The final heartbreak has to end soon
November 27, 2010After having Shane McEntee in charge for two years, the side in red in white had former All-Ireland winning captain Tommy Dowd as manager in 2010 and following seven successive outings in the B competition, they lost the final to Trim by the minimum margin to leave Pairc Tailteann disappointed.
It was the sixth year for Moynalty's first team to compete in the junior B grade and after falling two points short at the last hurdle in 2009 when Duleek/Bellewstown's second string were the victors, they got that little bit closer to returning to junior A ranks.
Of the 16 sides in this year's Junior B FC, Moynalty were one of six first teams, St Paul's, Drumree, St Mary's, St Vincent's and Clonard being the others with the first two in the same group.
The campaign for Dowd's charges began with a double scores success (1-13 to 0-8) over Seneschalstown's seconds at Rathkenny. There was just two points (1-5 to 0-6) between the sides at the break but with full-forward Ronan Tormay making a handsome contribution of 1-7, Moynalty pulled comfortably clear in the second half.
Walterstown were their second round opponents at Kilberry as the north county side gained a 1-8 to 0-7 win after also being ahead by four points (1-4 to 0-3) at the break.
Alan Brogan netted the goal and Paul Lynch was the top scorer with four points.
Moynalty kept their winning run going with a 1-13 to 1-10 success over previously unbeaten St Paul's at Dunshaughlin. There were also three points between them at the halfway stage with the Clonee side ahead by 1-5 to 0-5.
However, the north county team had a better second period with Bob Maguire netting their goal and Paul Lynch and Stephen Blackburn putting over four points apiece.
Cortown provided the round four opposition as Moynalty had their easiest win, defeating Cortown by 15 points (1-18 to 0-6) in a very one-sided Saturday evening tussle at Kells.
Oliver Sheridan took the individual scoring honours with 1-4, the goal coming in the first half before his side led by 1-8 to 0-4 at the break. In second period the men in red and white comfortably increased their advantage when outscoring the weak opposition by 10 points to two.
Moynalty made it five victories from as many starts when outpointing Drumree by 0-14 to 0-5 in a Friday evening clash at Simonstown. Most of the scores were registered in the second period after the eventual winners led by 0-4 to 0-2 at the halfway stage. Paul Lynch, Stephen Blackburn, Oliver Sheridan and Michael Lynch impressed in their attack.
Full-forward Ronan Tormay scored 2-4 as Dunderry were defeated by 3-14 to 2-6 in a Tuesday evening encounter at Kells. It was 2-7 to 1-3 at the interval and Bob Maguire also found the net for the winners.
Moynalty again went on a scoring spree as they finished their group schedule with a 2-18 to 0-11 win over St Patrick's at Seneschalstown. They were ahead by 1-8 to 0-5 at the break
Nine of the winning side got among the scores with Ronan Tormay , with 0-6, and Christy Cahill, who got 1-3 after coming on as a substitute, leading the charge. Bob Maguire netted the other goal.
Moynalty topped Group B with a full complement of 14 points and qualified to meet St Mary's in a semi-final clash, who were overcome by three points after extra-time.
That game took place at Syddan and after it was 1-11 to 0-14 at the end of the hour, it finished 2-14 to 0-17. Moynalty got off to the perfect start with Christy Cahill finishing to the net in the opening minute following a delivery from Ronan Tormay. With the latter putting over four points, they led by 1-7 to 0-6 at the break.
Points from Paul Lynch and Cahill kept Moynalty ahead by two at the end of the third quarter. St Mary's had edged into the lead with 50 minutes played but two Bob Maguire white flag efforts gave the advantage back to Moynalty before the Donore side forced the additional periods.
A goal from Ronan Tormay in the first period of extra-time proved to be the crucial score. That left it 2-13 to 0-16 at the next break and the three-point margin remained to the end after both sides added a point in the last 10 minutes.
Trim defeated St Vincent's in the other semi-final and the decider which was played before the two SFC 'semis' was disappointing for Moynalty as they lost out by 0-9 to 2-4.
Moynalty led by a point (0-5 to 1-1) at the break but a total of 14 wides (seven in each half) was a minus factor for them. Trim's second goal, netted by John Quinn, son of Meath stalwart of the '60s and '70s Jack, left their opponents playing catch up for the rest of the encounter and they did not manage to get back into the lead.
Both sides hit three wides each before Stephen Blackburn gave Moynalty the lead in the ninth minute. However, two minutes later slackness in their defence gave away the first goal. A clearance by full-back Paul Farrelly was intercepted by Paul Campbell whose initial shot was kept out by David Murtagh but the rebound was sent to the net.
The north county side recovered from that setback to draw level with points from Blackburn (free) and Christy Cahill and further white flag efforts by Cahill and Bob Maguire left them ahead at the break.
They might have had a goal or two but Cahill fired a shot against the bar and Bob Maguire had a shot well saved by opposing 'keeper, Tomas Barry.
Trim lifted the siege with three points to move into an advantage of four and complete their scoring total. Although Moynalty responded and Maguire slotted over three more points from frees, they ran out of time and were left to reflect on the missed opportunities.
"It's very disappointing for the players, they worked hard all year and we had good chances of points near the end which were not taken," said Tommy Dowd just after the final whistle.
"There is great determination to achieve success in the club and they will have to start again by knuckling down in January or February. There are some very good players in Moynalty and they are capable of winning the Junior B Championship next year," he added.
Tommy Dowd had another former Wolfe Tones player, Paddy Diamond, with him as the team trainer and the selectors were Brendan Lynch, TP McKenna and David Murtagh, who doubled as the goalkeeper.
Murtagh has been lining out for Moynalty's first team since 1988, the year after they last won the JFC, and after many years in an outfield role, he made the switch from full-forward to goals this year.
"It was very disappointing to lose out again, especially as we put in a huge effort
this year. Last year when beaten by Duleek/Bellewstown in the final, we accepted that the better team on the day won but this year we felt we left the title behind us," said the long-playing player.
"We had a comfortable enough passage in our group. The first two games, against
Seneschalstown and Walterstown, were probably the hardest but after that we had it easy enough. The semi-final against St Mary's, which went to extra-time, was a close one which could have went either way and we were relieved to finish in front.
"We hit far too many wides in the final and also gave away two soft goals. We had only ourselves to blame for losing and it was very hard to take. It had gone so well for us until the final day," Murtagh reflected.
"The one good thing is that Tommy (Dowd) and Paddy (Diamond) have committed themselves to be with us again next year. It will difficult to reach the final for a third successive year but will have to just to try our best to get there again.
"Although I have been on the team for 23 seasons, I hope to be there again in 2011. The club has a long and proud tradition and while it would be nice to get back to the junior A grade, we will have to work even harder to achieve it.
"There are some good young footballers on the way up. Some of those showed promise in the junior D grade this year and they will be fighting for places on the first team next year," concluded David Murtagh. Tweet
