JMB Sportsfield Services Feis Cup Round 1
Seneschalstown 1-14 Blackhall Gaels 1-06
JMB Sportsfield Services Feis Cup Round 1
Seneschalstown 1-14 Blackhall Gaels 1-06
Reigning Feis Cup champions Seneschalstown got their title defence off to a good start when they defeated Blackhall Gaels on Sunday afternoon in Fr. Tully Park. These two sides were locking horns for the second time in the space of four Sundays and unlike in their League encounter when Seneschalstown required two late points to draw the home team were in well in control of this game coming towards the close. With a number of last year’s U-21 team picked in key positions allied to the repositioning of stalwarts such as James Byrne and Damien Sheridan to the central defensive positions the team showed much improvement from their two League games played to date.
Having conceded seventeen scores in their defeat to Duleek/Bellewstown last weekend, keeping the concession rate down would have been identified as key to gaining a victory and manager David Hosie will have been delighted that the defence kept Blackhall Gaels to just seven scores, five of which came from play as each and every one of the team tackled with aggression and great discipline throughout the hour of play. Allied to this the introduction of Niall McCabe, Adam Carey and Brendan Lynch into the forward line worked a treat as all three were a threat and had superb games with Lynch in particular proving to be a handful for the Gaels corner back as he used his pace to great effect.
The rain which had been blowing across the pitch finally abated just prior to the throw in to the delight of the crowd present and when the game got underway it was the visitors who were the first to register a score during the tight opening exchanges when they pointed from play with just a minute on the clock. Brian Sheridan equalised from a thirteen metre free after being fouled himself before Peter Waters put the home side one ahead when he reacted quickest to a Sheridan knockdown. Blackhall Gaels then added a fisted point after eight minutes before Sheridan angled over a beautifully flighted free kick off the ground and into the stiff breeze from out on the right hand side.
The Batterstown/Kilcloon combination responded in kind with two frees as they edged into a one point lead, at this stage proving to be slightly more economical in front of goal before Gary Conlon levelled affairs for what was to be the last occasion of the game when he arrowed a powerful shot over the crossbar after he raided forward from his left half back berth to receive a pass from Lynch. The returning to action Niall McCabe was next to score when he sent over a superb left footed shot after good link up play involving Aled Ingman, Robert Ruddy and Waters. Buoyed by moving into the lead Seneschalstown began to play some fine football and when Ruddy who had found himself in an advanced position had his goal attempt well saved the ball broke out to Carey who expertly directed the ball past the covering defenders and into the back of the net to give his side the four point lead which they probably by now deserved based on the overall balance of play.
The always industrious Carey then brought his tally to a goal and a point when he turned his marker inside out before curling a shot over after Damien Sheridan had found Brian Sheridan with a quickly taken free who then in turn transferred the ball onto the flying wing forward. Brian Sheridan soon added a long distance free before Blackhall Gaels brought the first half scoring to a close when pointing from play to leave five points between the sides at the interval, Seneschalstown 1-07 – Blackhall Gales 0-05.
Just as they had done in the opening half the visiting team scored first in the second half when adding a fourth point from play. Brian Sheridan replied with a brace, one from play with Adam Carey placing him for the score and the second from a close range free. Seneschalstown net minder David Lyons had yet to be called into action but in the thirty-fifth minute he showed why he’s regarded as one of the top custodians in the county as he flung himself to his right to tip a piledriver of a shot around the post. Four minutes later though he was powerless to prevent a fisted goal after the Liam Keane managed side had worked the ball the length of the field.
This was to ultimately prove to be Blackhall Gaels final score of the game as the home side closed it out with five unanswered points. Firstly Sheridan tapped over another free after Carey was fouled and the free brought in when the referees decision was disputed. Waters, who was turning in an impressive shift at full forward then sent a magnificent shot from distance between the uprights before after fifty five minutes Brian Sheridan, following a foul on Joe, expertly used the breeze to curl his free over. Waters then, with the aid of the left hand post registered a delightful point before Lyons pulled off another superb save when this time diving to his left to divert a shot around the post in stoppage time. There was still enough time on the referees watch for a final Seneschalstown score as after Waters had a goal attempt saved Brian Sheridan sent the resultant forty five over to bring his personal tally to eight points.
Now that their season is up and running with their first victory of the season Seneschalstown will be confident that it will be the kick-start that they have been looking for and any dirty petrol which had been in the system throughout February has now been gotten rid of. Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of this victorious performance was the manner in which youngsters such as Eamon Sheridan and Mark Fox in the full back line and the aforementioned trio of McCabe, Carey and Lynch in attack took the game by the scruff of the neck throughout while Tean Cummins continues to grow into his role in the middle of the field. Allied to these performances Waters had one of his best performances in a senior jersey to date.
Seneschalstown Scorers: Brian Sheridan 0-08 (0-06 Frees, 0-01 ’45), Adam Carey 1-01, Peter Waters 0-03, Gary Conlon 0-01, Niall McCabe 0-01.
Seneschalstown: David Lyons; Eamon Sheridan; James Byrne; Mark Fox; Aled Ingman; Damien Sheridan; Gary Conlon; Robert Ruddy; Tean Cummins; Niall McCabe; Joe Sheridan; Adam Carey; Brian Sheridan; Peter Waters; Brendan Lynch.
Seneschalstown Substitutions: Niall Groome for N. McCabe (inj), Gerry McKendry for T. Cummins.
