Moynalvey take the title after thrilling decider

Profile by Fergal Lynch Updated: Wednesday, 14th September, 2011 4:50pm

Moynalvey 2-12, Na Fianna 1-7

John Collins (left) of Ideal Bathrooms and Meath Co Committee chairman Barney Allen presented the Junior C Royal Meath Association Cup to Moynalvey captain David Durkan.

Utility of youth and superior fitness so often proves to be decisive in Junior C football and that was the case in this year's decider when Moynalvey claimed the title with a clinical victory over Na Fianna at Pairc Tailteann on Friday evening.

Moynalvey never ran out of steam and even when Na Fianna did enjoy their brief moments of joy they were swiftly dealt with by a strong defence that was led by David Kane, a dominant midfield inspired by Donal Smith and an impressive attack driven by Ciaran Ennis, William Harnan and Padraig Harnan.

Goals at crucial times also proved vital to Moynalvey's cause. With the sides tied towards the end of the first-quarter Moynalvey took a giant leap towards victory when they enjoyed a slice of luck with an Ennis flick finding the net.

Na Fianna battled back, but a brilliant goal from Padraig Harnan on the break just before the interval gave Moynalvey a decent margin and it was down to the defence after the break to ensure that advantage remained intact.

The see-saw nature of the first-half scoring opened with Fergie Foran getting Na Fianna off the mark inside a minute, but Padraig Harnan levelled before Ciaran Ennis pointed his side ahead in the third minute.

It took Na Fianna six minutes to get back on level terms with Shane Burke on target, but two minutes later a converted free from Ennis gave Moynalvey the edge again.

Rob Payne made it 0-3 each with a superb score, but before the end of the opening quarter Moynalvey took a major step towards victory when Ennis got a slight flick to Alan Donnelly's centre for a goal. An Ennis '45' pushed Moynalvey 1-4 to 0-3 clear.

However, Na Fianna settled again and the excellent John Farrell raced clear to blast to the net before Payne forced Conor Egan into a good stop, but Farrell brought the sides level for the fourth time with an excellently taken point.

An equally impressive score from Donnelly gave Moynalvey the lead again, but the decisive moment of the opening half came in the dying moments.

Donal Smith stopped a Michael Collins '45' from going over the bar and from the counter-attack Padraig Harnan produced an excellent finish to give Moynalvey a 2-5 to 1-4 interval lead.

Ennis and David Killoran traded scores inside five minutes of the restart, but it was clear that Moynalvey's fitness would tell when Peter Durnin and Smith found their range to make it 2-8 to 1-5.

Another Killoran free kept Na Fianna in touch, but Moynalvey continued to pull clear with William Harnan and Padraig Harnan on target to make it 2-10 to 1-6.

Again Na Fianna responded with a Killoran free, but Moynalvey finished strong and sealed the win with points from Eoin Maher and the superb William Harnan.

Moynalvey - C Egan; S Whyte, D Kane, S Brown; D Durkan, A Brien, B Byrne; G Fagan, D Smith (0-1); C McCabe (0-1), W Harnan (0-2), P Harnan (1-1); A Donnelly (0-1), C Ennis (1-4 one free, one '45'), J Carey. Subs - P Durnin (0-1) for half-time, D Brennan for Brown 35mins, D Dixon for Fagan 47m, E Maher (0-1) for Durkan 52m, S Cummins for Whyte 55m.

Na Fianna - S Coyle; J O'Lone, F O'Connor, H Dorgan; D Downey, R McMahon, G Whelan; S Burke (0-1), D Lynch; M Collins, D Killoran (0-3 frees), J Farrell (1-1); G Gillespie, F Foran (0-1), R Payne (0-1). Subs - B Slevin for Gillespie half-time, S Greaney for Dorgan half-time, J Hendrick for Foran half-time, S Farrell for O'Connor 42mins, N Burke for Collins 59m.

Referee - Martin Griffin (Simonstown Gaels).