Moynalty lifted their first under 14 league title since 1994, when they overcame the challenge of near neighbours, Ballinlough in the Div. 4A title decider at Carlanstown at the end of June. Juvenile chairman Tom Lynch reviewed the year with John Loughran. Moynalty's victory over Ballinlough in the under 14 Div 4A league final scarcely got a mention in the local media. Nevertheless, this victory represents a significant achievement for a club that has been in the doldrums for the past few years. When you consider that Moynalty have to go back to 1994 for their last under 14 league title (Div. 3), the significance of this victory comes sharply into focus. Despite the best endeavours of the club, outright success at underage has been few and far between over the years. Tom believes the seeds for this success were sown four years ago, when the club decided to enter an under 10 team in the North West League organised by Ballinlough. He recalled: "Myself and Joey Curley got involved with them, when we entered the North West League. Sean Smyth from Ballinlough has to take great credit for that league, because it gave a lot of young lads the opportunity to start playing football." "The league gave clubs like Moynalty, Carnaross, St. Michael's, Ballinlough, Oldcastle, St. Brigid's and Moylagh etc an opportunity play each other on a league basis. I think we won the "losers" final that year, which gives you an indication how far the team has progressed in the last four years," he added. Moynalty were lumped in with Ballinlough, Syddan, St. Michael's, Nobber, Kilmainhamwood, and Bru Na Boinne, the Slane and St. Mary's combination, in the Div 4A of this league in 2005. Tom knew there would be intense rivalry in the group. "In the under 13 league in 2004, we qualified for the semi-final, but we were beaten by Ballinlough at Drumbaragh. We lost out by two points in a very competitive game." He added: "Nobber went on to win that under 13 league so we knew were going to have our work cut out in the group." The class of 2005 were always "there or thereabouts" against the likes of Ballinlough and Nobber over the previous two years, but "couldn't kill them off in the last 10 minutes of games." Therefore Tom was hopeful that they could finally make the breakthrough in 2005. "Those teams always seemed to have that little bit extra, but this year Joseph Curley was a revelation at fullback, while David Finnegan at centre half came on in leaps and bounds from the previous year," he noted. He continued: "Christy Cahill had a terrific year in the forwards and was virtually unstoppable. He excelled for us and averaged three goals and five or six points in every game." As hoped, Moynalty qualified for the knock out stages by recording five out of six victories in the group. Once again their old adversaries Ballinlough proved to be their bogey team. "They beat us in the second round by two points. That day we were missing David Finnegan, which proved to be a big loss. We felt if we met them again, we could getter the better of them," he recalled. Those five victories ensured that Moynalty comfortably qualified for the semi-finals of the league, by finishing in second place in the group, two points adrift of Ballinlough. However, before they could set up a rematch with the old enemy they had to overcome the considerable challenge of Syddan in the semi-final. "Syddan had beaten us in previous years, so we didn't under estimate them." He continued: "I think we beat them by seven points (5-6 to 3-5) in the semi-final, but we didn't have it all our own way. They were leading with five or six minutes to go, but Christy Cahill bagged two goals and three points to grab the victory in the closing stages." Underage football matches have a unique ebb and flow, which adds to the excitement of the occasion. A seemingly unassailable lead can be wiped out in the blink of an eye. In that fashion Moynalty's victory over Syddan wasn't nearly as comfortable as the scoreline would suggest. "That's the nature of underage football. We deserved our victory on the night, but the score certainly flattered us," Tom remarked. Based on their narrow defeat to Ballinlough in the second round of the group, Tom felt Moynalty had the wherewithal to overturn the form book, which was heavily weighted in favour of the 'Lough, when they met in the final. Ballinlough had recorded a facile 8-18 to 1-5 victory over Nobber in their semi-final, but Tom still felt that Moynalty could pull off a surprise victory. "We felt we were in with a very good chance going into that game in Carlanstown, even though Ballinlough had been our bogey team for the last couple of years." Tom's confidence in the team wasn't misplaced and they went on to record a 6-9 to 3-8 victory. Again Moynalty where somewhat flattered by the victory. "Ballinlough could probably count themselves unlucky because they hit the post and crossbar, but I feel we were the stronger team on the night and deserved our victory," Tom quipped. He added: "The scoreline wasn't a true reflection on the game because there wasn't that much between the teams, but we were the hungrier team on the night and deserved our victory." The loss of midfielder Eoin Farrelly days before the league final could have proved a fatal blow to Moynalty, but his midfield partner Michael Lynch turned in a commanding display to power his side to victory. Joseph Curley, David Finnegan, Cormac Donegan and the irrepressible Christy Cahill also shone on the night, according to Tom. Tom believes this victory gave a huge boost to the parish. "When we came back to Moynalty the streets were lined with people who wanted to cheer on the team. We haven't seen the likes of that since Moynalty won the junior in 1987. "It gave the club and the parish a huge lift and was a source of great encouragement for the future. It gave us all a great boost when we were at a low ebb. This victory was a sign that the club has a bright future ahead of it," Tom enthused. Up and coming footballers Sean Lynch, John McCabe and Tony Clinton missed out on the under 14 success as they were a year overage, but Tom is confident that they will get their opportunity to garner success at minor level in a couple of years. "I feel it will all come together at under 16 and minor level in a couple of years time. There is a great crop of talent in the club, which bodes well for the future," he enthused. Tom, coach Joey Curley, Paddy Cahill, John Brady and Anne McMahon (medic) will rightly get the plaudits for their achievements with the under 14s but it would be remiss to think that they are the only hard working volunteers at underage level. Tom explained: "Gillian Bennett is doing great work with the under 6s and the under 8s. Equally, Charlie Farrelly is doing great work under the under 10s. Right throughout the whole underage set up we have great workers." He concluded: "Somebody said to me recently - It is better to have a lot of people doing some work, than some people doing a lot of work, and that is the way it is in Moynalty." Tweet

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