Moynalvey add Leinster title to trophy cabinet

Moynalvey produced a high-tempo performance against hosts St Mary"s, Rochfortbridge to capture the Leinster JFC title on an almost frozen pitch in the heart of Westmeath on Sunday. Roared on by a sizeable contingent of flag-waving supporters, the Meath junior champions demonstrated their resolve with a sparkling first-half performance during which they laid the foundations for victory. Success has been a frequent visitor to Moynalvey this year and the prospects for the future look bright as the club added a u-15 FL title to their trophy cabinet last week when the young guns disposed of local rivals and neighbours Summerhill in the decider at Pairc Tailteann. Add in the fact that the club also boast a u-21 C FC title this year along with u-14 and u-12 trophies and it"s easy to understand why they won the Matthew Ginnity JFC cup and have now added the Leinster JFC accolade. The prospects of All-Ireland success should not be discounted either. Central to most of what Moynalvey did on Sunday was the performance of Cathal Sheridan, a veteran of the side who had contemplated retirement last year after tasting SHC glory with Kiltale and the disappointment of a JFC final defeat by Clann na nGael. 'I was going to retire last year, but I decided to give it one more go and here we are now, almost at the end of December and I"m still playing, it looks like I"ll have to continue into 2009,' he told the Meath Chronicle minutes after Sunday"s final whistle as his back was slapped with enthusiasm by delighted Moynalvey supporters who flocked on to the pitch without any fear of damaging the surface. With an All-Ireland showdown looming against the British champions in early January, the Moynalvey players may have to consider a Spartan Christmas and New year regime ahead of that challenge. And if Moynalvey adopt the same tactics next time as those that worked so well on Sunday, then the success story could take them all the way to outright glory. Moynalvey had to work hard for this victory. They were ahead by 0-5 to 0-3 at the interval and it was a thoroughly merited advantage with points from Sheridan (three), Brian Gilsenan and Stephen Donoghue. The Westmeath champions, who were a senior side only two years ago, stayed in touch through David Mitchell, who gave them a second minute lead, Alan Gavin and Kieran Geraghty. However, that opening half produced some great passages of play as both teams, in boxing terms, traded punch for punch, in a game which was played at a frantic pace. It was full of honest endeavour and although Offaly referee Damien Brazil dispensed nine yellow cards, two to Moynalvey, and one red to St Mary"s defender Larry Poynton with two minutes remaining, there was nothing untoward in the game. Moynalvey lost Robbie Quinlan in the second-half after he sustained a knock to the head. He was brought to hospital as a precaution. Apart from Sheridan, Moynalvey had big performers in all departments, none more so than Mark O"Sullivan who was a constant threat from his starting position in the half-forward line. At the back, the bearded Damien Dixon took no prisoners and it was his resolve that came to the rescue on many occasions as St Mary"s upped the tempo, especially in the closing stages of the first-half after Gregahty"s point drew the sides level at 0-3 apiece. Prior to that Moynalvey "keeper Ollie Regan produced a good save, it was just one of many which the vastly under-rated custodian delivered for the hour as he handled well throughout. On level terms, St Mary"s went in search of the lead and it took an excellent David Kane interception to deny the hosts another goal chance before Dixon broke up an attack which seemed to deflate St Mary"s. Dixon was the fulcrum in the half-back line in which both Paul Weldon and David Donoghue were superb and Moynalvey closed out the half on a high with late points from Donoghue and Sheridan. That left it very difficult for St Mary"s as they had dominated the latter stages of the first-half and when they fell further adrift to a brace of O"Sullivan points from play within four minutes of the resumption, it set the Meath champions up for victory. Moynalvey were 0-7 to 0-5 to the good by the end of the third-quarter and it was a credit to both teams that they maintained the momentum on what was a very difficult surface, but the Westmeath side just ran out of ideas in the closing stages and were a well beaten team by the time Poynton collected his second yellow card. Moynalvey - O Regan; R Kiernan, P Donoghue, D Kane; P Weldon, D Dixon, D Donoghue; S Donoghue (0-1), G Fagan; J Donoghue, C Sheridan (0-6), R Quinlan; B Gilsenan (0-2), W Byrne, M O"Sullivan (0-2). Subs - S Reilly for Quinlan 36 mins; B Conneely for Fagan 57m; PJ Walsh for Sheridan 58m. St Mary"s, Rochfortbridge - D Hogan; T Giles, K Delaney, A Nolan; L Poynton, M Geraghty, P Carey; D Mitchell (0-5), D Gavin; R Kenny, A Gavin (0-1), B Pierce; K Geraghty (0-2), K Berry, J McNamara (0-1). Subs - C Conroy for Carey 32 mins; K Gunning for Berry 37m; E Gorman for Pierce 50m. Referee - Damien Brazil (Offaly).