Two first half goals paved the way for Ratoath’s five point victory over Moynalvey in the Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship played at Skryne on Sunday evening August 25th.

Moynalvey 1-10  Ratoath 2-12

Played on a pristine Skryne pitch, the concession of two first half goals proved too much for Moynalvey to claw back in this SFC Group B round 4 encounter.

The win gets Ratoath back on track for the knockout stages following their narrow round 3 loss to Summerhill as they sit level with Donaghmore/Ashbourne & Summerhill on six points while Moynalvey sit on four points heading into the final round.

It was Moynalvey who opened the scoring in this game through Adam Murphy in the 2nd minute, with Ratoath replying a minute later with a Bryan McMahon free. A Jack McGowan point was soon followed by a goal leaving Davy Byrne’s side 1-2 to 0-1 up after six minutes.

Moynalvey points from David McLoughlin and Cathal McCabe followed by an Eamonn Wallace point for Ratoath left the goal between the sides with ten minutes played, 1-3 to 0-3.

A brace of points from David Mcloughlin, the first from play and the second a free following good interplay between county players Padraic Harnan and Cillian O’Sullivan in the build up had the deficit reduced to the minimum, 1-3 to 0-5 with 13 minutes played.

However just as Moynalvey were building momentum they were hit by 1-2 from Ratoath within a three minute period, the two points coming from Bryan McMahon and the goal fisted to the net from close range by Cian Rogers, leaving the two goals between the sides with 21 minute played, 2-5 to 0-5.

Moynalvey points from David McLoughlin and Cillian O’Sullivan either side of a Cian O’Brien point for Ratoath left the half time score read 2-6 to 0-7. 

Three minutes after the restart Ratoath were unlucky not to have a third goal, when a rasping shot from Cian Rogers rebounded off the Moynalvey cross bar. A couple of minutes later Moynalvey were also denied by the uprights when Cillian O’Sullivan’s fisted point attempt hit the posts.

Ratoath midfielder Keith McCabe and Cillian O’Sullivan traded points to leave the score 2-7 to 0-8 eight minutes into the second half.

Another Ratoath point followed by Adam Murphy’s second of the evening left the score board reading 2-8 to 0-9 at the three-quarter hour mark.

The loss of David McLoughlin to a black card coupled with a double substitution seemed to disrupt the Moynalvey momentum as their opponents scored 0-4 without reply between the 45th and 60th minutes to lead by double scores 2-12 to 0-9.

Despite enjoying a large share of second half possession poor finishing in the final third meant the five point half time margin between the sides remained at the final whistle. Cillian O’Sullivan tagged on 1-1 for Moynalvey in additional time from a penalty and a free to leave the full time score 2-12 to 1-10.

Moynalvey now go into a final round game with Donaghmore/Ashbourne in a fortnight’s time knowing progression to the knockout stages is still achievable with a win.

Moynalvey: Ray Ryan, Conor Harnan, Brian Harnan, Fearghal McCabe, David Donoghue, Stephen Donoghue, Darren Brennan, Padraic Harnan, Donal Smith, Cathal McCabe (0-1), Mark O’Sullivan, Adam Murphy (0-2), Shane Lenehan, Cillian O’Sullivan (1-3, 1p & 1f), David McLoughlin (0-4, 2f).

Subs used: David Reilly for Smith, William Mahady for D. Donoghue, Padraig Kelly for McLoughlin (B/C), Darragh Branigan for Murphy, Ciaran Harnan for M. O’Sullivan.    

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