Moynalvey claimed the Div. 5 U-14 Paddy O’Brien Cup title when a late surge saw them overcome Longwood by the minimum margin in this Final played at Dunganny on Wednesday evening 5th September.
Moynalvey 1-9
Longwood 2-5
The sides are no strangers to each other at this stage, having contested a couple of finals against each other already this year, the U-14 league Final which Moynalvey came out on top by three points and an U-12 Final with victory going Longwood’s
way in that competition.
The game started at a ferocious pace, with no fewer than seven scores clocked up in the opening 10 minutes. It was Moynalvey who started brightest with the first three points of the game, Shane Reid with the opener followed by a Vinny Walsh brace.
Longwood opened their account with a point in the 6th minute, with Conor Quinn replying for Moynalvey. Then disaster struck for Moynalvey when two high balls deceived Moynalvey goalkeeper Conor Byrne to find the net, leaving Longwood 2-1 to 0-4 ahead after 10 minutes.
An excellent save from Conor Byrne denied Longwood a third goal, before Moynalvey points from Luke O’Halloran and Vinny Walsh in response to a pair of Longwood points left the village side three points ahead at half time on a 2-3 to 0-6 score line.
A dipping Craig Gilsenan shot just cleared the cross bar and another Vinny Walsh free narrowed the margin to the minimum 12 minutes into the second half. A brace of Longwood points extended their advantage back out to three again, but
this was as good as it would get for the team in black and white.
Leading from the front heroic defending from Charlie McCormack playing his captain’s role, ably assisted by the tough tackling Craig Gilsenan snuffed out any Longwood threat over the remainder of the game.
With five minutes remaining, a swift hand passing move up the field resulted in Vinny Walsh blasting the ball to the Longwood net to draw the sides’ level for just the second time.
A late close range free from top scorer Vinny Walsh completed the nail biting Moynalvey comeback.
After receiving the shield from Coiste Na nÓg PRO Fintan Porter, Moynalvey captain Charlie McCormack went on to give a speech years beyond his age, rounded off by emotionally dedicating the win to his late grandmother who was laid to rest just two days earlier.
The win caps off a fine year for this team who have contested three finals in the past three months, with the only blip on their record being their Féile shield final loss.
Moynalvey team & scorers: Conor Byrne, James Kealy, Charlie McCormack, Senan Maher, Cillian Kelly, Craig Gilsenan (0-1), Luke O’Halloran (0-1), Vinny Walsh (1-5, 4f), Sean Lynch, Barry Walsh, Conor Quinn (0-1), Kyle Anthonsen, Shane Reid (0-1), Cormac Dunne, Liam Deegan.
Subs: Ronan Thompson, Jake McCormack
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