Firsts in anything are always extra special and that's exactly how it was for the Moynalvey club in 2004 as they clinched an historic and highly significant first triumph at under-14 level. That important success came in the U-14 FC Div. 3 when they ended a memorable campaign by defeating Longwood in the final at Dunsany in early June. And it took a committed, courageous and high-scoring performance to lift the title after extra-time as goals did the trick and helped earn a five-point victory on a 4-10 to 2-11 score line at the end of a contest that provided great entertainment. However, things weren't looking overly promising for Moynalvey during the opening period and they were adrift at 1-2 to 1-4 at the interval after some gritty defending from the likes of William Harnan, Oisin Fagan and Sean Carroll helped to contain a lively-looking Longwood forward division. Moynalvey gained control after the break as Mark O'Sullivan and Shane Magan took a grip at midfield and forwards Luke Duffy, Mark Munnelly and Padraig Kelly caused big problems for the Longwood defence. They held a two-point advantage during a prolonged spell of injury time, but Longwood hit back to draw level at 1-8 each and force extra-time. It was then that goals proved vital as Feidhlim Cunningham, Simon Kennedy and super sub Sean Egan all found the net to put crucial daylight between the teams. William Mahady was another highly impressive performer for Moynalvey, while full-forward Cunningham finished with a tremendous personal tally of 2-7. The Moynalvey team contained the sons of some very well-known players of the past. William Harnan is a son of former Meath All-Ireland-winning defender Liam, Mark O'Sullivan is a son of ex-Walterstown and Meath player Frank and Padraig Kelly is a son of Paddy, one of the finest Royal County hurlers of the modern era. The Moynalvey players who made history with that first under-14 championship success were - Gavin Byrne; Sean Dunleavy, Sean Carroll, William Mahady; Oisin Fagan, William Harnan, Peter Hegarty; Shane Magan (0-1), Mark O'Sullivan (0-1); Padraig Kelly, Luke Duffy (0-1), Simon Kennedy (1-0); Nicky Madden, Feidhlim Cunningham (2-7), Mark Munnelly. Subs - Sean Egan (1-0) for Madden, Darren Brennan for Hegarty, Richard McGreal. Denis O'Shea was coach to the team, Liam Harnan was manager and Sean Dunleavy, Oliver Madden, Frank and Orla O'Sullivan were also involved It's a clear indication of the great work being done at under-age level in the Moynalvey club that they also reached the U-14 FL Div. 4B final, where they went under by 2-9 to 2-14 to Boardsmill after extra-time, and the U-12 FL Div. 4B decider where they lost to Longwood by 3-4 to 2-9. That's the sort of consistency which suggests they are producing the players to secure a good future for the club. But that under-14 championship triumph had particularly historic significance. "Personally, I didn't realise it was our first under-14 title at the time," Liam Harnan commented as he reflected on a success that gave him a great deal of satisfaction. "But what I did realise was that it was a great game of football to be a part of. "You can play in great games, but to win a great game is that bit extra special. It went to extra-time, which added to the excitement, and winning the title was great for the club. "A lot of the lads had played hurling earlier in the day so, along with the extra-time, they were certainly very busy. It represented a lot of commitment for young players. Most of them are hurling as well, playing with their clubs and schools too." Of course, Harnan experienced so much as a key player during his memorable years with Meath, but he really enjoys being involved with under-age teams. "I find working with young players very rewarding," he added. "I have to say I got a great buzz out of that final. It was such a great game to be involved in. The competition was run off nice and sharply and we had a chance to play against teams from other parts of the county." And what of the future for Moynalvey? "We have a good, hard-working committee from under-10 level up and that's important for the future," he said. Junior disappointment The early stages of the Junior Football Championship suggested that Moynalvey might be ready to start their move back up the adult football ladder, but their bid for honours came to a halt in a play-off for the quarter-final stages when they went under narrowly to Dunboyne's second string. Moynalvey know what it's like to be up there playing their football with the big boys, but their second year back in the junior ranks failed to deliver a title they so desperately want to win to kick-start their revival. They were drawn in Group C, a section that also included Ratoath, who had eliminated them at the last eight stage the previous year, Dunsany, Ballinabrackey, Drumbaragh, the second team from Navan O'Mahonys, Moynalty and Kilbride. And when they opened in desired fashion with a comfortable 0-10 to 1-2 victory over Kilbride at Dunshaughlin, Moynalvey had achieved mission number one. A superb first-half performance laid the foundations for a win achieved in rain-soaked conditions and with Willie Byrne and Padraig Donoghue in great form they built up a commanding 0-8 to 0-1 lead at the interval. Kilbride did improve somewhat after the change of ends, but Moynalvey had already done enough to secure both points. However, Moynalvey got a fright in their second outing against one of the less fancied teams in the group, Moynalty, at Kilberry when it took a superb injury time point from Byrne to earn a dramatic 1-13 to 0-15 victory. That late, late score completed a superb Moynalvey recovery after they had trailed by six points at one stage. A John Donoghue goal gave them the early initiative, but Moynalty took over and went on to lead by 0-9 to 1-3 at the break. They stretched that advantage to six in the second period, but the introduction of Brian Gilsenan and Robbie Quinlan breathed new life into Moynalvey and Byrne's late point completed a memorable comeback. Moynalvey made it three wins from as many outings when they edged past Drumbaragh in the third round at Walterstown, winning