Posted online: Jun 24th, 2009

Moville recorded a dramatic away victory in the first leg of their first round Championship tie with Convoy on Saturday evening.

A late goal by half forward Eunan Hegarty gave them a two point victory in a game in which they had trailed by five points at one stage. 

In a high tempo opening ten minutes, both sides put an emphasis on attack but some wayward shooting meant the hosts recorded the only one point.

That opening score came on two minutes when a 30 meter Laurence McMullen effort sneaked just over the bar. McMullen was causing Moville considerable discomfort early on but a succession of wides meant he failed to add to his tally.

Moville responded with their first meaningful attack on 6 minutes when the lively Nigel McMonigle fed Joe McBride on the left side but the half forward’s effort from a tight angle flew to the left and wide.

McMonigle took matters into his own hands moments later when he accepted a Michael Browne pass, side stepped his marker but shot straight at Emmet Doherty in the Convoy goal from a good position.

The Inish men finally restored parity on 12 minutes when a close range shot by Joe McBride was blocked by the keeper and Eunan Hegarty followed up to drill the loose ball over the bar from the ground.

Moville got their noses in front a minute later when they were awarded a free for a late challenge by Shane McLaughlin on Malachy McDermott. McDermott’s midfield partner Sean O’Hare did the honours to convert the subsequent 25 meter free.

Moville continued to surge forward and they had a number of good chances to extend their lead through McMonigle and a sliced free by John McGeady midway through the half.

Although the visitors were enjoying the lion’s share of possession Convoy were successfully smothering Moville’s attacks by crowding out the player on the ball and force errors. 

Moville were left to rue their missed chances on 21 minutes when, from a rare foray forward, the hosts equalised through Seamus O’Donnell and five minutes later they regained the lead when O’Donnell fed Liam Prunty and he split the posts from 20 meters out.

That point marked the start of a high scoring end to the opening period. First Moville pulled the score back to three all when Eunan Hegarty cut inside from the right and fed Browne whose well struck shot sailed over the blackspot. 

But Convoy swiftly responded with points from Ciaran Porter and a long range effort from McMullen to leave them two points ahead at the break.

Moville started the second period brightly and they pulled a score back when Nigel McMonigle fired over a close range point but Convoy responded swiftly when half back John Doherty ventured up the pitch and fired over to restore their two point lead.

It appeared the game was slipping away from Moville when Convoy put clear water between the sides with a goal from Seamus O’Donnell. Convoy substitute Packie Mailey played in a deep free which sparked a goalmouth scramble and the ball broke for O’Donnell who poked the ball home from close range.

Moville, to their credit, continued to put their hosts under pressure and McMonigle narrowed the gap to four points with his second point of the game.

As the high tempo of the game continued Convoy won a succession of 45 meter frees, both of which dropped to the right and wide.

Moville refused to lie down and with eight minutes remaining they reduced the deficit to a solitary point with scores by substitute Oran McDermott, John McGeady and Sean O’Hare.

In a dramatic finish, Convoy had a glorious chance to secure victory when Liam Prunty saw a certain goal stopped on the line by Moville’s Malachy McDermott. 

That save was to prove crucial as in the dying moments Moville’s Eunan Hegarty found a gap down the middle of the Convoy backline with a charging run and he kept his composure to fire the ball high into the roof of the net past Emmet Doherty.

MOVILLE: Maurice McGeady, Gearoid McQuillen, Tony McGeady, Jack Keys, Conor O’Donnell, Seamus Hegarty, Anthony Hegarty, Sean O’Hare, Malachy McDermott, Eunan Hegarty, Joe McBride (Oran McDermott 46 Mins), John McGeady, John Faulkner, Michael Browne, Nigel McMonigle.

CONVOY: Emmet Doherty, Kevin Boyle, John McMullan, Emmet McNulty, Gary Patton, John Doherty, Eoin Allen, Shane McLaughlin, Marty McNamee, Mark Sweeney, Laurence McMullen, Seamus O’Donnell, Liam Prunty, Liam Mailey, Ciaran Porter.