Senior Championship
Fri 16th Apr Dunderry 1-11 Seneschalstown 2-12
Joe Sheridan was the key man as Seneschalstown put in a strong finish to see off a strong Dunderry challenge in an entertaining Navan Shopping Centre SFC first round clash at Pairc Tailteann.
The county man netted from the spot four minutes from time to restore the Yellow Furze side’s advantage and they sealed the issue with late points from Paddy O’Brien and Shane Clarke.
Senior Championship
Fri 16th Apr Dunderry 1-11 Seneschalstown 2-12
Joe Sheridan was the key man as Seneschalstown put in a strong finish to see off a strong Dunderry challenge in an entertaining Navan Shopping Centre SFC first round clash at Pairc Tailteann.
The county man netted from the spot four minutes from time to restore the Yellow Furze side’s advantage and they sealed the issue with late points from Paddy O’Brien and Shane Clarke.
Mickey McQuillan’s charges just about deserved to shade the verdict in a contest in which the lead changed hands on six occasions and the sides level five times, for they were more economical, shooting just two wides to their opponents nine.
Joe Sheridan, who missed a penalty for Meath under-21s at a crucial juncture five days earlier, beat Martin Kelly with a rasping shot that hardly deviated from the centre of the goal while the Dunderry custodian dived to his right.
Sheridan finished with a personal tally of 2-5, with two of the five points coming from frees. There are times when he takes too much out of the ball, but apart from his scoring haul he contributed enormously to Seneschalstown’s success and late in the game he was digging out his defence.
The rest of the winners’ starting attack contributed just four points between them though when the impressive Paddy O’Brien pushed forward he weighed in with two fine points.
While at the back the decision to switch Alan Finnegan to full-back added to the solidity of their rearguard.
There was no doubting the validity of the decision to award that late penalty but it was tough on Damien Clarke, who was one of Dunderry’s star turns on this occasion.
He started out at corner-forward, was soon switched to left-half back and then drafted to the edge of his own square in an effort to curb Joe Sheridan.
That arrangement didn’t last long as the Seneschalstown number 14 was soon switched along with brother Damien to boost an ailing midfield.
Damien Clarke took centre-stage after eleven minutes when he trekked forward to net a penalty at the hospital end after Keith Callaghan was grounded by Gavin McGovern.
That left it 1-3 to 1-1 in favour of Sean Kelly’s men who hit the front after just 19 seconds when Trevor Conaty pointed. That lead last almost five minutes before Seneschalstown’s top marksman opened his account with a goal following a long delivery from Colin Clarke.
Dunderry held the reins for most of the first half but were guilty of wasting some good openings before turning around with a 1-7 to 1-6 advantage.
Trevor Conaty finished as Dunderry’s top scorer with 0-7, four of which came from frees. But he seemed to be allowed a lot of latitude when taking the frees by referee Jimmy Henry.
That apart the Clonmellon official contributed to the spectacle with a typical common sense approach.
The sides were level on four occasion in the second half in which the introduction of Stephen O’Rourke to midfield lifted Dunderry who regained the lead with fines scores from Conaty (play) and Seamus Harte.
The tide seemed to be flowing their way when and upright denied Shane Clarke a leveller and Martin Kelly saved well at the feet of Brian Clarke before Sheridan’s penalty altered the trend.
Seneschalstown – D. Geraghty; P. Carey, J. Cowley, G. McGovern; C. Clarke (0-1), A. Finnegan, M. Carey; R. Ruddy, P. O’Brien (0-2); S. Clarke (0-3), C. Macken, G. Conlon (0-1); D. Sheridan, J. Sheridan (2-5), B. Clarke. Sub – S. Sheridan for Ruddy.
Dunderry – M. Kelly; N. Howley, K. Slattery, D. McCormack (0-1); P. Darcy, E. Stephens, G. Newman; P. Callaghan, S. Harte (0-1); K. Dowd (0-1), T. Conaty (0-7), E. Murray; I. McCormack, K. Callaghan (0-1), D. Clarke (1-0). Subs – S. O’Rourke for Slattery, T. Doherty for Howley, B. Callaghan for I. McCormack.
