Clann na nGael can negotiate Moylagh challenge

Two years ago Moylagh were in the JFC final. It’s not something their supporters will thank you for bringing up in a conversation as it was game they would probably rather forget with rivals Meath Hill winning, 1-12 to 0-9. 

Now here they are again this time taking on Clann na nGael - and they will be going all out to take the Peter McDermott Cup back to their north Meath stronghold and complete a championship and league double. 

However, there is also compelling evidence to suggest that Clann na nGael - who last landed a JFC crown in 2007 - will find the right combination to unlock the Moylagh defensive safe and return home with the coveted piece of silverware, safely wrapped up in a green and gold flag. Clann na nGael can clinch the deal, just about. 

Moylagh, who are managed by Dunderry’s Kevin Dowd, have experienced their fair share of turbulence to get to this stage including the loss of two group games.

They only sneaked into the knock-out stages from Group A, finishing in third place, two points ahead of Moynalty. 

Since then they have powered on, digging deep to overcome Summerhill in the quarter-final before getting the better of Dunsany in the last four, after extra-time.

They also won the A FL Div 4 title defeating none other than Clann na nGael in the final, 1-13 to 0-9. 

Moylagh’s Joe Melia however is not putting too much store on that victory.

“If form has shown anything it is that since the league final Clann na nGael have beaten a very good St Ultan’s side and a very, very good Ballivor team in the semi-final,” stated Melia.

“So while the league final victory was enjoyable and stood on its own merit, it isn’t anything to go by for the championship decider. 

“There were large parts of that championship semi-final against Dunsany we wouldn’t be happy with in terms of how we played.

“We only scored a point in the first-half, but I suppose the ability to dig it out and find a way is something we would be happy with.

“I suppose that’s something Kevin (Dowd) has brought to us, that fighting spirit and encouragement to keep going,” he added.

At times in their championship campaign Moylagh have looked vulnerable (they lost, for example, 1-14 to 5-9 against Ballivor) while on other occasions they have displayed the true grit of a team that believes, such as the 0-7 to 0-6 win they dug out against Carnaross, the defeat of Summerhill or that victory over Dunsany. 

Moylagh have top class players at this level such as Sean Reilly and Tommy O’Reilly, and Clann na nGael will be very familiar with what they can bring to the table. 

The sides are also familiar with each other having already met twice in that A FL Div 4, Moylagh winning both contests, including the final. 

That defeat, Clann na nGael manager Tommy Hanley has admitted, was something of a watershed for his team; a turning point.

“We realised after that game that we had to tighten up at the back, they cut through us three or four times in the first-half and only for our goalkeeper Eoin Griffin, who was brilliant, we would have have been beaten by more,” said Hanley. 

After that setback Clann na nGael did a lot of soul-searching and emerged a stronger bunch.

They certainly displayed formidable mental strength in the way they stood up to Ballivor, eventually grinding down their highly-fancied opponents, smothering them with a high-energy, fire and venom type of performance.

The win was all the more commendable as after just 20 minutes Ballivor led 0-5 to 0-1.

Clann na nGael like to move the ball fast and quick - and are well capable of doing just that with at a bewildering pace that certainly caused Ballivor problems.

Phillip Garry, Eamonn O Donnchacha and Cian Swaine are big players for them in a very young team that contains a hefty contingent of teenagers.

They will have learned a great deal in recent weeks. 

While they didn’t make it out of the group in 2018 Clann na nGael changed course at the start of this year.

“It’s a totally different team this year, we made a lot of changes, we just went with youth and so far we’ve reaped the rewards,” added Hanley who won All-Ireland MFC, u-21 FC and National League medals with Meath in a fine playing career. 

No doubt feeling that they didn’t do themselves justice two years ago Moylagh have been on something of a mission since then to put things right.

Now is their chance.

Clann na nGael, however, are a young team on the rise, getting stronger with each game. 

Both teams have, by reaching the final, already booked a place in an enlarged IFC next year, but they will want to win the final and claim the Peter McDermott Cup.

Clann na nGael’s young guns can secure the coveted piece of silverware and make it a football and hurling double for the club that has already claimed the IHC title a couple of weeks ago.