Junior B FC Final Preview: Moynalty hoping to clinch a double with a third win over Slane

It certainly has been an interesting year for Slane and Moynalty. Both have already claimed silverware this term and now they are each aiming for a double with Moynalty hoping to complete a hat-trick over Slane in the Junior B FC high-noon decider at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday.

Moynalty drew first blood back in February when they lifted the Tailteann Shield with a late goal giving them a 2-6 to 1-8 victory over Slane in the final.

The sides met again in the opening round of the Junior B FC in July and once again Moynalty claimed the spoils with a narrow 0-10 to 0-9 victory. In between those two narrow loses Slane won all seven of the A FL Div 3B games they played and then claimed the league crown with a 2-18 to 1-2 final victory over Cortown.

Slane's loss to Moynalty in the opening round was their only defeat in the championship, while Moynalty slipped up in their penultimate game against Carnaross.

All the signs point to an exciting Junior B FC final and while Slane manager Des Teeling admits that Slane seem to have his side's number he believes his team have what it takes to reverse recent fortunes.

"We are all excited about getting over the line in the semi-final and we are looking forward to the final now. We didn't pick up any injuries and no one got sent off, so I'm happy that we have a full deck to play with," said Teeling.

"We have had headaches all year, we do stay together for an hour trying to pick teams before the games and we will be the same before the final sitting down scratching our heads, trying to get our match up right. They (Moynalty) have beaten us twice already this year. They were close games, so we know we have a big challenge ahead of us."

Teeling acknowledges that he intends to learn from last year's Junior B final loss to St Brigid's

"Anyone that was involved last year will have learned lessons about how to come into a big final. Maybe the nerves or game preparation wasn't perfect last year.

"We don't want to change anything either. We can't live in the past, we have to move on from last year, but anything we can gather and learn from last year we definitely will."

Teeling believes that Slane have been long enough in the doldrums and with all the hard work that has gone on at underage level he thinks they will start moving through the ranks.

"Slane has fallen down through the ranks from being a senior side in the 90s. They have hit rock bottom, but are now trying to get back up and it is all about underage and getting structures in place to bring in new players every year and we are seeing the fruit of that now after 10 or 12 years of that good work.

"That work is still going on. Slane have good u-14, u-16 and minor teams. The future is bright for Slane and the club should be commended for that.

"There are lots of good clubs around Meath that are an inspiration for us to go on and try to achieve what they have achieved. We are hoping to get up with clubs like Kilbride and St Brigid's."

Moynalty manager Derek O'Brien is enjoying his first job as an adult manager and he is bringing all the experience of his time as Meath minor manager to what he believes are a talented group of players.

"With Meath minors you are more managing players, but in the club scene it is a bit more hands on," said O'Brien.

"I do have help from Stephen (Blackburn), Keith (Brady) and Eddie (Coldrick), but at county level you are more stepping back and watching than you would be with the club.

"Being involved in the Regional Championships at the end of last year there were a few of the Moynalty lads in so that gave me a fair idea of the quality of players that is here.

"There were a few injuries that weren't available early on but we have a full quota now.

"When I was contacted I went over to the club I got on with all the football committee in our meeting, that was my first step up into adult management coming from the Meath minors.

"It has all went well and we have had to mind the players that were injured during the year, so that was a big thing.

"The leaders like Paul (Lynch), James (Cassidy), Pauric O'Connor and Adam (Reilly) bring confidence and a good voice to training. The average age of the team is only 24 years old, so they are still young."

O'Brien is well aware that while his side won both meetings with Slane earlier in the year Moynalty face another tough test next Saturday.

"The goal at the start of the year was to go out and try to win every match. In the Tailteann Shield we were lucky to get to the final and win that, then we took it one game at a time in the league. We didn't get to where we wanted in the league, but we had one eye on the championship and that was the priority for the club.

"We probably had a bit of Lady Luck in both games we played against Slane this year. We got an injury-time goal in the semi-final of the Tailteann Shield to win by a point and then we held on in the first round of the championship by a point. Hopefully it will be another close game and we will come out on the right side of the result and it will be third time lucky too," concluded the Moynalty manager.

CHRONICLE PREDICTS - Slane.