IFC: Moynalvey progress to the last eight

Moynalvey's Cillian O'Sullivan

Moynalvey had eight points to spare over Dunsany in this round three game of the Meade Farm Intermediate Championship played under Friday night lights at Kepak Park Dunboyne on Friday 4th September.

Moynalvey 1-18
Dunsany 1-10

Following an opening round loss to Meath Hill, two eight point local derby wins over neighbours Blackhall Gaels and this win over Dunsany sees Moynalvey progress to the quarter finals emerging in second place in group C behind unbeaten table toppers Meath Hill. 

Played at the somewhat unique venue of Kepak Park Dunboyne, the impressive new floodlit facility of St. Peters, both Moynalvey and Dunsany lined out in their alternative jerseys due to a clash of colours of the club’s primary jerseys.

Having built momentum in the first half to hold a ten point half time lead Moynalvey were in control throughout, a Cian O’Sullivan goal in the 53rd minute narrowing the gap to six to give Dunsany some hope, the nearest Tom Shine’s outfit got to Moynalvey.

Dunsany’s Meath U-20 player Stephen Cahill opened the game’s scoring when firing over after sixty seconds which would be the only time his side would lead throughout.

Moynalvey’s opening score came from Mark O’Sullivan with a two point effort three minutes in. The youngest O’Sullivan brother Hugh then landed a brace to make it 0-4 to 0-1 after ten minutes.

Then came the game’s opening goal, Cillian O’Sullivan bundled over near goal line but managed to transfer the ball back to Vinny Walsh who showed composure side stepping a couple of Dunsany defenders to find the net off his left from close range, 1-4 to 0-1 with eleven minutes played.

Dunsany responded to this setback with a Stephen Cahill free, but a pair of Moynalvey points from the O’Sullivan brothers Mark and Cillian had Moynalvey seven up after eighteen minutes, 1-6 to 0-2.

Dunsany’s sole first half scorer Stephen Cahill fired over his side’s final score of the first half in the 19th minute. Moynalvey rounded off the half with a further four points, two frees from Cillian including a two pointer and one from Mark to leave it 1-10 to 0-3 at half time.

Dunsany had a great start to the second half with midfielder Kris Gorman sending over a two pointer in the first minute of the half, 1-10 to 0-5.

A pair of points from O’Sullivan brothers Cillian and Hugh were countered by a two point free from Stephen Cahill, leaving Moynalvey’s advantage at eight points twelve minutes into the second half, 1-12 to 0-7.

Mark O’Sullivan then fielded Niall Flynn’s kickout and brother Hugh was on the end of the move to apply the finish. Hugh’s point was followed up by an Adam Murphy point beautifully curled in from the left to extend Moynalvey’s advantage back out to ten points, 1-14 to 0-7.

Dunsany’s purple patch eventually came and points from Lorcan Byrne, Stephen Cahill and a goal from Cian O’Sullivan, with Moynalvey responding with a Hugh O’Sullivan point left six between the sides, 1-15 to 1-9 with seven minutes remaining.

Moynalvey’s Mark O’Sullivan teed up Barry Walsh to break the Dunsany scoring, with Jack Cottrell pointing for his side’s final score in the 57th minute.

There was still time for a couple of Moynalvey frees, the first from substitute David McLoughlin followed by Cillian O’Sullivan to leave the full time score 1-18 to 1-10 when referee Derek Ryan blew his full time whistle, meaning job done for Moynalvey who progress to the last eight and await Sunday evening’s draw to find out their opponents.

The three O’Sullivan brothers making up half the Moynalvey attack accounted for fifteen points between them here, with Mark rolling back the years turning in a man of the match performance. Others to shine for Moynalvey were Hugh O’Sullivan with five points from play, Padraic Harnan, Barry Walsh, Vinny Walsh, Darren Brennan and Sean McDonagh.

Moynalvey team and scorers: Anthony Brien, Sean McDonagh, Conor Harnan, Charlie McCormack, Anthony Forde, Darren Brennan, Michael Brady, Adam Murphy, Craig Gilsenan, Barry Walsh (0-1), Padraic Harnan, Hugh O’Sullivan (0-5), Vinny Walsh (1-0), Mark O’Sullivan (0-4: incl 1x2pt), Cillian O’Sullivan (0-6f: incl 1x2ptf).

Subs used:
Brian O’Reilly for Forde, David McLouhlin (0-1f) for McCormack, Sean Duggan for V. Walsh, David Regan for Gilsenan.