Feis Cup Final
Seneschalstown 2-13 St. Peter’s Dunboyne 2-12
Feis Cup Final
Seneschalstown 2-13 St. Peter’s Dunboyne 2-12
When Seneschalstown and St. Peter’s Dunboyne meet in Feis Cup Finals they tend to be matches that leave a lasting impression on the memory. In 2008, when they last met in the decider they served up a classic which was only decided in extra time and with time almost up on Friday evening few would have bet against this match also going to an extra twenty minutes. When Donal Lenihan pointed a free after fifty nine minutes to leave the minimum between the sides a draw looked a distinct possibility but the men who eventually emerged victorious following that 2008 classic managed to hold out after another epic encounter.
On the night when Seneschalstown stalwart Ciaran Macken brought the curtain down on a very successful career playing senior club football the experienced Seneschalstown side burst from the traps with a flurry of early scores but after not troubling the scoreboard for the last ten minutes after Brian Sheridan’s penalty had sent them into a two point lead they were mightily relieved to hear referee Patrick Neilis’ final whistle to signal the end of the match.
Wing back Niall Groome whose attacking forays were to prove a notable feature of the game was first to score when pointing after only one minute. Reading the break from a Robert Ruddy flick on at midfield he surged into the attack before finding Macken with a handpass. Macken tried to locate Joe Sheridan inside but his pass failed to go to hand. Luckily for Seneschalstown though Groome had continued on his upfield burst and after he scooped up the loose ball soloed forward before pointing from out on the left. When the resultant kick out went out over the sideline Ruddy took a quick line ball which Sheridan broke down to younger brother Brian who doubled his sides advantage.
Dunboyne were struggling to settle into the game and on one of their first forays into Seneschalstown territory Paul Carey decided that they were to go no further. Intercepting a misplaced pass he quickly moved the ball onto Damien Sheridan who went with the old adage of let the ball do the work and drove it forward towards Joe who after catching it turned and curled a beautiful effort between the uprights.
David Geaney settled Dunboyne with a point from play in the fifth minute before Joe Sheridan kicked another effort of his own from play. The men from the South Meath town were to get a huge boost though when from the goal kick Andy Markey found David Gallagher in the middle of the field. Gallagher offloaded to his centerfield partner Shane McEntee who carried the ball through the heart of the Seneschalstown defence before beating David Lyons with a peach of an effort for goal.
The response to this setback from the men in blue was impressive as they pointed with a quick-fire brace courtesy of Joe once more and Bryan Clarke who kicked a booming effort from the terrace side over the bar. Clarke, the hero in 2008 with 3-03, by now was beginning to get the upper hand on his marker. When full back Joe Cowley misjudged a long ball onto the edge of his sides square opportunity knocked for Dunboyne full forward Michael Dunne who opted for his point after Cowley recovered to get back to tackle.
The game which was by now being played in a very open manner very nearly took another twist but after some elaboration in his sides attack Ross Howard saw his shot at goal hit the upright. Following this let off David Geaney burst into life when pointing twice, the first of which could have been a goal and the second of which was a brilliant effort into the hospital end of the ground. Meath senior player Donal Lenihan then got in on the scoring act when showing his class as he pointing from distance to push Dunboyne into a two point advantage, 1-05 to 0-06.
The long ball into Joe Sheridan who was constantly offering himself as a moving target was causing the Dunboyne rear-guard difficulties and from a well delivered ball down the left wing gold was to be struck. Sheridan, judging the flight of the delivery better than his marker, got in behind the defence and after a trademark strong run spotted Brian Sheridan running in like a steam train off his right shoulder. After drawing the goalkeeper out he slipped the ball across to Brian who was left with the simple task of burying the ball in Andy Markey’s’ goal.
The ever swinging momentum in this match took another wild variation only two minutes later when Lenihan rattled David Lyon’ net and when he pointed a free in the twentieth minute he pushed his side into a three point lead. That point though was to prove his teams last of the half as a Seneschalstown surge before the interval saw them go in on level terms.
Clarke tagged on a twenty five metre free which he had won himself after being pulled back as he attempted to run onto a ball over the top before adding a thirteen metre free five minutes later. Then on the stroke of half time Joe Sheridan drew the side’s level when pointing following good work from midfield general Damien and Clarke.
While Seneschalstown got off to the better start in the first half it was their opponents who got the first run in the second. Lenihan pointed following a mistake by Gerry Sheridan before adding a twenty one metre free after something was said to the displeasure of Neilis. Geaney then added his fourth as his side began to get on top. With the rain now steadily falling and the Páirc Tailteann sod becoming greasier by the minute some of the tackles were starting to be slightly misjudged. From one of these misjudged tackles Lenihan was awarded another opportunity to point, a task which was made even easier after the ball was brought forward once more.
