Moynalvey got their 2026 season off to a winning start win an eight point win over Ballivor in round one of the Gaelic Games Equipment Corn Na Boinne played in Kilmore Park Moynalvey on Sunday afternoon February 8th.

Moynalvey 4-12
Ballivor 0-16

With this game up in the air whether it would go ahead with switching of locations and days it was eventually decided Moynalvey pitch was fit to host this Corn Na Boinne round one contest on Sunday afternoon.

As the cliché goes, this was a game of two halves. Moynalvey held an eighteen point lead at half time, with the visitors having just the solitary point on the score board when referee Frank Scully blew his half time whistle the score board read 3-10 to 0-1.

Moynalvey got off to the perfect start, full forward Mark O’Sullivan opening their account with a point in the fourth minute. Thirty seconds later the games’ first green flag was raised when Anthony Forde started the move when fielding the Ballivor kickout and the same player found himself on the end of the move to blast to the Ballivor net, 1-1 to 0-0 four minutes in.

Points from Adam Murphy, Darren Brennan (2), Anthony Forde, Vinny Walsh and the game’s first two pointer from Mark O’Sullivan left it 1-8 to 0-0 with fourteen minutes played. Ballivor eventually got off the mark with a point midway through the opening half.

Two further Moynalvey goals either side of points from Mark O’Sullivan and Adam Murphy left Moynalvey in a commanding eighteen point lead at the break, 3-10 to 0-1. The first of those goals a looping point attempt from Shane Lenehan rebounded off the upright for Luke O’Halloran to claim and apply the finishing touch from close range. The third goal coming literally on the stroke of half time when Darren Brennan unselfishly passed across goal to Shane Lenehan to palm to the net.

Bolstered by the introduction of experienced players off the bench, Ballivor began to take control of the middle third Moynalvey had enjoyed so much joy around in the first half seeing Kevin Dowd’s charges come to life to dominate much of the second half outscoring Moynalvey eleven points to 1-2 in that second period.

Much to the opposite of their first half performance Ballivor hit the second half running, reeling off eleven points without reply in the third quarter which included two two pointers, making it 3-10 to 0-12 with forty eight minutes played.

Moynalvey eventually broke this Ballivor purple patch when a Barry Walsh point attempt fell short and Adam Murphy rose highest in an aerial contest with the Ballivor ‘keeper to finish to the net for Moynalvey’s fourth goal.

Moynalvey substitute Paul Corcoran fired over another point, but Ballivor maintained their second half momentum adding another four points to Moynalvey’s one, a Vinny Walsh free, to leave the full time score read 4-12 to 0-16 in Moynalvey’s favour, despite Ballivor’s brave second half come back effort. 

Next up for Moynalvey is a round two game at home to Meath Hill on Saturday 21st February.

Moynalvey team and scorers: Conor Egan, Charlie Benson, Conor Harnan, Sean McDonagh, Brian O’Reilly, Darren Brennan (0-2), Michael Brady, Antony Forde (1-1), David Reilly, Barry Walsh, Adam Murphy (1-2, 1f), Vinny Walsh (0-2f), Luke O’Halloran (1-0), Mark O’Sullivan (0-4: 1x2p), Shane Lenehan (1-0).

Subs used: Paul Corcoran (0-1), William Harnan, Cian Williams, Harry Dunne, Aaron McCabe, Evan Drum, Cillian Kelly, Patrick Roddy. 
 

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