IFC Group C: Successful return for Moynalvey
August 11, 2024
Moynalvey's Vinny Walsh heads for the Drumbaragh goal during the IFC clash at Bective
Moynalvey’s first game back in the IFC since 2011 proved to be a successful one with this ten point win over Drumbaragh in this Meade Farm Intermediate Football Championship Group C Round One game played at Bective on Sunday afternoon August 11th.
Moynalvey 1-18 Drumbaragh 1-08
While Drumbaragh got the better of the two sides by three points early this year in the Corn Na Boinne, it was Moynalvey who in the end comfortably picked up the win with this ten point win in round one of the IFC, with tougher tests surely to come for Caoimhin King’s side in round two and three against St. Patricks and Oldcastle respectively.
Five points separated the sides at half time, for the opening twenty minutes or so little separated the sides on the score board and the five point half time margin was largely due to a Padraic Harnan goal just before referee Peter O’Halloran blew his half time whistle.
It was Moynalvey who had the first two scores on the board, the first a David McLoughlin effort from play and the second a Cillian O’Sullivan free when Darren Brennan was tripped while striding forward.
Drumbaragh’s opening point came from the boot of full forward Liam Ward in the 6th minute, with Moynalvey responding with the first of Vinny Walsh’s five points from play to leave it 0-3 to 0-1 with seven minutes on the clock.
Thirty seconds later Drumbaragh took the lead for the first time when a through ball found Darragh McNamara who rounded Conor Egan in the Moynalvey goal to finish to the net to raise the game’s first green flag.
Two further Drumbaragh scores, points from Hughie Corcoran and William Carry left McNamara’s goal the difference between the sides, 1-3 to 0-3, midway through the first half.
A purple patch for Moynalvey saw them hit six points without reply in the next eight minutes to turn that three point deficit into a three point advantage, 0-9 to 1-3, with twenty three minutes played. Michael Brady, Ciaran Harnan, David McLoughlin, Vinny Walsh (2) and William Harnan accounting for those points.
A Drumbaragh point in the 27th minute halted that Moynalvey scoring run, but a sweeping move resulted in a shot at goal from Barry Walsh being parried by the Drums ‘keeper Jake Balfe into the path of Padraic Harnan who calmly placed to the bottom right corner while under pressure to leave the half time score 1-9 to 1-4 in favour of the men in maroon.
Upon the restart Drumbaragh responded to that late goal with the opening three points of the second half through frees from Liam Ward (2) and Hughie Corcoran to leave just two between the sides again, 1-9 to 1-7.
However, from here on the game was dominated by Moynalvey as Drumbaragh’s sole other score of the second half came in the 60th minute from a William Carry drive at goal which was deflected over by Moynalvey defenders. Moynalvey went on to outscore their opponents nine points to that Carry point over the remainder of the second half.
Those Moynalvey points coming from David McLoughlin (3), Vinny Walsh (2), Cillian O’Sullivan, Michael Brady, Ciaran Harnan and substitute Luke O’Halloran to see Caoimhin King’s side run out ten point winners on a 1-18 to 1-08 score line in this IFC group C opening round game.
Best for Moynalvey in this opening round win were Vinny Walsh, David McLoughlin, Ciaran Harnan, David Reilly, Darren Brennan and Cathal McCabe.
Next up for Moynalvey is a round two encounter against St. Patricks on Saturday 24th August in Páirc Tailteann.
Moynalvey team & scorers: Conor Egan, Darragh Branigan, Cathal McCabe, Keelan Taylor, Darren Brennan, Michael Brady (0-2), David Reilly, Padraic Harnan (1-0), Donal Smith, David McLoughlin (0-5, 3f), Ciaran Harnan (0-2), Vinny Walsh (0-5), Barry Walsh, Cillian O’Sullivan (0-2, 1f), William Harnan (0-1).
Sub used: Conor Quinn for Branigan, Luke O’Halloran (0-1) for W. Harnan, Fearghal McCabe for B. Walsh, Charlie McCormack for Taylor, Cillian Kelly for O’Sullivan.
