An under strength Moynalvey side lost out to St. Michaels’ in the quarter final of the U-21 ‘A’ football championship by a 10 point margin at Simonstown on Sunday afternoon November 3^rd.

Moynalvey 1-6 St. Michaels 2-13

Moynalvey fielding without a number of players including the 2011 and 2012 Meath young footballers of the year lost out to a far a slicker and more superior St.Michaels outfit in their first outing of the 2013 U-21 ‘A’ championship. Right from the off St. Michaels were in control of this game, opening up a 0-5 to 0-00 lead after a quarter of an hour play. Moynalvey’s first score arrived in the 16^th minute when Fearghal McCabe found the back of the Michaels’ net to narrow the deficit to two points. Three minutes later McCabe registered his second score of the game following a surging run from centre field from county player Padraic Harnan, leaving the minimum between the sides. However this was as close as Moynalvey got to their opponents throughout the game. A converted free from Michaels in the 21^st minute put two between the sides again, before a James Reilly free for Moynalvey in the 27^th minute left just a single point between the sides. A goal from St. Michaels midfielder in the 29^th minute left four between the sides at the break, although Moynalvey may have found themselves unfortunate to be behind at the interval as a string of excellent saves from the St. Michaels ‘keeper made sure they held the advantage at half time on a 1-6 to 1-2 score line.

Three minutes after the restart a James Kelly free for Moynalvey reduced the deficit to three points. Two quick fire points from Michaels left five points between the sides after 38 minutes of play, 1-8 to 1-3. James Reilly’s second point of the afternoon left four between the sides, before another brace from the Michaels left six between the sides on the three quarter hour mark. A Willie Harnan goal attempt was once again expertly saved by the Michaels goalkeeper, with the ball rebounding over the bar off a Moynalvey player. On a rare occasion that the Michaels ‘keeper was beaten; Padraic Harnan’s goal bound effort unluckily shaved the outside of the post in the 51^st minute. A point apiece within sixty seconds left five between the sides, 1-11 to 1-6, with just five minutes remaining. A late scoring flourish from the Michaels left them running out 10 point winners on a 2-13 to 1-6 score line.

Moynalvey: C. O’Malley, D. Branigan, S. Browne, J. Munnelly, B. Harnan, J. Reilly (0-2), P. Harnan, D. Brennan, J. Kelly (0-2), S. Dunlevy, F. McCabe (1-1), W. Harnan, S. Deering. Subs: D. McLoughlin for Deering, C. Gorman (0-1) for Dunlevy, T. Mahady for McCabe.