Meath Cleaning Supplies Premier Football Championship Division 2 Group B Round 2
Seneschalstown 1-07 St. Patrick’s 0-09
Pretty it certainly wasn’t but Seneschalstown will not care one jot as they somehow came away from Sunday’s Meath Cleaning Supplies Premier Football Championship Division 2 encounter with St. Patrick’s in Duleek with a one point win and very much got themselves back in contention for a semi-final spot in the competition.
When the St. Patrick’s centre half back strode forward to kick a 58th minute point into the teeth of a gale to put the East Meath side in front once more, it looked like Seneschalstown’s race was practically run given the difficulty they had in scoring for the majority of the second half despite being backed by the elements. However, there was to be an extraordinary late, late twist in the tale.
St. Patrick’s came into the game on the back of an opening round win over Duleek/Bellewstown while Seneschalstown had to dust themselves down after defeat to St. Colmcille’s.
Seneschalstown played into the wind towards the new clubhouse end of Tony Callaghan Park and despite that, enjoyed lots of early possession. St. Patrick’s registered the first three points in the opening eight minutes of the game and it took twelve minutes for the Yellow Furze men to score when Woodley Nicholson, who enjoyed an excellent outing in his first full 60 minute appearance in well over two years, was quickest to a breaking ball on the St. Patrick’s 20 metre line and he popped over Seneschalstown’s first score of the hour.
The Pats’ added to their tally with another score on 21 minutes but Seneschalstown hit back as Johnny Gilsenan turned to clip over after what appeared to be a shot from Éamon Finnegan fell right into his path. There was the minimum between them when full-forward David Fox powered through the middle to blast over a couple of phases later.
St. Patrick’s had the final say of the half with a point from a 45’ to lead by two at the break but Seneschalstown were unlucky not to raise a green flag in the opening period when the St. Pat’s keeper produced a fine stop from a powerful Jack McDonnell drive.
Seneschalstown found adjusting to playing with the wind at their backs very tough in the third quarter with a number of passes catching the wind and travelling wide or out over the sideline. This was compounded by a further two scores for the Stamullen men after 34 and 39 minutes as they made it look easier to be playing into the wind rather than with it, building up a four point lead for themselves.
However, when Seneschalstown needed somebody to step up and take the game by the scruff of the neck, James Conlon put his hand up. He kicked Seneschalstown’s first score of the half eleven minutes in and came up with the games crucial score just as the game was ticking into the final ten minutes.
The tireless Ross Howard who linked play between defence and attack all day played an exquisite bouncing ball into Conlon who was now positioned on the edge of the square. Conlon collected it and slipped his man before deftly finishing it to the roof of the net to draw Seneschalstown level. Three minutes later he was wreaking havoc again when a long Seán Commons delivery was met by Conlon’s fist in between full-back and goalkeeper and it was diverted over the bar to edge Seneschalstown in front for the first time.
A point for the Pats’ restored parity in the 56th minute and went ahead in the 58th minute and it looked like Seneschalstown’s interest in competition was about to go up in smoke.
Whoever wrote the script however, had different ideas and from somewhere Seneschalstown found another level. In the first minute of stoppage time, Johnny Gilsenan let fly from all of 40 metres out and wind assisted the ball was roared over by the Seneschalstown crowd on the road side of the pitch and it looked the game was headed for a draw, something which probably was deserved by both sides. However, Éamon Finnegan, not exactly the tallest player on the pitch, rose high to intercept the St. Patrick’s kick-out close to the edge of the ‘D and after he laid off to David Fox, the referee deemed that Fox had been fouled just to the right of the goal on the 20 metre line.
Finnegan picked up the ball and only just managed to squeeze the ball inside the right hand upright to give Seneschalstown the lead with his only score of the contest. St. Patrick’s had a late free of their own into the breeze to rescue a draw but it went to the right and wide and Seneschalstown could celebrate a victory that looked highly improbable only moments before. Some might say it was a Lazarus like comeback earned by a level of grit, some might say it was daylight robbery but ultimately Seneschalstown will only care that they have two points on the board and go into the last round clash with Duleek/Bellewstown in two week’s time with a shot of making the semi-final.
Seneschalstown: David Gordon, Seán Reilly, Óran Lawlor, Cormac Carolan, Liam Dillon, Conor McDonnell, Woodley Nicholson (0-01), John Smith, Seán Commons, Ross Howard, James Conlon (1-02), Jack McDonnell, Éamon Finnegan (0-01, 1f), David Fox (0-01), Johnny Gilsenan (0-02).
Subs: Niall McCabe, Eddie Meade.
