Marry weds Boyne to title as Richie stays at home

BOYNE VALLEY… 1-11

MOYFENRAGH… 0-13

A late goal from Francis Marry of the Slane club was ultimately what turned this Brady’s Skoda-sponsored Regional Football Championship Final on its head at Dunganny Sunday lunchtime.

Thus ensuring the Richie Barry Cup remains in the care of Boyne Valley – who number in their rank players from Walterstown, club of the gentleman after whom the trophy for the Championship is named – will stay at home for another season!

To add to the special Walterstown connection, the victorious combination – which also included players from Slane, Syddan and Moynalvey – were managed by John McCarthy in conjunction with his brother Paul and brother-in-law Joey Farrelly.

To add another layer to the story as only the GAA can, it was wholly fitting that Francis Marry should strike what was ultimately the winning score. As it nicely rounded off what has been a year of significant achievement for Slane GFC.

Between Braydon Colfer emerging as a real talent in goal for the Meath Minors, the Fintan Ginnitty Cup residing in Toddy Harding Park on foot of the club’s win in the JFC B and, on foot of same, the blue and white being represented on the We Are Meath Football All Stars recently announced.

Now, having said all of the above, at no stage prior to Marry’s major did Boyne Valley look like retaining their title. In fact, it was the hitherto unbeaten Moyfenragh who looked like they were going to continue their streak quite comfortably.

Through Sean Coloe, Danny Dixon, Adam Gannon and Jack Doherty, Tommy Hanley’s charges registered the first half dozen scores without riposte from those in the yellow jerseys.

Eventually, after 20 minutes, David McLoughlin got the holders on the board and when the introduced Barry O’Connell pointed twice in a minute it meant there was but a kick of the ball between the sides with just 30 minutes of the competition remaining.

The bustling full forward first caught this writer’s one working eye in the Regional Championship this time last year and initial impressions were only franked by his contributions as the All Blacks made the knockout stages of the intermediate championship.

Coloe consolidated Moyfenragh’s command of proceedings two minutes into the second half, but Daire Rowe replied instantly at the other end as McCarthy’s men worked their way into the contest by the minute.

When Boardsmill’s Dixon was the sent for an early shower on receipt of a second yellow and the aforementioned Syddan sharpshooter pointed immediately thereafter it appeared inevitable the transformation would be completed.

However, Moyfenragh have proven themselves time and again to be nothing if not obdurate. Hence ‘Spin’ Griffin’s penalty save was a massive lift once again for those engaged in the wearing of the green.

In such a situation, there could hardly be a much better shot in the arm for any team than to somone of the iconic status of the great Mickey Burke enter the fray at this stage.

Right on cue, The Honeybadger announced his arrival with a point. Again Rowe responded at the other end within a minute and McLoughlin followed up to leave just the minimum in it 0-07 to 0-08 – exactly half way through the second half.

Then, the plot twists keep coming quicker than a PTO shaft on full revs. Better known as classy hurler, Ballivor’s Adam Gannon showed his adeptness with a football when sending over his second point.

At that stage, it appeared McLoughlin and Rowe as a double act were going to haul the Valley men to retention of their title between them. That part of the script was torn up seconds later mind you when the Moynalvey forward was shown a Black Card.

Meaning it would be 14-a-side for the nine minutes of normal time which remained plus whatever would be added on.

Maybe unsurprisingly, Moyfenragh got quite the fillip from their opponents’ misfortune. Initially, it looked as if it would be a match winning one when the Ballivor/Boardsmill/Clan Na nGaeil/Longwood amalgamation when both Darragh Swaine and Coloe pointed to leave the challengers clear by 0-11 to 0-08 with five minutes remaining.

However, then came Marry’s game changing major and though the midfielder and Rowe then quickly traded points, white flags followed from Conor Farrelly and Rowe once more to ensure Richie Barry stayed close to home for another 12 months.