Champs turn on the style in SFC
There's a swagger that comes with being defending champions. Even when things aren't going your way, you tend to have the knowledge that there is more in the tank if needed and that was certainly the case for Simonstown as they coasted to an easy 2-17 to 0-11 SFC win over Moynalvey at Pairc Tailteann tonight.
Leading by just two points at the break courtesy of Joe Lyons' bundled goal, Simonstown were pegged back to level terms by the 36th minute as Moynalvey threatened to repeat their championship win of 2016 over Colm O'Rourke's side.
However being champions has made Simonstown mentally strong and after surviving a stern test of their credentials they turned on the afterburners in the final 23 minutes to outscore Moynalvey by 1-11 to 0-2.
They will be disappointed to have finished with 14 men after BrÃan Conlon picked up a second yellow card deep into injury time. Conlon jumped into a row that kicked off following a heavy challenge by Shane O'Rourke which yielded just a caution for the midfielder from referee Liam O'Brien.
However despite that lapse in discipline Simonstown were very composed and calm in defence and hugely efficient and effective in attack with Padraig McKeever, Sean Tobin and Nathan O'Brien impressing.
Moynalvey were the opposite. They kicked wide after wide throughout the game, finishing with 12 efforts off target and struggled to contain the rampaging Simonstown attacking unit.
Despite the heavy showers of rain that fell throughout the evening both sides played plenty of enterprising football with Cathal McCabe opening the scoring for Moynalvey in the third minute and soon after they could have had a penalty when Stephen Moran looked to have tripped Adam Murphy, but referee Liam O'Brien whistled for a free out for handling the ball on the ground.
Simonstown took advantage of that let off with Niall Kane pointing with ease, but Moynalvey continued to enjoy the better of the exchanges with a free from David McLoughlin followed by one from play for the full-forward to make it 0-3 to 0-1.
McLoughlin struck the upright with a speculative effort before Tobin converted a free after O'Rourke was fouled in the 10th minute.
The lively O'Brien levelled the contest before rare right-footed point from Tobin gave Simonstown the lead for the first time.
Two more points from McLoughlin, one from play after he brilliantly kept the ball in play and the second from a free after Padraic Harnan was fouled in the act of putting the ball over the line, edged Moynalvey ahead again, 0-5 to 0-4 in the 20th minute, but then Simonstown enjoyed a decent spell.
A Tobin '45' tied the game and even after O'Brien lost his footing when in goalscoring position Simonstown did manage to find the net when Lyons bundled the ball beyond Ray Ryan after O'Brien's long delivery caused the Moynalvey defence problems.
Cillian O'Sullivan's pace led to a good reply from Moynalvey, but a point for Tobin put three between the teams again before Dan Treacy blasted over a half-chance to close the gap to 0-7 to 1-6 at the break.
After kicking another couple of wides Moynalvey did manage to get level with scores from Anthony Forde and McLoughlin (free), but they managed just two more in the half as Simonstown took over.
Two from McKeever (one free) and a punched effort from Mark McCabe stretched Simonstown's lead to three before Cillian O'Sullivan responded with a fine effort from a difficult position.
Two more McKeever frees sandwiched a Tobin point to put some daylight between the sides and with Moynalvey needing a goal they went close twice.
Cillian O'Sullivan had a chance superbly tipped over by Robbie Burlingham and in the 51st minute Padraic Harnan struck the post with a thunderous effort. Those misses drained the life out of Moynalvey.
Points from McKeever, O'Brien and Lyons were followed by a cool finish by Michael Brennan to make it 2-15 to 0-11.
Another McKeever point preceded Conlon's red card and even when down to 14 men Simonstown still managed to close the scoring with McKeever bringing his tally to six as the champions made it two wins from two.
Simonstown – Robbie Burlingham; Shane Gallagher, Stephen Moran, Stephen O'Reilly; Brian McGrath, BrÃan Conlon, Niall Kane (0-1); Shane O'Rourke, Rory O'Connor; Joe Lyons (1-1), Sean Tobin (0-5 one frees, one '45'), Mark McCabe (0-1); Mark Gardiner, Padraig McKeever (0-7 three frees), Nathan O'Brien (0-2). Subs – Niall McMahon for O'Reilly 36 mins, Michael Brennan (1-0) for O'Connor 43m, Eanna Donoghue for McGrath 51m,
Moynalvey – Ray Ryan; Conor Harnan, Robert Lawless, Darren Brennan; Stephen Donoghue, Mark O'Sullivan, Anthony Forde (0-1); Padraic Harnan, Donal Smith; Cathal McCabe (0-1), Dan Treacy (0-1), Fearghal McCabe; Adam Murphy, David McLoughlin (0-5 three frees), Cillian O'Sullivan (0-3). Subs – James Kelly for C Harnan 26 mins, Shane Lenehan for F McCabe, Eamonn Walsh for Smith both 48m, Brian O'Reilly for Murphy 53m,
Referee – Liam O'Brien (Duleek/Bellewstown).