Moynalvey went down to Walterstown on a 4-7 to 1-9 score in this opening round game of the Div. 2 B League played under lights at Dunganny on Thursday night 16^th February.

Moynalvey 1-9 Walterstown 4-7

Despite finding themselves 1-1 to the good after three minutes, Moynalvey were trailing their opponents by five at the break. Within 30 seconds of the throw in, Moynalvey’s James O’Neill opened the scoring when converting a free and two minutes later O’Neill set up Shaun Deering to finish to the net from close range.

By the 13^th minute Walterstown were level, having hit 1-1 of their own and two minutes later took the lead for the first time. Eamon Walsh sent over a huge point to level matters on the quarter hour mark; but the Blacks forged ahead with 1-1 in two minutes to take the lead for a second time, one they weren’t to give up again.

A spurned goal chance in the 22^nd minute cost Moynalvey any chance of reeling in their opponents before the break. A further point apiece left the half time score reading 2-5 to 1-3 in favour of the Blacks.

Within 90 seconds of the restart Walterstown had stretched their lead to eight points with their third goal, the ball flicked over Moynalvey’s replacement goalkeeper Ray Ryan to an empty net. Eamon Walsh pointed for Moynalvey in the 43^rd minute before another 1-1 from Walterstown put the game to bed, with the score reading 4-6 to 1-4 nine minutes into the second period.

With the win guaranteed Walterstown eased off the gas a little in the final quarter, Moynalvey outscored their opponents 0-5 to 0-1 within this period, with another gilt edge goal chance going a begging, to leave the final score reading 4-7 to 1-9. But for a number of second half saves from Moynalvey ‘keeper Ray Ryan the Walterstown’s winning margin may have been greater.

Moynalvey: G. Drum, S. Browne, P. Donoghue, S. Tuite, M. Brennan, A. Brien, D. Branigan, E. Walsh (0-2), D. Smith, J. Carey, P. Conneely, B. Regan (0-1), S. Deering (1-0), J. O’Neill (0-4, 3f), P. Brennan.
Subs: R. Ryan for Drum, C. Shirren (0-1) for P. Brennan, E. Mitchell for Browne, S. Cummins (0-1) for Branigan, A. Gilsenan for Deering, C. Ennis for Walsh.