A League Division 1B Round 2
Seneschalstown 2-13 St. Michael’s 1-13
Seneschalstown moved to the top of the Division 1B table by defeating a plucky St. Michael’s side in this rearranged Round 2 clash played on Friday night in Carlanstown. Leading by 10 points after 38 minutes having produced quite a brilliant display up to that point, Seneschalstown were left hanging on a bit as the home side whittled down the lead to three points by the end.
Heading to the north Meath venue to take on their previously unbeaten hosts, Seneschalstown needed a quick start to the game similar to last week’s win over Moynalvey, and that was exactly what they got.
Each team were guilty of an early wide before Seneschalstown hit the front with a score that originated in the full back line. A number of players were key in slowing a St. Michael’s attack and Donie Commons blocked a speculative shot which Seneschalstown countered quickly from to set up a point s coring opportunity for Rob Wogan. The wing-back who has put his name to a score in nearly every game so far this year, got on the scoresheet with a fine point from 30 metres to get Seneschalstown rolling.
A notable feature of the opening half was the tenacious Seneschalstown tackling with numerous situations where St. Michael’s players were swarmed with nowhere to go and this laid the platform for Seneschalstown to kick on. Cathal Finnegan doubled the lead with a pointed free in the 12th minute and from the resultant kickout, the visitors were in for a goal.
The St. Michael’s keeper went short with the kickout, and after a defender looked to be turned over by early substitute Niall McCabe, the ball was played back to the keeper who failed with his attempt to pick up the ball. In swooped Cathal Finnegan to pick up the loose ball and lay off to Robbie Finnegan who planted the ball into the net.
Another Finnegan, Eoin, put Seneschalstown six clear when he clipped over a tidy point before two quick scores opened St. Michael’s account in the 18th minute. Eoin Finnegan hit back with Seneschalstown’s riposte, an outrageous point from out in the right corner off his right foot for a simply sublime score.
On 22 minutes, Seneschalstown’s second goal arrived. David Gordon’s kickout was broken down by Donie Commons into the path of Alan Mulvany who had got goal side of the big St. Michael’s press. Mulvany carried the ball a good 30 metres before popping inside to Eoin Finnegan who composed himself to finish the move low to the net and Seneschalstown lead by eight points after 22 minutes. Another pair of St. Michael’s points reduced the gap, but one last Cathal Finnegan free gave Seneschalstown a seven point lead at the break, 2-05 to 0-04. The only low points of the first half from a Seneschalstown perspective were the departures of Simon Rooney and Robbie Finnegan through injury.
Seneschalstown were quick out of the blocks at the start of the second period. Dylan Keating, on for the injured Robbie Finnegan curled over a point from the edge of the ‘D’, and Alan Mulvany split the posts with a superb effort off the outside of his right boot.
St Michael’s added another point for themselves but Seneschalstown were in no mood to mess about during this period as another score off a kickout arrived. John Smith rose highest to claim a mark in the middle of the field before quickly transferring to Cathal Finnegan. Finnegan immediately spotted the onrushing Séimí Byrne, popped the ball to him and Byrne did the rest, knocking over a well worked score. Eoin Finnegan kept the foot on the pedal, bringing his tally to 1-03 for the night with another white flag as the lead was now into double digits after 37 minutes.
Again, St. Michael’s responded with a couple of points of their own, however it was captain John Smith who was next to register, an extremely rare point for the Seneschalstown skipper as he toom aim when he seemed to have too many options as to what to do next with the ball. As the clock ticked into the last 15 minutes, Cathal Finnegan let fly from just inside the 45 which was unerringly accurate after Ross Howard won a turnover inside the St. Michael’s half of the field.
Slowly, St. Michael’s began to claw the deficit back score by score, kickstarted by a goal with 10 minutes to go. They tagged on another point before Dylan Keating kicked his second point since his introduction, one you thought would settle Seneschalstown and see them home as they lead 2-13 to 1-09.
It wasn’t to be straightforward as St. Michael’s kicked the four scores on the bounce to bring themselves within a goal. Seneschalstown had a couple of opportunities to seal the victory but their final ball let them down on different occasions while also being guilty of coughing up possession in bad areas.
Crucially, Seneschalstown held firm and picked two league points which sees them climb to the top of the League table ahead of another away trip next Saturday evening, this time to Curraha.
Seneschalstown: David Gordon, Cillian Lawlor, Brian Maguire, Danny Waters, Rob Wogan (0-01), Simon Rooney, Seán Carey, John Smith (0-01), Donie Commons, Ross Howard, Cathal Finnegan (0-04, 3fs), Alan Mulvany (0-01), Séimí Byrne (0-01), Eoin Finnegan (1-03), Robbie Finnegan (1-00).
Subs Used: Niall McCabe, Dylan Keating (0-02), Ryan Finnegan, Ronan Conneely
