A late Cathal McCabe goal sealed the two points on offer for Moynalvey in the opening round of the Div. 1B A League against Rathkenny at Kilmore Park Moynalvey on Saturday afternoon March 4^th.

Moynalvey 2-8
Rathkenny 2-6

Having trailed their opponents from the off and a point down as the hour mark passed, it was the unlikely hero of full back Cathal McCabe who sent an unstoppable shot past Rathkenny ‘keeper Charlie Cullen to the top corner of the net in 62^nd minute which sealed the win for Moynalvey.

Things didn’t look too good for Moynalvey early on as they trailed the visitors by 2-2 to 0-0 after 11 minutes. 

Moynalvey’s first score arrived in the 16^th minute when midfielder Vinny Walsh found the net for the game’s third goal.

Four minutes later Moynalvey lost Ciaran Harnan through injury, with veteran Stephen Donoghue replacing him.

Rathkenny full forward Eoghan Heavey extended his side’s lead, leaving it 2-3 to 1-0 with 25 minutes played.

An excellent Conor Quinn point, followed by a Fearghal McCabe point in injury time left the half time score board read 2-3 to 1-2 in favour of Moynalvey.

Four unanswered Moynalvey points within thirteen minutes of the restart had the sides level for the first time 2-3 to 1-6. The first of those four points coming from Craig Gilsenan followed by three in a row from Vinny Walsh.

Rathkenny points from Eoghan Heavey and Max McKenna in the 46^th and 48^th minutes gave the visitors a two point lead once again, 2-5 to 1-6.

Moynalvey’s Darren Brennan and Rathkenny’s Daniel Gavagan traded points leaving the two points between the sides with 58 minutes played.

A pointed free from Vinny Walsh in the 60^th minute made it 2-6 to 1-8, with Rathkenny looking likely for the one point win.

Both sides could have added to their goal tally, with Rathkenny guilty of a guilt edge miss with the attacker having rounded Moynalvey goalkeeper Conor Egan only to find the side netting, while at the other end a brilliant Padraic Harnan pass found Fearghal McCabe only to see his shot deflected out for a’45.

One more late Moynalvey attack yielded that wonder strike from full back McCabe, which sealed the two point win and the two points on offer for Moynalvey and their new manager Caoimhin King in his first game in charge.     

Best for Moynalvey were Cathal McCabe, Padraic Harnan, Darren Brennan and Craig Gilsenan.

Moynalvey Team & Scorers:
Conor Egan, Adam Rooney, Cathal McCabe (1-0), Darragh Branigan, Conor Quinn (0-1), Padraic Harnan, Kyle O’Malley, Vinny Walsh (1-4, 3f), Paul Corcoran, Cillian Kelly, Ciaran Harnan, Fearghal McCabe (0-1), Darren Brennan, (0-1), Craig Gilsenan (0-1), Charlie McCormack.
Subs: Stephen Donoghue for C. Harnan, Anthony Brien for Corcoran.