The Moynalvey/Boardsmill combination side agonisingly lost out to Rathkenny by two points on a 3-8 to 2-9 score line in the Final of the LMFM sponsored Div. 5 Minor Football Championship at Dunganny on Friday night November 8th.

Moynalvey/Boardsmill 2-9
Rathkenny 3-8

Just two weeks ago the teams met in the final round group game where the Moynalvey/Boardsmill combination ran out convincing nine point winners in Moynalvey, however Rathkenny were missing a few of their key players that day whom they welcomed back for the final.

As a result of that win for Moynalvey/Boardsmill three teams finished level on top of the group, Moynalvey/Boardsmill, Oldcastle and Rathkenny. The involvement of  a walkover earlier in the competition meant score difference could not be used to separate the sides so a playoff draw was made. The Playoff draw first saw Moynalvey/Boardsmill play Oldcastle who they defeated to earn their place in the final. Rathkenny were then due to play Oldcastle in a 2nd play-off game but received a walkover to take their place in the final.

Moynalvey/Boardsmill had the better of the first half, leading 0-5 to 0-3 at half time. Points from Niall Bagnall (2), Paul Corcoran and Evan Clarke had Moynalvey/Boardsmill 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after 12 minutes.

A second point attempt from Paul Corcoran was looping dangerously close to the Rathkenny cross bar before being tipped over by the Rahkenny ‘keeper. The North Meath side added another point to their tally to leave the score 0-5 to 0-3 at half time.

Rathkenny got the start to the second half they would have wished for when hitting their opponents for 1-1 within two minutes of the restart to take the lead for the first time, 1-4 to 0-5.

Four minutes later the team in red and black extended their advantage to five points with a second goal to take a double scores lead, 2-4 to 0-5.

A scoring purple patch from Moynalvey/Boardsmill midfielder Evan Clarke yielded three points in four minutes to reduce the deficit to three points. Then a long range shot at goal from Michael Brady found its way to the Rathkenny goal for Moynalvey/Boardsmill to regain the lead in the 42nd minute, 1-8 to 2-4.

A brace of points from Rathkenny followed by their third goal saw them take a four point lead with eight minutes remaining, 3-6 to 1-8.

However Moynalvey/Boardsmill rallied yet again, with a Vinny Walsh drive at goal from an acute angle just clearing the cross bar followed by a second Michael Brady goal which somehow found its way to the top of the net deceiving the Rathkenny ‘keeper to leave it all square for the first time with six minutes remaining, 2-9 to 3-6.

Tried in vain as they did the Moynalvey/Boardsmill side failed to score again and Rathkenny finished the game out stronger with two late points to deservedly claim the Div. 5 Minor Championship Cup title.

While disappointment for the Moynalvey/Boardsmill lads they played their part in a ding dong end to end entertaining final and to be fair but for a double digit Rathkenny wide count and some fine saves from Moynalvey/Boardsmill goalkeeper Cathal Slevin the winning margin could have been more.

Best for Moynalvey/Boardsmill were Jim Roche, Niall Bagnall, Evan Clarke and Michael Brady.

Moynalvey/Boardsmill: Cathal Slevin, Tadhg Cotter, Jim Roche, Ciaran McLoughlin, Charlie McCormack, Craig Gilsenan, Conor Quinn, Evan Clarke (0-4, 2f), Niall Bagnall (0-2), Vinny Walsh (0-1), Paul Corcoran (0-2), Michael Brady (2-0), Cathal Diedricks, Liam O’Reilly, Sean Deegan.
Subs: Sean Lynch, Noah O’Dea, Eoin McLoughlin, Tim Halton, Colm Wall. 

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