Goals prove decisive as Moynalvey go back-to-back

Goals proved decisive as Moynalvey claimed Meath Primary Schools honours for the second successive year winning the Boys Div 3 title with a 9-4 to 3-5 victory over Skryne at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday.

Skryne opened the scoring inside 90 seconds when Liam Looby's long ball broke to Jack Carty and he finished to the net. Two minutes later Naoise Reuter added a fine point to stretch Skryne's lead.

Moynalvey woke from their Sunday morning slumber and in some style as Conor Keogh found the net in the fifth minute and from the kickout Robert Walsh attacked and set up Soban Aziz for a fine goal.

In the seventh minute James Hanafin clipped over a point and 90 seconds later Keogh bagged his second and Moynalvey's third goal to open up a 3-1 to 1-1 lead.

Skryne weren't overwhelmed Michael Jackson finished, soccer style, to the net and from the kickout Noah Girard seemed to get the final touch in a goalmouth scramble to restore parity, 3-1 each.

Robert Walsh was denied by a brilliant save from Rian O'Donoghue before Aziz restored Moynalvey's lead with a goal and Hanafin doubled the advantage with his side's fifth goal.

Carty was denied a goal by the outstanding Harry McArdle who tipped his shot onto the crossbar and in the 20th minute Ardle did well to smother Carty's close range attempt.

Girard did close the gap to 3-2 to 5-1 at half-time with a fine point.

The scoring rate eased significantly in the second-half, but it was Moynalvey who continued to impress.

It took them seven minutes to add to their first-half tally and yet again they found the net when Adam Dunne's shot from distance deceived everyone and fell to the goals.

A minute later James Byrne produced a brilliant turn and finish to make it 7-1 to 3-2 and the goal onslaught continued when Matthew Quinlan got on the end of Conor Keogh's centre for his side's eighth goal.

Cuan O Bric responded with a '45' for Skryne, but Moynalvey's response was impressive as James Byrne claimed their ninth goal with a speculative effort from way out on the right.

Adam Dunne doubled his side's points tally to make it 9-2 to 3-3 before O Bric and Carty claimed late consolation scores for Skryne.

The final scores of the contest went the way of the winners with James Byrne and James Hanafin clipping over to spark wild celebrations.

Moynalvey NS - Harry McArdle; Jake Kiernan, Dáire Conneely; Seán Mongey, Liam Judge, Edward O’Shea; James Byrne (2-1), James Hanafin (1-2); Robert Walsh, Conor Keogh (1-0), Adam Dunne (2-1); Soban Aziz (2-0), Ian Carey. Subs - Aaron Quinn, Matthew Quinlan (1-0), Jude Young, Harry Ryan, Cillian Foley, Odhran Donne, Kyle Kiernan. Mentors - Anna Flynn, Willie Byrne, Tom Hanifin.

Skryne NS - Rían O’Donoghue; Conor Wall, Ian Mooney; Cuan O Bric (0-2 one free, one '45'), Ross Mulvaney, Conor Greenan; Cael Naughton, Liam Looby; Fionn O Bric, Jack Carty (1-1), Naoise Reuter (0-1); Michael Jackson (1-0), Noah Girard (1-1). Subs - Ethan Murphy, Ben Gibbons, Michael Looby, Max McGivern, Eric Doyle, Paddy Cheshire, Harry Callagan, David Philips, Patrick Shorten, Bobby Swan, Henry McGivern, Cillian Abbott, Fionn Muldoon, Alexander Sweeney, Josh Gaynor, Kyle O’Reilly, Harry McCormack. Mentors - Michael Newman, Tom Brennan, Oisín Connor.

Referee - James Brennan (Bohermeen NS).