Cumann na mBunscol Finals: Cathal Byrne leads stunning Moynalvey NS recovery

Three goals in a four minute spell midway through the second-half proved to be decisive as Moynalvey came from behind to defeat Cortown in the Boys Div 4 final at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday.

Trailing to the Dara Loughran inspired Cortown by 1-5 to 0-12 with 16 minutes remaining Moynalvey used the wind at their backs to good effect with Cathal Byrne leading the charge.

Byrne's second goal of the morning closed the gap to a point in the 36th minute and after James Hanifin equalised Byrne bagged two more brilliant goals to put Moynalvey in control and they never looked back.

It took eight minutes before the scoreboard operator was troubled, but when the scores did come they came thick and fast with Scott Williams getting Moynalvey off the mark in the ninth minute.

Thirty seconds later James Hanifin won a kickout and set-up Cathal Byrne to double Moynalvey's lead. It got even better for Moynalvey three minutes later when Byrne pounced to toe-poke to the net after Fionn Rourke had made a brilliant save to deny Williams' initial effort.

Cortown were stunned, but they responded brilliantly with Molly Casserly getting them off the mark in the 14th minute. Then Dara Loughran exhibited his outstanding abilities when he won three kick-outs in succession and each time lofted the ball over the bar to close the gap to 0-4 to 1-2.

Byrne was denied again by Rourke, but Loughran continued to lead Cortown's charge with the equalising point and in the 23rd minute, two minutes before half-time, Cortown went in front for the first time when Harry Keating pointed from distance.

Loughran doubled Cortown's lead with a free and seconds later he won another kick-out and pointed to secure a 0-8 to 1-2 interval lead for his side.

It took Cortown just 19 seconds to stretch their lead with Lorcan Codd pointing, but the signs of recovery were there for Moynalvey as they hit three of the next four points with James Byrne, Cathal Byrne (free) and Williams making it 1-5 to 0-10 in response to a Loughran point.

Loughran put Cortown back in the box seat with two more magnificent points, but then came Moynalvey's flurry which saw them race 4-6 to 0-12 clear.

Loughran did add his 10th point of the game, but Moynalvey were well in control and Hanifin added his side's fifth goal, in between pointed frees from Williams and Adam Dunne.

Tommy Clynch closed the scoring four minutes from the end with Cortown's last score, but Moynalvey weren't to be denied as they defended brilliantly to claim the title.

Moynalvey NS - Nathan O’Connor; Edward O’Shea, Seán Mongey; Harry Quinlan, Conor Keogh, Scott Williams (0-3 one free); James Hanifin (1-1), Óran Conneely; Seán Kelly, Jake Kiernan, Michael Foley; Cathal Byrne (4-2 one free), Adam Dunne (0-1 free). James Byrne (0-1), Robert Walsh, Liam Judge, Aaron Quinn, Dáire Conneely. Mentors - Anna Flynn, Tossie Byrne.

Cortown NS - Fionn Rourke; Cormac Conway, Sean O’Halloran; Kate Clarke, Laoise Rennicks, Paddy O’Halloran; Harry Keating (0-1), Molly Casserly (0-1); Seán Casserly, Dara Loughran (0-10 two frees), James Murphy; Lorcan Codd (0-1), Tommy Clynch (0-1). Joe Devine, Michael Lynch, Darragh Dempsey, Dáire Tully. Mentors - Barney O’Rourke, Ross Kavanagh, Colin Quigley, Davy Fitzmaurice.

Referee - Ronan Farrell.