JM Food Services Football League Division 2 Round 1
Seneschalstown 2-12 Dunshaughlin 0-07
Seneschalstown began their JM Food Services Football League Division 2 campaign with a relatively comfortable victory in the end over Dunshaughlin on Friday night. In truth, despite being in the ascendancy for the vast majority of the game the 11 point winning margin did not appear likely as the game entered the final ten minutes when the home side made sure of the points with two goals in that period, courtesy of Cathal Finnegan and second half substitute Alan Mulvany.
Playing with the aid of the wind advantage in the first half, Dunshaughlin came out of the traps quickest. James Meade had to be alert in the Seneschalstown goal to keep out an effort from John McDonagh. However Luke Mitchell converted the 45’ to give the visitors the early lead and they continued their fast start when wing back Niall Byrne got on the end of a slick move to fire over.
Seneschalstown began to warm to the task shortly though, and David Fox settled Stephen Kernan’s side with a point from an attacking mark when he claimed a ball from Dylan Keating on the 21’. Mitchell restored Dunshaughlin’s two point lead when he struck a fine dead ball from way out on the right hand side, but from here the home side really began get a grip on proceedings.
In the 16th minute, Seneschalstown put together a well worked move to get their first score from play. When the ball dropped into keeper Meade’s hands, it was worked up the pitch by the foot with Dylan Keating and Donie Commons involved before Eoin Finnegan launched a skyscraper which sent the umpires searching for the white flag. Moments later Seneschalstown restored parity when Brian Maguire turned a couple of times and clipped over a tidy point after being set up by marauding corner back Cillian Lawlor inside the 21.
In the 23rd minute Seneschalstown hit the front for the first time when Fox was fouled close to goal and Cathal Finnegan converted the close range free. As the half ticked away to a conclusion, Finnegan had an opportunity with another similar free which he duly added after being fouled himself. Dunshaughlin midfielder Colm Keane had the last say in the half as Seneschalstown went to the break 0-06 to 0-04 in front.
With the strong breeze now behind them, Seneschalstown were looking to pull away as the second half began. Joey Moore certainly used it to his advantage successfully when he shot at goal for a point from near the 45, and Cathal Finnegan doubled down on this when he chased a ball into the corner, picked it up and put over his first point from play. Dunashuaghlin responded with two in a row of their own to reduce the margin once again to two points.
Substitute Alan Mulvany put three in it again when decided to take his point when through on goal after Moore flicked the ball into his path, and then he added to it with another white flag after he was spotted on his own in space in the middle of the ‘D by Cathal Finnegan.
As the clock ticked into the final 10 minutes, Finnegan kicked another free as Seneschalstown lead 0-11 to 0-06, and seconds later he was to find the games opening goal. Dylan Keating battled hard to win a Dunshaughlin kickout high up the pitch and he popped the ball to Finnegan off his shoulder. He still had work to do to find a score but he wriggled free and managed to place the ball beyond the keeper and into the top right corner of the net, and that certainly gave Seneschalstown breathing space. The home side kicked on in the final stages, Mulvany notched up his third point since his introduction with a fine effort with the outside of his right foot. Mitchell landed another 45 for Dunshaughlin’s last score, but Seneschalstown would finish with a bang.
When a kickout broke over midfield and into Cathal Finnegan’s arms, he took off for goal. He tore up the ground in front of him with Alan Mulvany keeping up alongside. Finnegan unselfishly slipped the ball to Mulvany who checked back onto his right foot and finished to the top left corner of the net. From there, Derek Ryan had seen enough and blew his full-time whistle with Seneschalstown 11 points to the good.
Next weekend another tricky tie awaits the Yellow Furze men as they make the long journey to Millbrook to play Oldcastle next Saturday evening at 5:30pm.
Seneschalstown: James Meade, Cillian Lawlor, Danny Waters, Cormac Carolan, Seán Carey, Brian Maguire (0-01), Liam Dillon, Donie Commons, John Smith, Dylan Keating, Joey Moore (0-01), Darren O’Brien, Eoin Finnegan (0-01), Cathal Finnegan (1-05, 3fs), David Fox (0-01, 1m).
Subs Used: Alan Mulvany (1-03), Ronan Conneely, Eamon Finnegan
