Moynalty stun Slane to claim A FL Div 5 title
Moynalty caused what might be considered a seismic shock inflicting a first defeat of the campaign on Slane, 0-14 to 1-9, to capture the A FL Div 5 honours at Simonstown this evening, writes Davy Rispin.
On the face of it, it is an upset but when you delve a little deeper into the side's recent meetings, it is perhaps not just as alarming.
This was the fifth first team meeting between the sides over the last 18 months with Moynalty now boasting the upper hand courtesy of their latest success.
The most prominent of those encounters was undoubtedly the Junior B decider last October, a game which Slane won.
Maybe the hurt and pent-up frustration was the contributing factor to Moynalty’s success this time around.
There’s no doubt they have played better and lost in other games to their familiar foes but on the night Derek O’Brien’s charges were simply the hungrier of the two teams.
It all started so well for Des Teeling’s charges with a goal inside 90 seconds.
A long, agricultural delivery from Tadhg Martyn was fumbled by Johnny Lynch with goal-poacher Podge McGowan on hand to tap into an empty net.
Not deterred, the north Meath men settled with quickfire points from Bryan McCormack and Adam Reilly. However, Slane quickly established a four-point buffer inside 10 minutes thanks to a brace of McGowan scores either side of a Matt Tully effort.
Remarkably though, it would prove to be Slane’s last score for 15 minutes with Moynalty pointing six-in-a-row during that spell.
A hat-trick of Paddy Byrne frees along with scores from Niall O’Connor, Dylan Farrelly and a long-range Johnny Lynch free had the Junior B side two to the good with five minutes remaining in the half.
Slane regained their composure entering the closing stages of the opening period and rattled over three points in quick succession from the boots of Alan Harding, substitute Francis Marry and full back Evan Murray right on the half time whistle to hold an unlikely 1-6 to 0-8 advantage at the break.
The team in red began the second half with the more impetus and regained the lead by the 34th minute thanks to points from McCormack and the lively Kian Lynch.
Then they, like their opponents in the first half, tailed off completely and failed to register another white flag for the next 15 minutes.
That enabled Slane to wrestle back the initiative once more with a couple of points from the excellent McGowan and one from Peter Martyn to lead at the three-quarter mark, 1-9 to 0-10.
Battling for everything, Moynalty made their move approaching the final 10 minutes of the absorbing decider.
Converted frees from Joey Gilsenan and Byrne drew the sides level with Johnny Lynch striding forward to clip over the lead score from a '45' five minutes from time.
Second half substitute Pauric O’Connor fisted over the insurance score with the final play of the game to seal a memorable victory for the north Meath village and halt the Slane juggernaut - for now.
Moynalty - Johnny Lynch (0-2 one free, one '45'); Ronan Lynch, Liam Brogan, Cormac Kearney; Richie Gilsenan, Adam Reilly (0-1), Joey Gilsenan (0-1 free); Niall O’Connor (0-1), Dylan Farrelly (0-1); Jude Gilsenan, Paddy Byrne (0-4 frees), John Brogan; Paul Lynch, Bryan McCormack (0-2), Kian Lynch (0-1). Subs - Anto Nevin for J Brogan 40m, James Lynch for R Lynch 45m, Pauric O’Connor (0-1) for J Gilsenan 49m, Paddy Gallagher for R Gilsenan 56m.
Slane - Braydon Colfer; Alex Devin, Evan Murray (0-1), Johnny McDonagh; Eoin Feely, Jim Marry, Sean Martyn; Kyle Tallon, Peter Martyn (0-1); Tadhg Martyn, Alan Harding (0-1), Matthew Tully (0-1); Podge McGowan (1-4 two frees), Eanna Mooney, Matthew Kealy. Subs - Francis Marry (0-1) for McDonagh 27m, Ethan Harding for Mooney 34m, Niall Carolan for Feely 37m, Ben McDonagh for Tully, Oisín Mooney for Devin both 43m.
Referee - Stephen Cregan (Dunshaughlin).