Sun 7th Oct Seneschalstown 3-6 Simonstown 1-9
Crucial goals sink sorry Simonstown
A BLISTERING start to the second-half and sheer tenacity when Simonstown threatened their lead were the main ingredients in Seneschalstown`s deserved victory in this highly entertaining SFC semi-final at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday evening.
Joe and Brian Sheridan both scored goals in the space of a minute after the break to earn the Yellow Furze team an eight-point lead, but they managed only two points subsequently as Simonstown attacked relentlessly in a bid to rescue a desperate situation.
Sun 7th Oct Seneschalstown 3-6 Simonstown 1-9
Crucial goals sink sorry Simonstown
A BLISTERING start to the second-half and sheer tenacity when Simonstown threatened their lead were the main ingredients in Seneschalstown`s deserved victory in this highly entertaining SFC semi-final at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday evening.
Joe and Brian Sheridan both scored goals in the space of a minute after the break to earn the Yellow Furze team an eight-point lead, but they managed only two points subsequently as Simonstown attacked relentlessly in a bid to rescue a desperate situation.
They gradually reduced the arrears to three points, but there was panic in their play in attack as they demonstrated an obsession with going for goals when points were there for the taking. On a few occasions Seneschalstown players got blocks in at the vital moment as they defended with the sort of grit and passion that has typified their efforts in the latter stages of the championship.
Damien Sheridan`s side can now look forward to a first final appearance since an understrength team lost to Kilmainhamwood in 1996 and it`s a clear indication of their vast improvement and great consistency that they are also in the A FL Div. 1 and Feis Cup deciders.
Joe Sheridan is central to everything they do and his ability to win ball and get goals at full-forward has been crucial in getting them this far. He contributed 2-1 on Sunday and also demonstrated another side to his game by making a fantastic pressure-relieving catch in his own full-back line late in the game.
This was another huge disappointment for Simonstown on a big day in Pairc Tailteann, but they can have few complaints. They scored the first four points, held Seneschalstown scoreless in the opening 14 minutes and still found themselves a distance adrift early in the second period.
Shane O`Rourke was the game`s top scorer with 1-6 and when he popped over three points from play and Wayne McCarthy added a free in the 13th minute there was an early hint that they might be on the verge of a third final appearance in five years.
But Seneschalstown had demonstrated great resilience in the quarter-final against Summerhill and it surfaced again as they settled into the contest and completely dominated the second quarter.
Captain Cormac Quinn led his defence well from centre half-back with his usual no-nonsense style, Damien Sheridan and Robert Ruddy helped them get a grip at midfield and the crafty Andy McCann, who won an All-Ireland SFC with Armagh in 2002 was influential at centre half-forward.
But it was the Sheridans who got the scores that turned the game in Seneschalstown`s favour. Brian got them off the mark from a free at the end of the first quarter and they were level by the 19th minute when Damien was fouled and Joe powered an unstoppable penalty past Gary Lynch.
That gave their confidence a tremendous lift and two frees from Brian Sheridan were split by a score from play by brother Joe to earn them a 1-4 to 0-4 interval lead. It might have been a bigger advantage because they kicked seven wides to Simonstown`s four in that period.
Simonstown had moved Shane O`Neill outfield in a bid to get themselves moving, but the great-hearted Wicklow man was soon back at full-forward where he endured a frustrating second-half when he had a number of goal-bound shots blocked.
O`Rourke reduced the deficit with his fourth point from play a minute after the restart, but Seneschalstown then took a firm grip on the game in dramatic fashion.
Joe Sheridan doubled his goal tally with a rasping shot five minutes into the second-half and the scoreboard operator barely had time to register that one when brother Brian repeated the feat. The marking was poor as he gained possession and while Lynch saved his first effort he had little problem finding the net with his second.
With a 3-4 to 0-5 advantage Seneschalstown looked home and as good as hosed, but Simonstown began to play with greater urgency in the middle third of the field as Ciaran Kenny won a fair share of ball and captain Paul Meade did his best to drive them on.
O`Rourke and substitute Stephen Moran pointed to cut the leeway to six early in the last quarter and while Davy Byrne replied with a point for Seneschalstown, the goal that really ignited Simonstown`s recovery arrived 11 minutes from the end of normal time.
Evan Kelly was fouled and O`Rourke confidently dispatched the penalty low past David Lyons. The busy Seamus Kenny added a point after Stephen Sheridan had made a great block to deny O`Neill and suddenly they were only three behind (1-8 to 3-5).
It was real backs to the wall stuff for Seneschalstown for the majority of the remainder, but how they battled in the face of severe pressure. Substitute Stephen Finnegan marked his arrival with a point to push their lead out to four and it was then that Simonstown appeared to decide that it was goals or nothing.
O`Neill was denied again, this time by Lyons, Joe Sheridan then made that fantastic catch and as they defended desperately, Lyons saved once more – from Ned Kearney.
The classy O`Rourke landed a mighty point to leave Simonstown three behind, but Seneschalstown heard the sweet sound of referee David Coldrick`s long whistle after almost three minutes of injury time and can now prepare for the club`s first final against O`Mahonys since they won after a replay in 1972
Seneschalstown – D. Lyons; S. Sheridan, A. Collins, C. Clarke; M. Carey, C. Quinn, C. Gleeson; R. Ruddy, D. Sheridan; D. Byrne (0-1), A. McCann, J. Cowley; B. Clarke, J. Sheridan (2-1), B. Sheridan (1-3). Subs – S. Finnegan (0-1) for Cowley, S. Clarke for Byrne, J. Byrne for Gleeson.
Simonstown Gaels – G. Lynch; M. O`Rourke, H. Traynor, N. McMahon; C. Kenny, C. McNulty, S. Carr; E. Donoghue, P. Meade; E. Kelly, S. Kenny (0-1), S. O`Rourke (1-6); J. Lunney, S. O`Neill, W. McCarthy (0-1). Subs – S. Moran (0-1) for Lunney, N. Kearney for McCarthy.
Referee – David Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels).
