Better-balanced Moynalvey spoil Christmas party

The dreams of St. Mary"s, Rochfortbridge, to emulate the achievement of fellow-countymen Ballinagore in 2005, by winning the Leinster Club junior football championship title, were shattered in front of their home supporters, when they lost out to a superior Moynalvey side in an entertaining provincial final.Those of us who dream of seeing the team in maroon and white triumph in a Meath v. Westmeath contest will find it somewhat ironic that such an occurrence last Sunday was a major source of disappointment to Westmeath Gaels.The visitors togged out in maroon and white and, frankly, they looked the more likely winners from an early stage of the match, even if a six-point losing margin does scant justice to the valiant efforts of Jim Whelehan"s charges.However, it could have been an entirely different outcome had St. Mary"s made better use of some gilt-edged opportunities in the first half, particularly a glorious one-on-one goal chance for Kieran Geraghty, some five minutes from the break.As it transpired, the latter player was one of only two Rochfortbridge players to score a point apiece from play over the hour, whereas Moynalvey had a far more potent attacking sextet, with former Royal County senior player, Cathal Sheridan leading the line very impressively throughout.Conversely, St.Mary"s marquee names failed to deliver on the big day and it would be churlish in the extreme not to concede that the trophy is in the correct hands for the next 12 months.Despite the heavy overnight frost, the St. Mary"s officials had the pitch in playable condition and a great effort was made locally to give the match the status it deserved.However, it seldom looked like the fans dressed in green and white would get the chance to start a massive Christmas party, as their opponents were livelier in most sections of the pitch.The action came thick and fast right from the throw-in, with St. Mary"s players, David Mitchell and Robbie Kenny both fumbling the ball in the opening exchanges.Both sides missed early half-chances before David Mitchell converted a great free from his hands on the 45-metre line in the third minute. The referee, who ultimately officiated well, was a little whistle-happy early on, but Moynalvey"s Cathal Sheridan was off-colour from his initial free-kicks, including a "gimme" in the tenth minute from in front of the posts. Remarkably, his regular later ploy of picking out an unmarked colleague from difficult frees was not counteracted by St. Mary"s.Moynalvey eventually opened their account in the 11th minute when John Donoghue set up Cathal Sheridan for a well-taken point from play. After Willie Byrne missed a good chance of a lead point, Brian Gilsenan cut in well along the endline and fisted over his side"s second score. Moynalvey"s mass defending soon worked well when Robbie Kenny was dispossessed and a wonderful counterattack by the Meath champions ended with a great point from Cathal Sheridan. Midway through the first moiety, Kieran Geraghty was off target with a right-footed free from 35 metres, but team-mate Alan Gavin had better luck, with exactly 20 minutes on the clock, when he converted a tricky free with his left foot.An undoubted turning point soon came when Ken Berry"s long pass found Kieran Geraghty in space and the corner forward soloed goalward and looked certain to find the net. However, his low shot was saved by Moynalvey "keeper, Ollie Regan. The "Bridge number 13 compensated somewhat with his team"s first point from play in the 26th minute. Further St. Mary"s pressure yielded no reward, a timely interception from Moynalvey wing back, David Donoghue proving crucial, before Adam Nolan"s shot was comfortably saved by Ollie Regan. In the last minute of normal time, midfielder Stephen Donoghue kicked a terrific individual point for the visitors. When St.Mary"s gave away possession in the third minute of added-time, Cathal Sheridan tapped over a free from a similar position to his earlier howler, to leave Moynalvey ahead by 0-5 to 0-3 at half-time.Cathal Sheridan started the second half as he had finished the first by demonstrating his undoubted class, with his perceptive crossfield pass picking out Mark O"Sullivan who pointed in style, with less than a minute elapsed. At the other end, a needlesly-conceded "45" resulted in David Mitchell"s place kick being held on the Moynalvey goalline by John Donoghue, but when the ball subsequently fell for Kieran Geragthy, the corner forward shot from a near-impossible angle and his effort went wide.A flowing Moynalvey move, with John Donoghue very prominent, ended with another well-taken point from Mark O"Sullivan putting the men in maroon four points to the good.A converted free from 25 metres by Kieran Geraghty and a neat point from play by John McNamara gave St. Mary"s fans renewed hope by the midpoint of the half. However, the Westmeath champions failed to score in the time remaining, during which the visitors dominated. Three of their four points came from routine free kicks by Cathal Sheridan in the 18th, 22nd and 27th minutes. Also, in the 20th minute, Brain Gilsenan turned sharply before rifling over a fine point from play. Just to add to St. Mary"s woes, Larry Poynton was sent of for a second yellow card offence in the 28th minute.Alan Gavin"s shot for a goal from a tight angle in injury-time was easily held by Ollie Regan and Moynalvey players, mentors and supporters soon greeted Damien Brazil"s full-time whistle with great joy.This was a very disappointing performance from St. Mary"s on one of the biggest days in the club"s illustrious history. However, there was no shortage of effort from the men in white and green, with the defence trying manfully against slick opposition all through, Thomas Giles and Adam Nolan being particularly prominent. Neither of the highly-vaunted midfield partnership played up to form, while only the occasional burst by a generally-subdued Robbie Kenny threatened to unhinge a resolute winners" rearguard.Moynalvey are worthy champions and their central pivot, Damien Dixon superbly marshalled the back division all through. Stephen Donoghue was the best midfielder on show, while Cathal Sheridan rolled back the years in the number 11 jersey with a sublime display. He got most help in the forward line from John Donoghue, Brian Gilsenan and, in particular, Mark O"Sullivan.Moynalvey: Ollie Regan; Robbie Kiernan, Padraig Donoghue (capt), David Keane; Paul Weldon, Damien Dixon, David Donoghue; Stephen Donoghue (0-1), Ger Fagan; John Donoghue, Cathal Sheridan (0-6, 0-4 from frees), Robbie Quinlan; Brian Gilsenan (0-2), Willie Byrne, Mark O"Sullivan (0-2). Subs:Shane Reilly (for Quinlan, 36 mins), Brian Conneely (for Fagan, 59 mins), P.J. Walsh (for Sheridan, 60 mins).St. Mary"s, Rochfortbridge: Declan Hogan; Thomas Giles, Ken Delaney, Adam Nolan; Larry Poynton, Michael Geraghty, Paul Carey; David Mitchell (0-1, from a free), Damien Gavin; Robbie Kenny (capt), Alan Gavin (0-1, from a free), Barry Pierce; Kieran Geraghty (0-2, 0-1 from a free), Ken Berry, John McNamara (0-1). Subs: Colm Conroy (for Carey, 36 mins), Ken Gunning (for Berry, 39 mins), Eoin Gorman (for Pierce, 50 mins), Ian Cunningham (for K.Geraghty, 57 mins).Referee: Damien Brazil (Offaly).