ACFL Div 6: Poor opening half costs Moynalvey

Moynalvey's Evan Drum

Trim had two points to spare over Moynalvey in the Semi Final of the Meath Cleaning Supplies Junior All County Football Championship Div. 6 played at St. Lomans Park Trim on Sunday morning 20th September.

Trim 3-8
Moynalvey 2-9

Trim’s ability to open Moynalvey up for goals in the first half looked like they were going to run away with this game as they led 3-4 to 0-4 at half time.

Trim full forward Neil Heffernan opened the scoring with a point off the right hand upright within sixty seconds of throw in and midfielder Paul Munnelly had the town side’s lead doubled five minutes later, 0-2 to 0-0.

Midfielder Cian Williams eventually opened Moynalvey’s account in the ninth minute, which was followed by an Aaron Sweeney free after Luke Duffy was pushed over after William Harnan had found him with a neat handpass, 0-2 apiece after twelve minutes.

Then came the first of Trim’s three first half goals, Neil Heffernan applied the fist home from close range, which was quickly followed by Trim’s second green flag when Robbie Kenny goaled with the same player pointing three minutes later to leave it 2-3 to 0-2 after nineteen minutes.

Evan Drum opened his account to leave the two goals between the sides, but another Robbie Kenny point and a third Trim goal from a Paul Munnelly penalty left it 3-4 to 0-3 after twenty eight minutes.

Moynalvey’s Aaron McCabe sent over the last score of the half after an Evan Drum cross field pass found him in space to leave the three goals between the sides when referee Niall Murphy blew his half time whistle, 3-4 to 0-4.

Three Trim points without response after the break from Neil Heffernan, Declan Greene and a fisted effort from Daniel Fox left Moynalvey with an uphill battle facing into a twelve point deficit, 3-7 to 0-4.

If the first half had belonged to the home side, from here on Moynalvey dominated, with the introduction of experienced substitute Ray Ryan paying immediate dividends for Moynalvey as he scored 1-1 within two and a half minutes, Luke Duffy fielding a high ball in and feeding Ryan who made no mistake rattling the Trim net. 

A further 1-4 without reply from Moynalvey, the goal from Luke Duffy who applied the finish after Evan Drum had hit the Trim cross bar along with points from Cian Williams, an Aaron Sweeney free after Trim were guilty of a three man up infringement, Jamie Ashe and an Evan Drum free after another Trim three man up infringement had the deficit down to the minimum with 61 minutes played, 3-7 to 2-9.

Try as they did in vain, Moynalvey couldn’t conjure the equalizing score and Trim tagged on a late free from veteran attacker Eoin McGrath to see them advance to the final on a 3-8 to 2-9 score line.

A spirited and brave second half effort almost saw Moynalvey complete the second half comeback with Cian Williams, Evan Drum, Aaron McCabe, Harry Dunne, Luke Duffy, Cillian Kelly and Ray Ryan to the fore.

Moynalvey team and scorers: Anthony Brien, Harry Dunne, Darragh Branigan, Cillian Kelly, Conor Byrne, Charlie Benson, Adam Rooney, Paul Conneely, Cian Williams (0-2), Evan Drum (0-2, 1f), Luke Duffy (1-0), Aaron McCabe (0-1), Aaron Sweeney (0-2f), William Harnan, Ronan Thompson.

Subs used: Ray Ryan (1-1) for Thompson, Jamie Ashe (0-1) for Rooney, Patrick Roddy for Sweeney.