LMFM Minor Football League Division 3 Round 2
Seneschalstown 1-10 Ratoath 0-08.
After leaving Duleek last Friday night empty handed after a disappointing performance, Seneschalstown minors bounced back with a hard fought win over visitors Ratoath on Saturday afternoon in difficult conditions in Fr. Tully Park. Anyone who watched the two games between these sides in the under 17 league last summer knew that it was going to be tight, as on both occasions then Seneschalstown required last minute winners from Robbie Wogan to earn victory.
LMFM Minor Football League Division 3 Round 2
Seneschalstown 1-10 Ratoath 0-08.
After leaving Duleek last Friday night empty handed after a disappointing performance, Seneschalstown minors bounced back with a hard fought win over visitors Ratoath on Saturday afternoon in difficult conditions in Fr. Tully Park. Anyone who watched the two games between these sides in the under 17 league last summer knew that it was going to be tight, as on both occasions then Seneschalstown required last minute winners from Robbie Wogan to earn victory.
Having selected to play with the aid of the strong elements blowing towards the scoreboard corner, Seneschalstown knew a fast start was a necessity. That was just what they got as they had the ball in the Ratoath net inside 4 minutes. Whilst it may not be a contender for the goal of the season award, it would certainly prove crucial in the outcome of the game. A high ball into the Ratoath square was won by David Gordon who had his initial shot blocked but when the ball broke it was pulled on first time and the ball eventually went into the net off wing forward Shane Mulvany. The long ball tactic was working well for the hosts in the first half and as a result Seneschalstown were winning frees.
This kept the scoreboard ticking over as Eoin Finnegan and Ryan O’Dowd converted the frees. Seneschalstown showed that they could also kick scores from distance as first Eoin and then Cathal Finnegan kicked fine points from distances over 30 metres as Ratoath were struggling to contain them. However, Ratoath kept themselves in the game by kicking four first half points and the gap was four points at half time – Seneschalstown 1-05 Ratoath 0-04.
Having played the second half of Meath’s Leinster MFL win over Tipperary earlier in the afternoon, Adam Carey entered the fray at the start of the second half, the hosts were keen to shut up shop given the fact that they were playing against the stiff breeze. They also got off the mark early in the half as O’ Dowd tapped over a free, increasing the advantage. However, the side clad out in yellow had their goalkeeper Ruairí McDonagh to thank as he made two very important saves firstly diving to his left to tip the ball away and then getting a strong hand down low to his opposite site at the expense of a forty-five, which was cleared. At the other end, Eoin Finnegan kept adding frees to the Seneschalstown tally before O’ Dowd kicked an important point from play. Ratoath never really threatened to get within a goal and the aforementioned O’ Dowd point even stretched the gap to six points deep inside the final quarter.
Despite reeling off the final two points of the match Ratoath couldn’t make any more inroads and Seneschalstown held on to keep the two points in Fr. Tully Park. There was some excellent defending in the second half, particularly from Carey, Richie McKeown and McDonagh. Further up the field Eoin Finnegan excelled while O’ Dowd also put in a hardworking shift in the centre of the field. Another positive were the substitute appearances of under 15 players Alan Mulvany and Daire Finnegan who each contributed to the victory. Next up for the side is a home game against Killary Emmets next Saturday.
Seneschalstown Scorers: Eoin Finnegan 0-06, Ryan O’Dowd 0-03, Shane Mulvany 1-00, Cathal Finnegan 0-01.
Seneschalstown: Ruairí McDonagh, Robert Littler, Louis Healy, Ruairí Keogh, Richard McKeown, Niall Hickey, Eoin O’Reilly, Dylan Doyle, Ryan O’Dowd, Brian Maguire, Robert Wogan, Shane Mulvany, Cathal Finnegan, Eoin Finnegan, David Gordon.
Seneschalstown Substitutions: Adam Carey for S. Mulvany, Alan Mulvany for D. Gordon, Daire Finnegan for R. Littler.
