Campion inspires Skryne to Div 1 safety

Skryne ..................................3-12

Moynalvey .............................2-11

After surviving the automatic drop with a superb win over Dunshaughlin in round 11 Moynalvey were condemned to FL Div 2 following their relegation play-off loss to Skryne in Dunshaughlin on Thursday evening.

Skryne also relegated Moynalvey from the senior championship ranks at the end of 2023.

Being the only intermediate side in Div 1, Moynalvey’s brief stint in the top tier of league football came to an end. Skryne’s win was largely influenced by former county player Darragh Campion who turned in a man of the match performance, while wearing the number 14 jersey he was everywhere in a roving role for Aidan Tuite’s side.

Indeed, it was Campion who opened the scoring after 90 seconds and Skryne’s blistering start continued when Conor O’Brien had the ball in the back of the Moynalvey net to make it 1-1 to 0-0 inside three minutes.

Moynalvey’s opening score came in the sixth minute with Vinny Walsh blazing over from an acute angle, which was followed by a Cillian O’Sullivan free, leaving it double scores 0-2 to 1-1.

Skryne then reeled off 1-3 without reply with a brace of frees from Campion, the first of which was from close range after being brought in due to indiscipline from Moynalvey’s Sean Duggan, a Sean Smyth point and their second goal coming from Rob Gallagher, who volleyed home after a high ball in caused confusion in the Moynalvey defence, as their lead extended to 2-4 to 0-2.

Cillian O’Sullivan and Padraig Finnerty traded scores, O’Sullivan’s being a two point free in the 20th minute. Over elaboration from Skryne saw Conor Egan pull off a fine save to deny them a third goal.

From there Moynalvey grew into the game with Padraic Harnan coming to the fore, Barry O’Keeffe’s charges hit 1-3 to leave just a point between the sides as they retreated to the dressing rooms.

Moynalvey’s goal came when Cillian O’Sullivan found Padraic Harnan who turned and made no mistake firing past Ian Gillett.

Harnan’s goal was followed by a Vinny Walsh point and Harnan then rounded off the half’s scoring with a two pointer to make it 1-7 to 2-5 at the break.

Skryne’s half time advantage was extended to four within four minutes of the restart with Oisin Keogh firing over, followed by a two pointer from Padraig Finnerty.

Vinny Walsh pointed a free for Moynalvey, but a pair of Darragh Campion frees put five between the sides, 2-10 to 1-8.

A pair of Cillian O’Sullivan frees either side of a John O’Regan point for Skryne left the margin at four, but the nail was put in the Moynalvey coffin in the 56th minute when Oisin Keogh fielded a high ball and fired to Conor Egan’s net.

Sean Smyth sent over Skryne’s final score on the hour mark with Moynalvey tagging on late consolation scores in added time, a point from Evan Drum and a goal from Vinny Walsh with the last play of the game.

Moynalvey: Conor Egan; Sean McDonagh, Michael Brady, Charlie McCormack; Brian O’Reilly, Darren Brennan, Craig Gilsenan; Barry Walsh, Padraic Harnan (1-2); Sean Duggan, Adam Murphy, Hugh O’Sullivan; Vinny Walsh (1-3), Mark O’Sullivan, Cillian O’Sullivan (0-5). Subs - William Harnan for Duggan, James Kelly for M O’Sullivan, Evan Drum (0-1) for Murphy, Cian Williams for O’Reilly.