Moynalvey crashed out of the Meade Farm Intermediate Football Championship at the hands of Castletown with this three point defeat at a well appointed Dunshaughin on Sunday afternoon September 22nd.

Moynalvey 1-10 Castletown 1-13

A somewhat novel pairing in championship football saw last year’s SFC relegated side Moynalvey come up against the Junior champions of two years ago Castletown in this year’s Meade Farm IFC Quarter Final; the last meeting of the sides in championship action was in the second round of the IFC in 2011, the year Moynalvey went on to win the Mattie McDonnell Cup and return for their twelve year stint in the senior ranks.

A midday throw in saw the Junior Champions of 2022 advance to the last four of this year’s Meade Farm Intermediate Championship with this deserved three point win over Caoimhin King’s Moynalvey.

It was Castletown who troubled the score keepers first with the opening pair of points from a Rian McConnell free and Adam Matthews. Moynalvey opened their account in the 9th minute through Vinny Walsh to leave it 0-2 to 0-1.

A second free from Meath U-20 Rian McConnell was countered by a brace of Moynalvey points, the first from Wiliam Harnan which was followed by one from cousin Padraic Harnan to leave it all square after 21 minutes, 0-3 apiece.

Sixty seconds later Moynalvey took the lead for the first time when Cillian O’Sullivan pointed after good build up play by Luke O’Halloran.

The lively Adam Matthews fired over his second of the afternoon, with Moynalvey replying through William Harnan for his second of the game after he sold a dummy and moved in on goal to see his pile drive of an effort just clear Shayne Kelly’s cross bar.

Killian Price levelled matters before referee Robbie Barrett blew for half time with the sides level at five points apiece as the teams retreated to the dressing room for the half time break.

The first score of the second half resulted in the first green flag of the game when a great defensive turnover by David Reilly and Cathal McCabe at the back saw the ball moved forward to Padraic Harnan who gave Shayne Kelly little chance in the Castletown nets as he rifled to the far top corner for the game’s first goal two minutes into the second half.

Sixty seconds later Moynalvey’s advantage was out to four points when Vinny Walsh picked out David McLoughlin with a neat pass and the latter fired off the left peg from close range to make it 1-6 to 0-5 three minutes into the second half.

Both sides traded a brace of points each, Darragh Kelly and Rian McConnell accounting for Castletown’s and David McLoughlin and Vinny Walsh accounting for Moynalvey’s, leaving the four points between the sides once again 12 minutes into the second half, 1-8 to 0-7.

The third quarter belonged to Castletown as once they got their tails up they drove on with great momentum to outscore Moynalvey 1-6 to 0-2.

The Castletown goal came on the three quarter hour mark when a defensive lapse where a catch was misjudged allowed Csatletown to build on it and substitute Mark Kelly was the man who somehow finished low to Conor Egan’s net with a sea of defenders in front of him.

Within a minute it was that man again, Mark Kelly, who had the sides level when he fired over the equalizing point in the 47th minute.

With momentum now with the Castletown men they fired over the next three points, a pair from Adam Matthews and another from Killian Price to give them a three point advantage, 1-11 to 1-8, with nine minutes left on the clock.

Cillian O’Sullivan fired over a free for Moynalvey in the 53rd minute, followed by a third of the afternoon for Vinny Walsh in the 59th minute, but that was as close as Moynalvey could get near their opponents as a Killian Price score and a late Daren Finney point ensured Castletown’s progression to the semi-final and the end of the road for Moynalvey on a full time score line of 1-13 to 1-10.

Congratulations Castletown and best of luck in the semi-final!

Best for the losers here were Cathal McCabe, David Reilly, Darren Brennan, Michael Brady, Vinny Walsh and the ever consistent Padraic Harnan.

Moynalvey team & scorers: Conor Egan, David Reilly, Cathal McCabe, Keelan Taylor, Craig Gilsenan, Michael Brady, Darren Brennan, Padraic Harnan (1-1), Donal Smith, David McLoughlin (0-2), William Harnan (0-2), Ciaran Harnan, Vinny Walsh (0-3), Cillian O’Sullivan (0-2, 1f), Luke O’Halloran.

Subs used: Stephen Donoghue for O’Halloran, Barry Walsh for Smith, Paul Corcoran for Gilsenan, Conor Quinn for Taylor. 

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