by 1-14 to 1-12. The Drums looked set for a share of the points after recovering from an eight-point deficit to draw level, but Moynalvey scored the last two points to triumph as Byrne finished with an impressive personal tally of seven points. After their very disappointing defeat against Ratoath in 2003, Moynalvey surely possessed every possible incentive to exact revenge when the sides met in the fourth round at Dunshaughlin. But it wasn't to be as the previous year's beaten finalists won by all of 14 points on a 2-16 to 1-5 score line. It was back to Dunshaughlin for a fifth round meeting against Dunsany and the venue brought further disappointment for Moynalvey as goals made all the difference, with Dunsany getting three of them. They led by 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time, but Moynalvey pushed ahead soon after the interval. However, Dunsany took over again and two further goals secured a 3-6 to 1-7 success as they inflicted a second consecutive defeat of the qualifying campaign on Moynalvey. A victory was badly needed to arrest the slide and keep their qualification hopes alive and it came next time out against Ballinabrackey at Longwood in what was always likely to be a potential 'banana skin' for Moynalvey. There was a tense finish to an exciting encounter as 'Brackey missed a penalty during injury time and Moynalvey held on to win by 1-11 to 1-8. They had led by 0-6 to 0-1 early on, but the Offaly-border side recovered well to hold a 1-6 to 0-7 advantage at the break. However, a second-half goal from PJ Walsh handed Moynalvey the initiative, though they did have to sweat it out in the closing stages. O'Mahonys provided the opposition in the last of the group matches at Dunshaughlin and Moynalvey got the victory that secured their play-off place and ended the Navan side's hopes. The town team led most of the way, including by 1-4 to 0-1 early on, but Moynalvey recovered to trail by only 0-5 to 1-4 at the interval. The sides were on level terms after Byrne netted from a penalty for Moynalvey and a late flurry of points clinched a vital 1-9 to 1-7 victory. Unfortunately for Moynalvey, that was about as good as it got in their bid for junior honours and a late point from substitute Wayne Hunt gave Dunboyne a dramatic 1-12 to 1-11 win when the sides met at Dunshaughlin in a quarter final playoff, which clearly isn't always a happy hunting ground for the losers. Dunboyne led by 1-6 to 0-6 at half-time and stretched that advantage to four points (1-11 to 0-10) in the second-half. But the spirits of the Moynalvey supporters were lifted significantly when Robbie Quinlan found the net from a penalty and they looked capable of pulling the match out of the fire when Byrne drew the sides level with a point. But Moynalvey were hit with a late, late blow as super sub Hunt pounced with that injury time point to secure victory and destroy Moynalvey's hopes of the junior title. It was a bitterly disappointing end to their campaign, but the hope has to be that 2005 will bring better fortunes Moynalvey LGFC 2004 has been a very mixed year for Moynalvey LGFC. We had the jubilation of reaching 3 finals only to feel the despair of a heavy defeat on each occasion. It started with the Junior B team, many of whom are still eligible to play U16 football. After several wins in the championship there was a play-off between Moynalvey and Dee Rangers with the winners to face Navan O'Mahonys in the final the following week. Dee Rangers won the draw for home advantage and after defeating Moynalvey by a single point in the first round were slight favourites, but after a great battle that brought credit to both teams the Moynalvey girls squeezed home by the same margin of one point. The difference between the sides was probably the accuracy of Louise Byrne in scoring from frees. The final match saw Moynalvey brought back to earth with a big bump, the following Sunday in Simonstown was a very sobering experience for Moynalvey, when after leading O'Mahonys for 20 minutes, the town team changed gears and gave us lesson in championship football. It was probably a step too far too soon for such a young team. The U12s had a great season being unbeaten all year winning nine matches in a row to reach the championship final against Royal Gaels of Dunshaughlin. Every team has to lose some day and unfortunately we lost very heavily on the big occasion, going down to a far better team on the day. We are a small parish club and half of the team were U10, the type of problem which rural teams regularly face. We could not let the U12 competition pass without mentioning Stephanie Thompson who at the end of August had scored an amazing 65 goals and 46 points in all competitions this season. Along with Aideen Smith and Helen Lawless they were regulars on the Meath U12 team managed by Ollie Bowe. Then came the U14 team, they played Boardsmill in the challenge cup and despite a brave fight the silverware went home with the opposition. Redemption came at last one Saturday in October, in the county 7-a-side blitz when after five wins we again faced Royal Gaels in the final. This time the shoe was on the other foot and Moynalvey came away with a deserved win that brought great pride to the team and their trainers Jay Heraghty and John Egan . So that was our season, not bad going for a small parish club in our fourth year of existence. As we write we are waiting to face Wolfetones in the Minor semi-final, having beaten Skyrne in the last round. This year we had three girls on the Meath U12's team, Ciara Dowling and Sheila Courtney on the U14's team and Claire Cunningham on the County Junior Team . We appreciate he great support given to us in the Moynalvey / Kiltale parish and main our sponsors, Phil Brady Solicitors, for the under age teams and Stephen Fisk Cars for the Junior Team. We wish them well for the future. For the new season we look forward to continuing growth for the club and success on the field of play, plus fun on the social side which we also feel is very important for the girls in the parish. Supplied by Kevin Dowling Tweet

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