Meath U-16 Division 1 League Round 2
Seneschalstown 7-12 Simonstown Gaels 4-07
The U-16 footballers from Seneschalstown made it two wins from two in the Division 1 League on Tuesday evening when overcoming Simonstown Gaels by fourteen points in Fr. Tully Park. For the second week in a row the match couldn’t be played at the regulation fifteen a side due to the opposition not having enough players available, Simonstown arriving with thirteen players.
Meath U-16 Division 1 League Round 2
Seneschalstown 7-12 Simonstown Gaels 4-07
The U-16 footballers from Seneschalstown made it two wins from two in the Division 1 League on Tuesday evening when overcoming Simonstown Gaels by fourteen points in Fr. Tully Park. For the second week in a row the match couldn’t be played at the regulation fifteen a side due to the opposition not having enough players available, Simonstown arriving with thirteen players.
A good start can often be half the battle and with this in mind Seneschalstown set out with all guns blazing at the outset and within four minutes they had notched two goals through the half forward pair of Sean Commons and Alan Mulvany. Commons hit the roof of the net after just ninety-eight seconds when he made the most of excellent work in defence from Cathal Hickey and then clever play from Dylan Keating. Then Mulvany struck when he was fed the ball by Sean Carey who had ended up on the turf after embarking on a marauding adventure from his wing back berth.
The Simonstown Gaels youngsters hit back immediately when from the kickout they worked the ball upfield to point before then hitting their opening goal to leave just two points between the sides. Dylan Keating was looking threatening when in possession and he soon popped over a sweetly struck point but on nine minutes Simonstown Gaels cancelled this score out with a point of their own.
Cillian Gormley was looking lively early on and using his pace he latched onto a Sean Commons foot pass over the top before pointing. Gormley then had a hand in the next score when he set up midfielder Daire Finnegan who split the uprights. Then came a double whammy for the Navan youngsters when Dylan Keating rocked them when hitting a brace of goals in the space of twenty seconds. The Gormley, Keating combination then linked up when after the initial ball in from Cillian, Dylan Keating got out in front of his opponent before laying off to the supporting Joseph Moore who curled over.
Simonstown were now in need of a score and find one they did when Brian Boyd was beaten with a fine strike for their second goal. Seneschalstown though were in no humour to have their lead wiped out and they soon hit a quick fire goal and a point when after Sean Commons had pointed he caught the resultant kickout and after soloing through he blasted past the goalkeeper to raise the green flag. The Navan outfit replied with a point but Daire Finnegan soon hit back when he somehow squeezed his goal effort in when shooting from practically on the end line.
Ciaran Mongey was enjoying a solid opening half at centre back and when he pushed up to join in an attack he forced a free after a ball was handled on the ground by a Simonstown defender and from the resultant free Alan Mulvany popped over from in front of the posts. Simonstown managed the next two points before Seneschalstown hit back with the last three points of the half. Firstly, Sean Commons tapped over when he reacted quickest to the rebound off the post of an Alan Mulvany shot after the centre forward had been played through following excellent work from Joseph Moore, Dylan Keating and Cillian Gormley. Adam O’Mara then curled over a stunning point but it was Commons, grandson of Leitrim legend Packy McGarty, who had the final say as he showed off his two footed ability when nonchalantly knocking over a point.
This left the home side firmly in control of proceedings as they led by 6-09 to 2-05 at the break of play, giving them a lead of sixteen points.
Sean Commons had opened the first half scoring with a goal and he was to open it for the second when after Mulvany had picked him out with a free he hoisted over a majestic point from way out on the right hand side. The two-person full back line of Simon Rooney and Cathal Hickey were having super games and a brilliantly executed Hickey tackle ended up with the ball worked upfield to Dylan Keating only for the full forward to screw his shot wide. Ross Mullen was another who was enjoying a fine performance, this time in the unfamiliar position of wing back and after he linked up with Daire Finnegan, Finnegans centre field partner Joseph Moore pointed.
To their great credit Simonstown kept battling away and between the forty second and fiftieth minutes they hit Seneschalstown for two goals and two points, and this could have been even greater were it not for Brian Boyd pulling off a good save in the midst of this scoring burst. Realising their side could benefit from the introduction of some fresh legs Christian McAuley was summoned into the Seneschalstown side and within moments of his introduction his side had steadied the ship through the scoring of a Joseph Moore goal when he got on the end of a passing move involving Sean Carey, Daire Finnegan twice and Dylan Keating. Finnegan then brought the games scoring to a close with his second point to put the seal on Seneschalstown’s second victory from two games.
Next up for the team is a Round 3 game away to Navan O’Mahonys in what will be a repeat of the 2015 Division 2 Final. Seneschalstown will be well aware that they will need to put in an improved second half performance against the Brews Hill outfit if they are to upset the home side next week. Best for Seneschalstown on Tuesday evening were the full back duo of Simon Rooney and Cathal Hickey, midfield dynamo Daire Finnegan and the sharpshooting Sean Commons.
Seneschalstown: Brian Boyd, Simon Rooney, Cathal Hickey, Ross Mullen, Ciaran Mongey, Sean Carey, Daire Finnegan (1-02), Joseph Moore (1-02), Cillian Gormley (0-01), Alan Mulvany (1-01, 0-01 Free), Sean Commons (2-04), Dylan Keating (2-01), Adam O’Mara (0-01).
Seneschalstown Substitutions: Christian McAuley for C. Gormley, Jason Lyons for D. Keating, Padraig Finnegan for S. Carey, Ciaran Lynch for D. Finnegan, Fionn Hall for R. Mullen.
