Moynalvey..........1-16

Simonstown.........1-15

Simonstown have made a losing start to their Meath SFC Group C campaign, going under by a point to Moynalvey in Skryne on Sunday.

Having led early on, Simonstown were forced to chase the game for the last 20 minutes after Moynalvey produced a storming comeback to seize the initiative in a most competitive group.

Simonstown weren't helped by the loss before throw in of Michael Gavin, who limped out of the warm up, and Nicky O'Brien who was injured at training earlier in the week.

Already the team was without Shane Gallagher, Brian McGrath and Andrew Kearney which left management drawing heavily on deeper resources.

Still, after conceding an early goal to David McLoughlin, Simonstown did make good headway and were boosted by a Conor Sheridan goal that put them 1-3 to 1-2 ahead on 15 minutes.

Operating at centre-forward Sheridan (pictured) had one of his best games and finished the day with 1-4.

A Mark Devlin mark, one of four Simonstown scored throughout, pushed them two points clear after that and by half-time they looked comfortable as they led by 1-9 to 1-4. But they met a resurgent Moynalvey, driven on by Cillian and Mark O'Sullivan.

Within 10 minutes of the restart Moynalvey had got in front, 1-10 to 1-9 with six unanswered points, Cillian O'Sullivan stepping up for most of them during this period. Really Simonstown had no answer to his pace and power.

Sheridan restored parity, Moynalvey went back in front and Niall Kane levelled again with the first of his two points but once Moynalvey forged ahead again they retained control until the end though Simonstown did have territory at the end to force a draw.

The next game in the group is against Wolfe Tones on the weekend after next.

Simonstown scorers - C Sheridan 1-4 (0-1m), P McKeever 0-4 (2fs 1m), N Kane, R Connor 0-2 each, B Hoey, M Devlin, M McCabe (f) 0-1 each.

Simonstown: R Burlingham; M Gardiner, S Moran, A Chincilla; M Devlin, R Connor, N Kane; S Conlon, B Conlon; S Barry, C Sheridan, J Carolan; S Tobin, P McKeever, B Hoey. Subs: M McCabe for Hoey, J Lyons for Chincilla