Return to the big time likely for Moynalvey

Both Moynalvey and Gaeil Colmcille will be looking to revive memories of past glory days in Sunday's IFC showdown. Back in the 1980s these clubs won the right to mix it with the big boys of Meath football. Moynalvey won the Mattie McDonnell Cup in '83 and three years later Gaeil Colmcille followed suit. They each went on to enjoy lengthy sojourns at the top table with Gaeil Colmcille reaching the pinnacle in 1991 when, with Terry Fergusion leading the charge, they won the Keegan Cup. The club has had relatively little to cheer about in the intervening years, at times lurching from one setback to another although at least they avoided the fate of slipping back to the junior ranks and relative obscurity. The same cannot be said of Moynalvey who went into a protracted decline, falling through the senior and intermediate relegation trapdoors in quick succession. They rebuilt from the bottom. They worked on their under-age structures, won the JFC in 2008, followed it up with a Leinster Club JFC title and are now on the verge of making another huge step forward. One of the big questions surrounding Sunday's game is: Can Moynalvey bridge the gap of 28 years and take the McDonnell Cup back home? The evidence would indicate that they can. While Moynalvey will want to play down any suggestion that they should be categorised as favourites it's a label they have 'earned' - if only for the fact that they go into Sunday's showdown undefeated. They marched through their group phase, racking up the massive haul of 8-38 from their four games. Compare that with Gaeil Colmcille's total of 4-44 from the same number of games. Moynalvey added a further three goals against Dunderry in the semi-final. Moynalvey's attack is undoubtedly their not-so-secret weapon. At times in their semi-final clash the pace and nimble skills of their forwards opened up chasms in a Dunderry defence that contained Darren Fay. There are no shortage of speedsters in the Moynalvey team such as Cillian O'Sullivan, Mark O'Sullivan, Dan Treacy and Ray Ryan. Gaeil Colmcille have their youthful speed merchant in Danny McGovern who tends to retreat into midfield to pick up ball and drive at the opposition. He also knows how to score as he demonstrated with his three, difficult points against Ballinlough in the semi-finals. At midfield Moynalvey have a strong, ball-winning combination in John Donoghue and Stephen Donoghue who between them soaked up plenty of possession from the kick-outs against Dunderry. Philly Ward and ex-Meath minor Justin Carry-Lynch will need to be at their high-fielding best to diminish Moynalvey's influence in that central sector. Defensively Moynalvey know how to soak up the pressure before counter-attacking. That is a strategy that under-prepared, over-stretched opponents find difficult to handle. Meath minor Anthony Forde typifies how defence can be quickly turned into attack. They have also worked hard on the bread and butter stuff such as closing down opponents "We were leaking too many scores from last year. We've turned the whole lot around by 37 scores between defending and scoring, in one season," said manager Alan Kelly. A concern for Kelly & Co is the 10 wides registered against Dunderry. Against an uncompromising Gaeil Colmcille defence every opportunity will be precious. Gaeil Colmcille have a strong work ethic and that went a long way to helping get past Ballinlough in the semis. It took them some time to get going in that match. Ballinlough just couldn't take advantage. Against Moynalvey they will need to be on their game from the throw-in. Jody Devine's men were also fortunate that Ballinlough couldn't find the net from two penalties. Gaeil Colmcille will need to create and take more goal-scoring chances if they are to emerge the victors on Sunday. "We missed a few chances in the first-half. We've plenty of improving to do," said Devine after the Ballinlough victory. A number of the Gaeil Colmcille players were on the team that lost to Summerhill in the u-21 A FC final a few years ago. They have final experience. Yet Moynalvey have shown, in their progress to-date, that they have the qualities to go all the way and claim the crown - and return to the big time.