Moynalvey demonstrated their survival instincts last season when retaining senior status at the expense of Slane. Goalkeeper Derek Bannon outlines to Royal County the importance of remaining in the top flight. Moynalvey's 16-year stay in senior championship football was maintained courtesy of a narrow victory over Slane last October. It was a lucky escape for a side that had, only a few weeks earlier, defeated Syddan to ensure themselves of Division Two status once again next season. Twenty-five-year old Moynalvey goalkeeper Derek Bannon was as relieved as any of his team-mates with the outcome of last season. An individual who tasted much success at both minor and under 21 level, he feels it was imperative that the maroon and whites entered the new millennium as a senior club. "Had we been relegated, it would have been a disaster," he says. "Since winning the intermediate championship in 1983, we have established ourselves in the senior ranks and we didn't want that proud record to slip away. The intermediate grade can be very difficult to get out of and I think it could have taken us a few years to come back up. All in all, we can count ourselves very fortunate to be still in the top grade." Despite promising much, the past few seasons have been difficult for Moynalvey. A demoralising championship semi-final defeat to Kilmainhamwood in 1996 resulted in the loss of key players such as Cathal and Barry Sheridan, Tommy Fay and Declan Tuite. Needless to say, Moynalvey have been desperately trying to find their feet since then. "There were high hopes for the club after the underage success were had in the early 1990s," recalls Bannon. "In 1991 and '92, we amalgamated with Kilcloon and Batterstown to win two minor championships. In 1994, we beat Skryne in the under 21 championship final. Unfortunately, things haven't turned out as expected and we now find ourselves rebuilding again. Hopefully the scare we've had this year will mark a turning point for us," he adds. Derek - who starred in all three of those underage successes and picked up an All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship medal with Meath last summer - had been the senior team's goalkeeper for three years when the Feis Cup was annexed at Navan O'Mahony's expense in 1996. With Liam Harnan at the helm and a talented crop of young players at their disposal, Moynalvey's future looked rosy but the aforementioned championship defeat to Kilmainhamwood served as a devastating blow. Moynalvey had hoped to make an impact in this year's senior championship but instead, they found themselves battling for survival. Drawn in a tough group which also comprised Dunderry, Oldcastle, Blackhall Gaels and Skyrne, Moynalvey made an encouraging start to the campaign against the latter, being somewhat unlucky to be held to a draw. The Frank Sullivan-managed team then suffered a disappointing run of results with Blackhall Gaels, Dunderry and Oldcastle all taking full points from them. This meant that the south county side finished bottom of their group and had to beat fellow relegation strugglers Slane to retain senior status for 2000. Sandwiched between the Oldcastle and Slane games was an important Division Two league fixture against intermediate champions-elect Syddan. Similar to the championship meeting with Slane, it was a game Moynalvey couldn't afford to lose, otherwise they would be facing the prospect of Division Three football next year. In what proved to be a tough battle, the south county men emerged victorious by six points. The first leg of an end-of-season relegation battle had been successfully completed. Moynalvey's championship fate was decided at Walterstown on the second last Sunday in October. Slane, who had won the Division Three league title the previous week, entered the game in a confident frame of mind but Moynalvey were fired up for the occasion. The maroon and whites made an ideal start with inspirational full forward Willie Byrne notching 1-1 inside the opening five minutes. That four-point advantage was reduced to the minimum within minutes when Slane goaled but Moynalvey recovered to retire at the interval two points to the good, 1-5 to 1-3 being the half-time scoreline. After Damien Dixon had rattled the Slane woodwork in the early stages of the second half, Slane shot over two unanswered points to restore parity. Man of the man Willie Byrne restored Moynalvey's two-point lead but once again, Slane fought back onto level terms. With a replay seeming likely, Moynalvey came in search of the winning score and they got it when Robert Quinn kicked a brilliant point six minutes from time. Slane piled on the pressure thereafter, but Moynalvey's defence held firm and an invaluable 1-8 to 1-7 victory had been secured. "There was relief all around after the final whistle," Bannon fondly remembers. "It had been a fierce battle and we were delighted to come out of it with the right result. We had put in a big effort in training in the weeks leading up to that game and it was great to win that as well as the vital league match against Syddan. They were two do-or-die games and the character of this team ensured that we were victorious in both." What are Moynalvey's ambitions for next season, then? "A big improvement will obviously be hoped for. With the exception of John Byrne, most of the players are under 25 so you would have to be hopeful about the future. We know that we're a better team than what the results showed last season and we're determined to prove this in the year ahead." Tweet

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