Moynalvey 6-08 (26)
Blackhall Gaels 11-08 (41)
Blackhall sealed third place in their division and a semi-final meeting with St Marys in overcoming their neighbours Moynalvey by 11-8 to 6-8 in a rip-roaring local derby played on Saturday night.
Goals proved to be the key once again, as the Blackhall boys moved their tally onto 53 goals in the last 4 games, and in truth if they can keep this up they will be a difficult match for anyone.
Conor Duffy once again proved to be the goal-scoring hero amassing 6 goals, 5 of which came in the first half. A word too for Rory O'Mahony who laid on two of the goals with some good positioning and unselfish play.
The Gaels went in 5-4 to 2-3 ahead. Apart from Duffy's five goals, he also popped over a point, Adam McHugh popped over a '45, Dylan Cranley got another and Eoin Kealy scored a lovely free which was particularly important coming as it did just before half-time to end a period of Moynalvey dominance and a stretch of nearly 10 minutes without a Blackhall score.
Whilst the forwards get a lot of the deserved plaudits, in truth the hard yards where this game was won was at midfield and in the backs. Adam McHugh was immense and showed incredible guts and determination driving up and down the field the entire game. The full back line was very solid, with Sean Berry dispossessing the Moynalvey forwards on several occasions when a goal looked likely and Fionn Timmons impressing once again as the roving, speedy corner back. A word too for young Luke Jennings who in only his second start in goals showed some really solid handling and used his kickouts well.
Despite showing great determination, Moynalvey were never able to close the gap on their neighbours, and any hope of a revival they might have harboured at half-time were quickly dashed by a goal from the excellent Dylan Cranley within 30 seconds of the restart. Once again good work around the middle by Fearghal Kiernan, McHugh, Eoin Kealy and Patrick Sheeran created the opportunities and the Blackhall forwards showed they knew where the goals were.
Eoin O'Toole and Thomas Coakley entered the action at half-time and Coakley added his name to the scoresheet with a goal after 3 minutes of the second half. Moynalvey continued to press but were again held out by some good defending with Fergal Kieran and Adam McHugh showing well. Adam O'Leary and Tony O'Connor also got some good blocks in.
Eoin Kealy had a great second half, winning a lot of possession and using it very wisely, whilst also helping himself to 1-2. Rory O'Mahony was reintroduced towards the end and grabbed a quick 1-1 which his performance deserved.
It was a day when the senior players on the team stood up and were counted with McHugh, Kealy, Sheeran, and Kieran all playing key roles around the middle. Dylan Cranley worked his socks off and Timmons and Berry were excellent in defence. It was also a day that showed the importance of having the full panel of players with the fresh legs helping Blackhall over the line in the second half.
Off to Donore now where the Gaels will have it all to do to overturn the earlier league result against St Marys.
Team:
Luke Jennings
Fionn Timmons (sub Adam O'Leary 38 mins)
Sean Berry
Fergal Kiernan
Adam O'Leary (Sub Tony O'Connor, 15 mins)
Eoin Kealy
Adam McHugh
Patrick Sheeran
Adam Tighe (sub Eoin O'Toole h-t)
Dylan Cranley (sub Adam Tighe 42 mins)
Rory O'Mahony (sub Thomas Coakley h-t)
Conor Duffy (Sub R O'Mahony 42 mins)
Scorers:
Conor Duffy (6-1)
Dylan Cranley (2-1)
Eoin Kealy (1-3 (0-1 (f))
Thomas Coakley (1-1)
Rory O'Mahony (1-1)
Adam McHugh (0-1 ('45))