Moynalvey’s trip to Grangegodden on Sunday afternoon proved to be a beneficial one as they overcame home side Gaeil Colmcille on a 5-7 to 1-5 score line.

Gaeil Colmcille 1-5 Moynalvey 5-7

Moynalvey’s team line out for this game was in stark contrast to that which lined out against Wolfe Tones in the opening round, with the return to the starting 15 of two county U-21’s, a County Senior Footballer and three County hurlers.

As the cliché goes, goals win games with visitors Moynalvey bagging five in this Div. 1 A League Round 2 contest played in windy conditions at Grangegodden, with the earlier heavy rain clearing off just in time for the game. Playing against the wind in the opening half, Moynalvey built up a healthy half time lead, leading 3-3 to 0-3 at the break, while a further two goals were added in the second period.

The first of Moynalvey’s goals arrived as early as the 7^th minute when midfielder Donal Smith slotted low to the corner of the net past Gaeil Colmcille ‘keeper Justin Carry Lynch for the game’s opening score. A free from Brian Hanlon, a ’45 from Cormac Keegan and a point from play by Oisin Reilly had the sides’ level for the 1^st and only time a midway through the half.

Two points from David McLoughlin in the 20^th & 21^st minutes were followed by the game’s second goal when Cillian O’Sullivan provided the assist with a neat pass to Padraic Harnan who fired to the Gaeil Colmcille net. David McLoughlin pointed his third from play in the 25^th minute and the first half scoring was rounded off by Darren Brennan with his side’s third goal in the 30^th minute to leave the half time score reading 3-3 to 0-3 in favour of Moynalvey.

Within five minutes of the restart Moynalvey had extended their advantage to 13 points, with a point from Cathal McCabe and the game’s fourth green flag courtesy of substitute James Weldon. Gaeil Colmcille posted their first score since the 15^th minute when Brian Hanlon converted a free in the 37^th minute, leaving it 4-4 to 0-4.

Moynalvey midfielder John Donoghue pointed in the 49^th minute and two minutes later Moynalvey found themselves 4-6 to 0-4 clear of their opponents when James Kelly posted 1-1 within a 60 seconds period. Substitute James O’Neill, who 24 hours earlier had lined out in the inter firms final in Killarney, split the uprights in the 55^th minute to leave the score 5-7 to 0-4. 

A further converted free and a late consolation goal for the Kells side in the final two minutes, left the final score 5-7 to 1-5 in favour of the men in maroon and white.

Best for the winners were Brian O’Reilly, Rob Lawless, Cathal McCabe, Shane Lenehan & Padraic Harnan.

Moynalvey: Ray Ryan, Conor Harnan, Rob Lawless, Brian O’Reilly, Cathal McCabe (0-1), Stephen Donoghue, Shane Lenehan, John Donoghue (0-1), Donal Smith (1-0), Anthony Forde, Padraic Harnan (1-0), Darren Brennan (1-0), James Kelly (1-1), David McLoughlin (0-3), Cillian O’Sullivan.
Subs: James Weldon (1-0) for O’Sullivan, James O’Neill (0-1) for McLoughlin, Dan Treacy for Kelly, Scott Tuite for Forde, Darragh Branigan for Lenehan.