Tommy Dowd Oil Football League Division 6 Round 3
Seneschalstown 1-11 Ratoath 1-09
A superb second half showing ensured Seneschalstown left Ratoath with both points in Round 3 of the Tommy Dowd Oil Football League Division 6 on Friday evening. With Ratoath leading by eight points after just 17 minutes, it looked like the table toppers were about to continue their 100% start as Seneschalstown struggled get a foothold in the game.
The home side were quickest out of the blocks with the opening two points inside the opening five minutes but Seneschalstown did kickstart their tally with a Seán Commons point before the same player excellently converted a 45’ into the wind after 13 minutes.
However, when a point attempt was half blocked by the Seneschalstown defence the ball fell to a Ratoath forward who finished to the net. This set Ratoath off and they added a further five points in a four minute spell to jump eight points ahead. Ratoath continued to enjoy possession but thankfully from a Seneschalstown point of view they couldn’t add to their tally for the remainder of the half.
Ian Maguire’s did battle with little reward until Sean Davis kicked a routine free six minutes before half-time and the deficit was down to six when Alex Finnegan popped over an awkward looking shot which was how the game was at the break, 1-07 to 0-04.
Backed by the wind and a couple of half-time switches Seneschalstown made a quick start to the second half the two Sean’s, Commons and Davis each pointed from play and Cian Hosie kicked a close range free after he was fouled himself.
Ratoath got their first score of the half from a free but Seneschalstown were now the ones pressing on and a two point effort from Seán Davis left two points back by the 37th minute. The same player added a free just shy of the thee quarter mark to leave one in it but Seneschalstown were also guilty of bad use of possession and shot selection for the next few minutes and couldn’t get level. That all changed in the 49th minute.
Seneschalstown had a line ball and with little on for Liam Maguire he sent a long ball in towards the large square. Seán Commons latched onto it and with only the keeper to beat, he kept his composure to go around him and finish and move Seneschalstown ahead for the first time.
Despite Ratoath pulling a point back, Seneschalstown defended rather well in the final ten minutes and put the icing on the came when Liam Maguire and Cian Hosie combined in a move from inside Seneschalstown’s own half with Hosie curling between the posts to put the visitors two clear, a lead they would hold until the full-time whistle.
Seneschalstown: Cathal Darby, Jack McDonnell, Mark Fox, Cormac Carolan, Liam Maguire, Ryan Finnegan, Ryan O’Dowd, Teean Cummins, Owen Mullen, Joe Norris, Seán Davis (0-05, 1 tp, 2fs), Neil Darby, Ross Mullen, Seán Commons (1-03, 1 45’), Alex Finnegan (0-01).
Subs: Cian Hosie (0-02, 1f), David Gordon, David Fox, Brian Maguire
