Loughcrew 1-05 Moyfenragh 0-11 

There won’t be too many waiting on this report as Loughcrew and Moyfenragh played out a dour Semi-Final in the Regional Football Championship in Dunganny on Sunday afternoon with the Moyfenragh men coming away with a three-point win in a low scoring affair.

After a cagey opening five minutes Loughcrew sprang into life in the sixth minute when Jason Scully floated in a lovely ball and despite there being plenty of Loughcrew men in the area and three attempts at goal in quick succession, somehow Thomas Raleigh in the Moyfenragh net managed to keep the ball out.

Moyfenragh took the first score of the game in the eighth minute when Niall Durkin pointed from a free before Luke Kealy took the first score from play for Moyfenragh a moment later.

Loughcrew on the other hand were guilty of some poor shooting at the other end, sending a couple of decent chances wide of the posts or worse into the keepers' hands, but they finally opened their account when Luke Blake drove forward and fired over in the 13th minute.

Moyfenragh put two between the sides again when Niall Durkin sent over a point from play and the South Meath men were to hit a purple patch sending over the next three scores without reply, Nicky Potterton, Damien Healy and that man Durkin again, all raising white flags by the 20th minute to leave Moyfenragh leading by four.

The next ten minutes of the half could be easily forgotten as it was marred by inaccuracy and poor decision making by both sides, before Loughcrew finally scored again in the 30th minute, and even that came from a mistake when Moyfenragh fell foul of the rules with the ball being played back to the keeper and Pearse Sheridan sending over the resulting free.

So, when Referee Cormac Reilly, who had little to do bar keep his hands warm, blew the half time whistle Moyfenragh led on a scoreline of 0-06 to Loughcrews 0-02.

Loughcrew started the second half much brighter and soon they were in on goal, Eoin Briody and Seanie Geraghty defending brilliantly before the ball was worked quickly through Colin Hawdon, CJ Healy and Cian Blake before finding its way to Jason Scully and the Oldcastle man made no mistake firing to the net to leave just a point between the sides again.

That was as good as it got for Loughcrew though as rather than push on from their goal, they allowed Moyfenragh establish a foothold once again and they took their chances with aplomb, corner back Ciaran Sheridan, two for Niall Durkin and Ballinabrackey's Mark Coffey all converting from play to extend Moyfenraghs lead out to five points by the 46th minute.

Loughcrew were really struggling for scores, perhaps if sharpshooter Daire Shine had been at their disposal today the scoreline might have looked differently, but as it was, they had to try conjure scores from elsewhere.

They almost had a perfect goal when Oisin McDermotts fine kick out found Oran Mulvaney beyond the halfway line and he drove forward before laying off to substitute Keith Connell, who was desperately unlucky to see his fantastic effort rattle back off the crossbar and away from danger in the 48th minute.

Unfortunately for Loughcrew it was only when time was running against them that they managed to play a-bit of decent football with the final ten minutes probably their best of the whole game, Pearse Sheridan pointing twice by the 53rd minute before Cian Blake sent over a nice score three minutes later to leave just two between the sides again.

While they were getting plenty of the ball Loughcrew couldn’t make it count on the scoreboard though, and when Moyfenragh reclaimed possession they had all the patience in the world as they worked the ball around the Arc killing both the clock and Loughcrews hopes of finally advancing to the Regional Final.

A late free for Niall Durkin was enough to put three points between the sides and shortly after Referee Cormac Reilly blew the full-time whistle, Moyfenragh the victors on a scoreline of 0-11 to Loughcrews 1-05.

That result ends out involvement in the Regional Championship and once again we would like to thank Davy Nelson and his selectors of Gerry Gibney, Hugh McDonnell, Martin Blake and Joe Sheridan, for all their hard work and commitment to the team over the last month or so, it’s just a pity they don’t get the reward that their efforts warranted in the end.

Loughcrew Team: Oisin McDermott, Bobby Masterson, Dylan Garrigan, Shane Gibney, Luke Blake(0-01), Jason Scully(1-00), Lee Healy, Sean Reilly, Oran Mulvaney, Cormac Browne, Pearse Sheridan(0-03(2f)), Harry Ryan, CJ Healy, Colin Hawdon, Cian Blake(0-01). Subs: Sean Geraghty for Cormac Browne 20’, Eoin Briody for Pearse Sheridan H/T, Cormac Browne for Lee Healy 38’, Keith Connell for Harry Ryan 40’, Ryan Kevin for CJ Healy 43’, Pearse Sheridan for Colin Hawdon 48’

Moyfenragh Team: Thomas Raleigh, David Raleigh, Evan Quinn, Ciaran Sheridan(0-01), Mickey Burke, Dominic Finnegan, Damien Healy(0-01), Jim Roche, Mark Coffey(0-01), Evan Fitzgerald, Nicky Potterton(0-01), Eamon Roche, Niall Durkin(0-06(3f)), Luke Kealy(0-01), Ciaran McCarrick

Referee: Cormac Reilly

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