Moynalty 1-18    Slane 3-11

Slane travelled to Kilmainhamwood on Saturday to take on Moynalty in round 2 of the Teach na Teamhrach Junior Championship.

Slane went into the game as underdogs against a well-drilled Moynalty outfit.

The game got off to the worst possible start from a Slane perspective, with Moynalty darting into a 6 point lead with less than 10 minutes on the clock. 

Moynalty were winning all the 50-50’s and kickouts and you felt early on this was going to be a long day...

Slane, without a score in the scorching heat, moved out well from the backs and a long direct ball into Podge McGowan seen him feed Matt Tully who showed great composure to bury the ball into the net to get slane up and running. 
This would prove to be slane’s only score at the water break, with Moynalty tagging on 2 further scores to widen the margin to 5.

Tully, McGowan and Cillian Gough kicked points towards the end of the first half to cancel out some fine Moynalty points to send the sides in at half time 11 points to 1-3.

Slane changed their system at half time and went man to man and this worked wonders. Slane began winning most of the kickouts and winning lots of turnovers and creating very good chances. 

2 minutes into the second half midfielder Peter Martyn came into the danger area like a steam train, and powered it into the net to get Slane’s second goal and reduce the margin to 2.

2 minutes later, a 2v1 opportunity for a Slane goal was somehow expertly saved by Moynalty keeper Johnny Lynch, which seen the resulting attack result in a Moynalty goal on the counter attack.

Tully tagged on another point from play, before Lynch was called into action yet again, with a fine save to deny McGowan a goal which resulted in a point.

Slane’s defence was standing firm, with corner back Liam White making marauding runs and creating attacks.

Kyle Tallon who found himself deployed in an unfamiliar wing back role, was a man possessed in the second half - running onto breaking balls and creating attack after attack. A powerful run through the Moynalty defence seen Tallon power over and the Slane scores began to tick over. 

Some fresh legs in Danny Carolan and Zak Fitzsimons assisted the Slane attacks, replacing Daniel Forde and Gough who both worked tirelessly in the half forward line and making attacks.

A Tully free reduced the margin again before Midfielder Jim Marry found himself barrelling in on goal and took his point well to leave 4 between the sides at this point.

Substitute Zak Fitzsimons cut in on the left side and curled over with his right to cancel out a Moynalty score.

Tully pointed again after a brilliant solo run, before he found the net again for his second and slane’s third goal, rounding the Moynalty shot stopper and tapping into an empty net.

With 5 minutes left to play, Slane threw everything at the red wall which could barely get out of their own half at this point. The dying moments seen a Slane effort cannon off the top right post of the goal and a shot drop agonisingly short. 

Referee Stephen Skelly blew the full time whistle, with Slane tasting bitter defeat after a brilliant second half performance. Slane will regret some missed opportunities to at least draw the game, but will take encouragement from the performance ahead of the showdown with St Vincent’s in 2 weeks time.

Slane: Darren Berrill, Steven Kells, Sean Martyn, Liam White, Ru Searle, Francie Marry, Kyle Tallon 0-1, Jim Marry 0-1, Peter Martyn 1-0, Podge McGowan 0-2, Matt Tully 2-5
Cillian Gough 0-1, Eoin Feeley, Eanna Mooney, Daniel Forde. Subs: Danny Carolan for Daniel Forde, Zak Fitzsimons 0-1 for Cillian Gough, Finn Searle for Kyle Tallon

Thanks to Moynalty for a brilliant game of football, and thanks to Kilmainhamwood for hosting the game also. 
Special thank you to the Slane supporters who really helped drive the team on in the second half. Although only allocated 55 tickets, the roar of the Slane crowd gave the lads a much needed boost going into the latter stages of the second half and was a brilliant atmosphere.

Slane play St Vincent’s in 2 weeks time, knowing only a win will give them any chance of qualifying for the semi finals. Best of luck lads!

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