Moynalvey’s chances of qualifying to the knockout stages of the Junior ‘D’ Football Championship came to an abrupt end at Martry on Monday evening July 23^rd as the sides ended up all square at the final whistle.

Moynalvey 1-13 Drumconrath 3-7

 The draw ended up being of no benefit to Moynalvey as they needed to win to guarantee qualification to the quarter final of the competition. Had Moynalvey bagged the win they needed an earlier round victory over Carnaross would have qualified Moynalvey to the knockout stages of the competition, but instead the draw along with Carnaross’ victory over Bective means Carnaross top the group with Bective also qualifying.

Moynalvey were in control of their own destiny for the majority of this game up until the final quarter as they held a commanding 9 point lead after 23 minutes of play on a 1-8 to 0-2 score line. Moynalvey opened the scoring in the 1^st minute with a PJ Walsh point from play and had their opponents in their shadow until injury time at the end of the game. The same player almost grabbed a goal a minute later only to be denied by a smart save from the Drumconrath keeper. However Moynalvey did find the net in the 9^th minute when a PJ Walsh assist set up Eoin Maher who finished neatly. Maher’s goal was preceded by a trio of points from Cathal Sheridan (2 frees) and Eamon Walsh leaving Moynalvey 1-4 to 0-0 to the good. Drumconrath registered their first score in the 11^th minute. Points from PJ Walsh, Sheridan (2 frees) and Eoin Maher with a Drumconrath point sandwiched in between left the score line reading 1-8 to 0-2 after 23 minutes. Sixty seconds later veterans Walsh & Sheridan combined to put David Reilly in on goal only to see his effort blaze across the goalmouth and wide. In the final two minutes of the half Drumconrath added 1-1 to their tally leaving 5 points the difference between the sides at the break, 1-8 to 1-3.

Two minutes into the second period the North Meath side split the posts reducing the deficit to four points. Another point from PJ Walsh and a Sheridan free gave Moynalvey a six point cushion after 38 minutes of play. Drumconrath added 1-1 to their tally in the 40^th minute narrowing the deficit to two points. Moynalvey responded with a Sheridan point leaving three between the sides once again, 1-11 to 2-5. A Sheridan point in response to a Drumconrath effort left three points remaining between the sides, 1-12 to 2-6, after 52 minutes. Moynalvey failed to add the elusive security score to put two scores between the sides in the remaining 8 minutes and ultimately paid the price. Drumconrath pointed in the 54^th minute with Moynalvey replying with a Sheridan free to leave a single kick of a ball between the sides again with three minutes of normal time remaining. Moynalvey were heading to the knockout stages until disaster struck in injury time when a long punt towards the Moynalvey goals deceived the impressive Vinny Walsh and Drumconrath’s Padraig McMahon ran in on goal volleying a top class finish past Chris O’Malley leaving the tie ending in stalemate and ultimately Moynalvey’s Championship campaign with news of Carnaross’ victory filtering through shortly after the final whistle.

Best for Moynalvey were Shaun Deering, Vinny Walsh, Eamon Walsh, Cathal Sheridan and PJ Walsh.

Moynalvey: C. O’Malley, J. Munnelly, V. Walsh, S. Deering, S. Courtney, D. Dixon, S. Cummins, P. Corcoran, E. Walsh (0-1), D. Reilly, C. Sheridan (0-8), F. McCabe, E Maher (1-1), PJ Walsh (0-3), M. Munnelly. Subs: J. Duffy for Courtney.