side by 2-14 to 2-12 to claim the minor hurling league Division 2 title at Loman's Park Trim. The North Meath combination held on to win by two points while Kildalkey could have stolen the match at the death when Patrick Conneely had a penalty saved. 
The first half ebbed and flowed and at the interval Moylagh/Kilskyre held a 1-7 to 1-6 lead as Kieran Hannon netted the winners first goal after good approach work by Ryan Tighe. From the puck out Kildalkey replied with a goal courtesy of corner forward David Conneely. Willie McGrath and David Harmon took the scoring honours in the opening half scoring three points each. McGrath looked to have scored a second goal for the winners only for a brilliant save from Conor Flynn in the Kildalkey goals. 
Kildalkey controlled the early stages of the second half and raced into a four point lead with 15 minutes left. But Moylagh/Kilskyre dug deep and when county minor star Willie McGrath netted after a great run the game swung the way of the winners. McGrath was inspirational for Moylagh/Kilskyre in the last 10 minutes and ended the half with a tally of 1-4. With time up Kildalkey where awarded a penalty but Patrick Conneely's strike was saved and Moylagh/Kilskyre held out for a great win. 
Midfielder Sean Geraghty Charles Brogan on the forty and Willie McGrath where outstanding for the winners while Patrick Conneelly David Harmon and David Conneely where Kildalkey's best performers. 
Moylagh/Kilskyre scores Willie McGrath 1-7 Kieran Hannon 1-1 Sean Geraghty and Charles Brogan 0-2 each Niall Farrelly and Ryan Tighe 0-1 each Tweet

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