LMFM Minor Football Championship Division 2 Group A Round 3
Seneschalstown 3-12 Wolfe Tones 1-11
Seneschalstown booked their place in the semi-finals in Division 2 of the LMFM Minor Football Championship with a seven point win over Wolfe Tones in a blustery Páirc Mhic Eoin in Kilberry on Monday night. Leading by two points at the break, it was a devastating 40 second spell at the end of the third quarter that propelled Seneschalstown to victory, where Jamie Norris and Cian Hosie struck for a goal each to move Seneschalstown eight points in front and leave their hosts reeling.
In what was effectively like a quarter-final tie, Seneschalstown knew a win or draw would see them into the last four, while defeat in all likelihood would have had them eliminated.
Having fallen behind for what would be the first and only time in the third minute thanks to Wolfe Tones’ opening score, Charlie Finnegan registered Seneschalstown’s first point from 30 metres after he took a pass from Jamie Barry.
Barry was the provider for Seneschalstown’s next score and it turned out to be a bit of magic as he produced a fantastically weighted reverse pass into the path of centre half back Charles McCarthy and he rolled the ball beyond the Tones keeper into the bottom left hand corner.
Cian Hosie continued Seneschalstown’s quick start with another point in the seventh minute to move them four to the good but Wolfe Tones got themselves right back into matters with a goal of their own after eight minutes.
After his good work early on for some of his teammates scores, Jamie Barry got his name on the scoresheet after his namesake Jamie Norris weas first out to an excellent delivery from Bradley Kirwan.
Norris was fouled for Seneschalstown’s next score, as Cian Hosie kicked the resultant free and Hosie was on target again seconds later after he won the kickout and returned the ball straight back over the keeper’s head and over the bar.
Seneschalstown’s lead was now back at four points and that became five in the 14th minute when after some patient build up play from the visitors ended with Charles McCarthy on hand to add a point to his earlier goal.
However the tide was to turn in the next seven minutes as Wolfe Tones kicked five of the next six scores to bring the gap back to the minimum with Seneschalstown only capable of answering when Charlie Finnegan took a mark from a kickout and found Jamie Norris isolated inside who turned and fired over.
However, Seneschalstown had the last say of the half when Charlie Finnegan put over a booming long range effort in the 28th minute as Seneschalstown lead by two at the break, 1-08 to 1-06.
Tones were quickest off the mark upon the resumption which was cancelled out at the other end when Johnny Finnegan and Cian Hosie combined through the middle for the latter to raise a white flag. The sides traded once more in the 35th and 36th minutes with Norris claiming a mark and making no mistake for Seneschalstown’s 10th of the game.
Norris was causing the home defence all sorts of problems and when a ball into him broke kindly for James Sharkey a couple of minute later, Sharkey got his point attempt away despite the best efforts of a Tones defender to block.
Another point for the men in purple and gold followed but Norris, who was heading to Lourdes on a school trip straight after the game, was to provide some further divine inspiration for Seneschalstown in the 43rd minute. Jamie Barry was right at the heart of the move again as he burst through the middle of the home defence and he fisted to his right to the unmarked Norris who slammed the ball home. As things transpired, it would get even better for Seneschalstown in the seconds that followed.
Charlie Finnegan went up with a strong fist to break the resultant kickout and he played it straight into the path of Cian Hosie and a gap opened up for the number 11 to go marauding through and he calmly picked his spot and the ball nestled once again in the bottom left hand corner. When Hosie tapped over a straightforward free, Seneschalstown lead by nine points and were well in control.
Somewhat remarkably, Seneschalstown would not score again as a couple of efforts went wide of the target or were thwarted by the Wolfe Tones keeper. However, it mattered little as the homes side could only kick two further points in response as the Boynesiders emerged victorious by seven points and book a semi-final date with St. Patrick’s in a couple of weeks.
Seneschalstown: Cathal Reilly, Colm McDonnell, Eoin McGauran, Bradley Kirwan, Mattie Cowley, Charles McCarthy (1-01), Tadhg Caffrey, Charlie Finnegan (0-02), Aran Carey, James Sharkey (0-01), Cian Hosie (1-05 2fs), Johnny Finnegan, Cathal Clarke, Jamie Norris (1-02, 1m) Jamie Barry (0-01).
Subs: James Heery, Keith Finnegan.
