Dramatic recovery seals title victory

IT"S never over until it"s over and an example of that old adage was clearly seen in this rip-roaring u-21 C FC final at Dunganny on Saturday afternoon where Moynalvey staged a comeback to beat all comebacks. Each side finished the game a man down with Clann na nGael"s Damien Tuite and Moynalvey"s James Weldon sent off just before the break following an altercation. Clann na nGael were ahead by 3-4 to 0-3 at the interval and were in cruise control. In the opening minutes of the second-half Joe McDonagh, who gave a big performance, extended that advantage to 11 points. Any talk at that stage of this game going to extra-time would have been deemed ludicrous and would have put the person who suggested it in danger of being dragged away by men in white coats, and it wouldn"t have been the umpires! Yet that"s what happened as Moynalvey staged their outlandishly audacious revival to force the game into extra-time. Granted a reprieve, they went on to pull away with three points to spare at the end. They celebrated in style and manager Stephen Donoghue was left to reflect on a great day for his team. 'I told the lads at half-time that they had a mountain to climb and they responded really well, they were brilliant,' he stated. The first time Moynalvey took the lead was in the early stages of extra-time and that stark fact says a great deal about how this roller-coaster encounter unfolded before the disbelieving eyes of a large crowd. Some of the Clann na nGael players and supporters were clearly stunned at how the afternoon had unfolded. Two years ago Moynalvey lost out to St Brigid"s in the final of this competition and for much of normal time on Saturday even their most optimistic supporter must have despaired of a victory. Then it all changed. The start of the comeback could be traced back to Moynalvey"s first goal in the opening minutes of the second-half. Mark O"Sullivan delivered a neat pass to the rampaging Peter Durnin, whose initial shot was well saved by Clann na nGael netminder Darren Griffin, but Durnin followed up the rebound and slotted high to the net from an awkward angle. Bit by bit Moynalvey eroded their opponent"s commanding advantage. Durnin and O"Sullivan fired over excellent points from play, Ray Ryan converted a free. More significantly, Philip Garvey displayed sharp predatory skills in slotting home two goals. There was only seven minutes remaining when O"Sullivan skilfully played a pass for Garvey who did well to fire to the net. Soon after, William Mahady and David Donoghue, who were superb throughout, combined to set up Durnin. He crossed for Garvey to bravely punch the ball to the net. That score left the sides level for the first time at 3-7 apiece. To add to the excitement of the closing minutes Moynalvey were awarded a penalty after Luke Duffy was fouled. Griffin saved O"Sullivan"s shot and from the rebound Ryan slotted over the bar. There was further nerve-jangling action as the seconds ticked away. Ciaran Smith was deemed to have been fouled and McDonagh stepped up to slot the ball over the bar. That looked to be the clincher for Clann na nGael who were now ahead by 3-8 to 3-7, but with seconds left O"Sullivan displayed his rich potential by slotting over an equalising point from play. The force was then with Moynalvey and extra-time points from O"Sullivan (two), Duffy, Garvey and Ryan drove home their advantage. Clann na nGael players were left shaking their heads at the end. They gave a brilliant display in the first-half with two superbly taken goals from Ciaran Smith and one from McDonagh giving them their commanding interval lead. It could have been even worse for Moynalvey with Tuite presented with two good chances that went wide. Padraig Joyce and John Sheehan were particularly effective at the back throughout while John Daly, who fired over a first-rate point, Davy Williams, Tuite, and Ciaran Kelly were always a threat for Clann na nGael with their searching runs. However, the well prepared Moynalvey side finished strongest to clinch their rousing and unlikely win at the end of a memorable game. The Teams Moynalvey - B Reilly; W Mahady, S Carroll; J Duffy, D Donoghue, D Smith; J Weldon (0-1), P Garvey; R Ryan (0-3), P Durnin (1-1), M O"Sullivan (0-5); P Garvey (2-2), F Cunningham. Subs - L Duffy (0-1) for Cunningham, T J Lynch for Carroll. Clann na nGael - D Griffin; P Joyce, G Brown; B Duffy, A Brown, J Sheehan; D Kelly, D Williams (0-1); J McDonagh (1-8), J Daly (0-1), C Kelly; D Tuite, C Smith (2-0). Subs - S Kenny for Daly, A Cully for Joyce. Referee - Frankie Lynch (Drumbaragh).