AUSPICIOUS DEBUT BY SENESCHALSTOWN
Seneschalstown, winners of the intermediate title in 1967, made an auspicious debut at the top grade when holding a highly rated Walterstown combination to a draw in the first round of the senior football championship at Navan on Sunday.
High tension prevailed at the end of the game when referee Mick Campbell of Kells announced that Pat Reynolds’ team had won by the narrowest of margins. That the big Seneschalstown contingent of Seneschalstown contingent was stunned by the news is putting it mildly. After protesting to the referee, some of their officials consulted the pressmen present and they, in turn, gave their verdict: Walterstown, 0-8 Seneschalstown, 1-5. Mr. Campbell again checked his scoresheet, immediately admitted that he had erred in the first instance and the official result was declared a dead heat.
The match itself had everything to commend it – good sportsmanship, earnest tackling, periods of fluctuating fortunes and some superb individual performances. On the other side of the ledger, we had examples of erratic shooting that prevented the full points going to either Johnstown or The Furze.
LIVELY AND ENTERTAINING
The various stages of an exceptionally lively and entertaining encounter can be easily described. In the first moiety, during which Walterstown had a slight edge and shaped like snatching the laurels, scores were few and far between. Seneschalstown notched only two of the six points that had been chalked up and it seemed unlikely that Ollie Geraghty’s boys would call a halt to the superbly fit and resolute opposing XV.
On the resumption Richie Barry and Maurice Carter exchanged points and then, out of the blue the ball was in the Walterstown net to put Seneschalstown in the lead for the first time in addition to providing them with a much needed tonic. Who scored the all-important goal? We have asked that question 12 times without being furnished with a satisfactory answer. Denis Carey and Ollie Geraghty were credited with the achievement while others maintained that a Walterstown defender was responsible for the ultimate raising of the green flag in the 41st minute.
FOUGHT BACK
Undaunted, the Johnstown parish side fought back and confidence was regained when Larry Drumm pointed from a free a minute guy later to equalise. In an exciting finish, Walterstown held on tenaciously to a point lead one minute from the end and then Jimmy Brien became the hero of Seneschalstown when he sent the leather over the bar from long range to bring the combination level before Mick Campbell sounded the long whistle.
Aidan O’Brien, Pat Reynolds, F. Burke, T. McGuinness and M. McGuinness starred for Walterstown while Ollie Geraghty, Sean Duggan, Terry McDonagh, Maurice Carter and Pat Collins impressed for the opposition.
Scorers:
Walterstown – L. Drumm (0-4), R. Barry (0-2), M. O’Brien (0-1) and P. McCabe (0-1).
Seneschalstown – J. Brien (0-3), D. Carey or O. Geraghty (1-0), M. Carter (0-1) and T. McDonagh (0-1).
