Oldcastle edge out Moynalvey to secure Premier final place
Oldcastle defeated Moynalvey 3-13 to 3-7 in the Premier FC Div 4 semi-final last evening and two of the most dedicated PROs in the county sent in reports on how the match unfolded.
Oldcastle report - Ealma Purcell
An entertaining semi-final was played out at Moynalvey last evening and it certainly was a game of two different halves.
Oldcastle came out all guns blazing in the first, the first kick of the game from Ross Cadden’s throw-in catch finding Eoin Smith who fired the ball over the bar, followed by a lovely point from CJ Healy. A pointed free came from CJ a minute later, before Moynalvey got their first score.
Healy was unlucky not to get a goal with the next play, the ball coming off the post, Oldcastle next score a lovely point from Ben Grey.
Oldcastle should have put more space between the sides, with some wides and short balls, before getting into their stride again.
Moynalvey were penalised for travelling and with CJ within kicking distance he put the ball over. Moynalvey came goal hunting, but Rian Mulvanny’s save denied them. Garrett O’Reilly was caught by studs at one end of the pitch, and while he was being attended to, CJ Healy took everyone by surprise with a goal the far end, but Moynalvey retaliated with a goal straight away.
A Darren Hawdon clearance on to Louis Colleran found Garrett, on to Lee Healy who had a super match, to James Cooke who kicked it beautifully to Ben Grey for a good mark, and a point from Ben. Good work from Conor Delaney got the ball on to Cillian Connell, he was in a good position and he fired home for the second Oldcastle goal.
The north Meath side were on a roll now, with another point from Garrett O'Reily. Conor Delaney was on a good run soon after before being busted sideways as he advanced on goal, CJ Healy putting the penalty to the back of the net to leave it Oldcastle 3-07, Moynalvey 1-02 at the break.
With a gap like that you would think Oldcastle were home and dry, but Moynalvey came out fighting in the second half.
Ben Grey, CJ Healy and James Cooke pointed for Oldcastle, but suddenly the opposition added on a point, followed by a goal, then three more points in a row. Ben Grey stopped the tsunami with an Oldcastle point, but yet another Moynalvey attack resulted in a goal, with the gap now down to four points.
Ben Grey took a lovely free; his substitute Stephen Tierney came onto the pitch and immediately sent over a fine point, but with that Moynalvey were awarded a penalty at the other end.
Rian Mulvanny pulled off a super save, and with six points now between the teams the ref blew the whistle on a well-deserved but hard-earned victory for Oldcastle, on a final score of Oldcastle 3-13, Moynalvey 3-07. The final awaits.
Oldcastle - Rian Mulvanny, Lee Healy, Louis Colleran, Matthew Cadden, Garrett O’Reilly (0-1), Mossy Flood, James Cooke (0-1), Ross Cadden, Conor Delaney, Brian Hetherton, CJ Healy (2-4), Cillian Connell (1-0), Darren Hawdon, Eoin Smith (0-1), Ben Grey (0-5). Subs - Paddy Rahill, Lloyd Colleran, Josh Halpin, Stephen Tierney (0-1).
Moynalvey report - Paul Greene
Moynalvey’s run in the Meath Cleaning Supplies Div. 4 Premier Championship was brought to halt by Oldcastle.
In what was literally a tale of two halves, it was Jude McNabb’s North Meath outfit who finished six point winners to progress to next Sunday’s final in Pairc Tailteann.
The visitors looked like running away with things early on as they built up a 1-5 to 0-2 lead in the opening quarter, Moynalvey’s points from William Harnan and Stephen Donoghue, having lost centre back Paul Corcoran to injury after just 10 minutes.
Robert Keane bundled the ball over the Oldcastle line to reduce the deficit to threepoints, 1-5 to 1-2 with 17 minutes played.
Two further Oldcastle goals, the first from Cillian Connell and the second a penalty on the stroke of half time whereby Moynalvey also lost David Durkan to a black card saw the visitors hold a commanding eleven point lead at half time, 3-7 to 1-2.
Three Oldcastle points within five minutes of the restart saw their advantage pushed out to a massive fourteen point lead, 3-10 to 1-2.
With the re-introduction of Durkan to bring Moynalvey back to the full 15, the home side dominated their opponents for the next 15 minutes or so reeling off 2-5 with Oldcastle adding a point in that time to whittle the deficit down from fourteen to four points, 3-11 to 3-7 with eight minutes remaining.
Deering had the opportunity to grab a second goal from the penalty spot late on only to see his effort saved and Oldcastle tagged on a further brace of points to settle nerves and hold on to their six point win and advance to the final of a full time score line of 3-13 to 3-7.
Best for Moynalvey were Cillian Kelly, David Durkan, Stephen Donoghue Paul Conneely and William Harnan.
Moynalvey - Anthony Brien, Cillian Kelly, Darragh Branigan, Adam Rooney, David Durkan, Paul Corcoran, Vinny Walsh (0-2f), Eoin Corrigan, Stephen Donoghue (0-1), Shaun Deering (1-0), Paul Conneely, Donal Smith, Darren Brennan (1-1), William Harnan (0-2), Robert Keane (1-1). Sub - Aidan Gilsenan for Paul Corcoran.