In an attempt to shore up their defence Seneschalstown had now introduced Andrew Collins in place of Ruddy who had given his all. Without a score since the half began and with the momentum of the match seemingly ebbing away from them Seneschalstown were by now craving a score. Groome, just as he had done in the opening minutes made a burst upfield and after delivering the ball in front of Joe Sheridan the full forward was able to lay it back out to Clarke who was in support. Clarke, then dutifully pointed to reduce the deficit to three. With his tail now up Clarke then pointed with a majestic effort from the shadows of the stand before Damien Sheridan sent over a massive point from distance.
Lenihan, a constant thorn in the Seneschalstown defence all evening, added his fourth free of the night in the forty ninth minute to edge Dunboyne back into a two point lead. The match though was to witness a dramatic ninety seconds following this free. Firstly Clarke added a free of his own following a foul on Joe Sheridan before second half substitute James Meade after getting on the end of a Sheridan flick down was brought down and fouled for a penalty. Brian Sheridan, goalscorer in the first half stepped up to take responsibility for the kick. Sheridan went low to the ‘keepers left and despite Markey getting contact on the ball he was unable to prevent it squirming under his body and across the line.
A nine minute scoreless spell was to follow but while there was no addition to the scoreboard during this period both sides expended plenty of efforts as they tried to get the crucial scores as the match entered its final stages. Lenihan was to add another free in the sixtieth minute but as the match entered stoppage time crucially it was Seneschalstown who were on the attack. Niall Lyons, on for Macken saw his point effort go out for a forty five and when Clarke’s effort sailed narrowly wide as the clock ticked over the time allowed for injuries Seneschalstown’s supporters urged Neilis to sound the full time whistle. When he did indeed sound it after the kickout those present from the banks of the Rivers Boyne and Nanny could reflect on a fourth Feis Cup triumph since the turn of the millennium.
Many of these Seneschalstown players were winning their third Feis Cup, with some winning their fourth. Joe Sheridan played in goal for that success in 2000 while Mark Carey manned the centre half berth. Damien Sheridan lined out on that December afternoon at full forward while Ciaran Macken was also a panellist that day.
Manager Damien Sheridan and his team of Ian Maguire, Shane Finnegan and Tony McDonnell deserve great credit for this performance as the side bounced back from their disappointing championship exit to end the year with some silverware on its way to Fr. Tully Park. This victory would not have been possible without the scoring exploits of the full forward line but equally without the hard work of the defence who although under pressure at different stages never let the dam burst. When Dunboyne did get in behind them they found David Lyons a difficult opponent to beat while at midfield Damien Sheridan and Robert Ruddy gave their all as did the teams very hard working half forward line.
When the game appeared to be going away from Seneschalstown in the second half the following quote from Margo Jones may have been applicable:
“…… if you want something very badly, you can achieve it. It may take patience, very hard work, a real struggle, and a long time; but it can be done. That much faith is a prerequisite of any undertaking.”
Seneschalstown Scorers: Brian Sheridan 2-01 (1-00 penalty), Bryan Clarke 0-06 (0-03 Frees), Joe Sheridan 0-04, Niall Groome 0-01, Damien Sheridan 0-01.
Seneschalstown: David Lyons, Gerry Sheridan, Joe Cowley, Paul Carey, Mark Carey, Cormac Noonan, Niall Groome, Brian Sheridan, Damien Sheridan, Ross Howard, Ciaran Macken, James Byrne, Robert Ruddy, Joe Sheridan, Bryan Clarke.
Seneschalstown Substitutions: James Meade for R. Howard 33 mins, Andrew Collins for R. Ruddy 38 mins, Sean Noonan for M. Carey 43mins, Niall Lyons for C. Macken 49 mins.
St. Peter’s Dunboyne Scorers: Donal Lenihan 1-07 (0-05 Frees), David Geaney 0-04, Shane McEntee 1-00, Michael Dunne 0-01
St. Peter’s Dunboyne: Andy Markey, Stephen Hogan, Tommy O’Connor, Johnny Meehan, Cathal Finn, Damien Sweeney, Seamus Lavin, Shane McEntee, David Gallagher, David Clarke, Donal Lenihan, Ronan Jones, Shane Comiskey, Michael Dunne, David Geaney.
St. Peters Dunboyne Substitutions: Jordan McLoughlin for S. Hogan 20 mins, Conor Daly for S. Comiskey 45 mins, Ger Robinson for D. Clarke 55 mins.
