Joy for Moynalty as long search for championship glory ends
A long wait of 29 years ended for Moynalty this evening when they won the Junior D FC at Kilmainham defeating Ballinlough, 3-20 to 2-9.
Finals can be closely fought affairs that go right down to the wire but this was anything but as Dudley Farrell's side controlled matters from start to finish.
They were in front by 1-9 to 1-4 at the interval and it was always going to take something special from Ballinlough in the second-half to halt the slide. They tried hard to do just that but the task proved beyond them.
The last adult championship triumph enjoyed by Moynalty was in 1987 when they defeated Cortown in the JFC showdown in Kells after going close a number of times in previous years.
This time around they were on the right track from the start before a large crowd at Kilmainham.
The Kilmainham club had everything ready for the game and as usual there was tremendous hospitality displayed by local officials.
The Ballinlough defence also showed considerable generosity in terms of allowing space to the Moynalty forwards and they took full advantage particularly Paddy Byrne, just back after injury, who capped an outstanding display with eight points, six from play.
Adrian Lynch bagged two fine goals for the winners while Cahal Reilly was another to find the net just before the end. Stephen Blackburn was also prominent in the scoring front with seven points, four frees, as the Moynalty forward division cut loose.
Ballinlough stayed in touch with their opponents, thanks partly to two goals from Simon Deevy, but they were unable to contain Byrne and his colleagues and paid the price.
Ken Rothwell also featured prominently for Ballinlough with five points, three from play but there was simply no stopping Moynalty as they ended their long spell in the wilderness.
Moynalty - Padraig McMahon; Kenny Coldrick, Damien Kangley, Matthew McKenna; Cormac Kearney, Michael Lynch, Ronan Lynch (0-1); David McMahon, Conor O'Loughlin; Ben Lynch (0-1), Cathal Reilly (1-2), Michael Cahill; Adrian Lynch(2-1), Stephen Blackburn (0-7 four frees), Paddy Byrne (0-8 one free, one '45'). Subs - Damien Coldrick for K Coldrick, Paddy Sheridan for Kangley 39m, Raymond Owens for McMahon 46m, Kenny Doyle for A Lynch 55m, Barry Nevin for B Lynch 58m.
Ballinlough - Keith McGuinness; Eoghan McCabe, James O'Keeffe, Matthew Farrell; Shane Smith, Paddy Briody, Jonathan Montgomery; Gary Reilly, Kevin Byrne; Adam Fox (0-3), Ken Rothwell (0-5 two frees), Brian Smith; Jack Tunney, Simon Deevy (2-2 one point free), Terence Fagan. Subs - Michael Reilly for Fagan, Tom Shine for B Smith half-time, Seamus Fagan for Shine 46m, Ollie Brady for Tunney 53m. Black card - Shane Smith (replaced by Joey Garynor 44m)