A League Division 1 Round 9
Duleek/Bellewstown 2-13 Seneschalstown 1-18
A League Division 1 Round 9
Duleek/Bellewstown 2-13 Seneschalstown 1-18
They made hard work of it but Seneschalstown eventually warded off a Duleek/Bellewstown fightback to hold out for a two point win in their Round 9 game in the Division 1 League. Having led by six points after fourteen minutes and nine after thirty-two they looked to be heading for a comfortable win but whether it was that they switched off or Duleek/Bellewstown found a spark they had earlier been lacking, the home side came storming back into the math as they netted two goals and picked off some fine points to reel Seneschalstown’s lead back in.
Seneschalstown, who had forfeited home advantage due to works being carried out in Fr. Tully Park, started the game in an impressive manner and had seven points on the board after fourteen minutes and could have had a few goals in this spell only to be let down by poor shot selection and decision making. Indeed, over the hour the Devenish Nutrition sponsored side kicked twelve wides while also seeing a number of other efforts saved or drop short.
The game was barely on when prolific corner forward Johnny Gilsenan fired over off his left boot when he got on the end of a line ball to get the scoring up and running. Bryan Clarke then opened his account when pointing from play. John Smith had picked out Joe Sheridan after he intercepted a stray pass, with Sheridan then launching a foot pass towards Clarke who turning in the air as he leapt like a salmon plucked the ball from the sky before pointing. Duleek/Bellewstown opened their account seconds later but this score was cancelled out on six minutes when Damien Sheridan curled over after his team had executed a turnover. Livewire wing forward Adam Carey pushed Seneschalstown three clear before Brian Sheridan sent over after good work from Sean McCabe, Niall Groome, and Bryan Clarke. Johnny Gilsenan then sent over a brilliant point which was followed by a Joe Sheridan score when he rose above Podge Howard out on the left to catch a Duleek/Bellewstown kickout and drove forty metres infield to point.
Duleek/Bellewstown proceeded to get a foothold in the game as the reeled off four points on the spin and indeed the fourth could have been a goal but their shot went narrowly over. Bryan Clarke settled the away side when tapping over a thirteen metre free after Niall Groome was taken down by the onrushing Duleek/Bellewstown goalkeeper. Duleek/Bellewstown responded with a point from play but Clarke had got his eye in and landed a booming forty-seven metre free after great tackling from Adam Carey forced an opposing defender to overcarry. Johnny Gilsenan landed his third which was followed by another Clarke free.
This left the score reading Seneschalstown 0-11 Duleek/Bellewstown 0-06 at the interval according to the majority of the people in the ground but reminiscent of the recent Christy Ring Final the referee had a different score. Confusion briefly reigned but crucially an eagle eyed umpire was on the ball and he clarified that the score was indeed 0-11 to 0-06 in favour of the side in yellow.
The second half had barely restarted when after a foul on Brian Sheridan, Bryan Clarke pointed a free. The Seneschalstown lead then became nine points when after being picked out by Joe Sheridan, Niall Groome even though he was going away from the posts somehow angled his shot back across the face of goal and into the right corner of the net. This nine point lead didn’t last long though as less than thirty seconds later Groome’s goal was cancelled out by a Duleek/Bellewstown major. They could then have grabbed a second only for David Lyons to bravely save at the feet of an attacker. Bryan Clarke who was enjoying a lively outing then tagged on a free after being pulled around the neck.
The David Hosie managed side then saw a glorious goal scoring opportunity go untaken when first Adam Carey saw his effort blocked on the line and when the ball was recycled back out Johnny Gilsenan saw his shot tipped behind for a forty-five which Clarke sent narrowly wide. Duleek/Bellewstown pointed a free on forty minutes to leave six between the sides before three minutes later their hopes of taking something from the game received a timely fillip when after a free dropped short they goaled at the third time of asking despite David Lyons pulling off a brilliant initial save.
Bryan Clarke posted a point from play in return but Duleek/Bellewstown had their tails up and picked off two points, one from a free. On fifty minutes Clarke sent over another free but Duleek/Bellewstown hit back with another brace. The sharpshooting Johnny Gilsenan picked off his fourth point from play after getting on the end of a driving Joe Sheridan run. Minor player Eoin Finnegan had by now been introduced to the fray and he cleverly drew a foul which left him with the simple task of tapping over a thirteen metre free to nudge Seneschalstown back into a three point lead. Duleek/Bellewstown managed two more points but Joe Sheridan also managed one and Seneschalstown held on to win by two points.
Best for Seneschalstown were John Smith, Johnny Gilsenan and Damien Sheridan. Next up is an away game against St. Colmcilles.
Seneschalstown: David Lyons, David Matthews, Paul Carey, Sean McCabe, Mark Fox, John Smith, James Byrne, Damien Sheridan (0-01), Joe Sheridan (0-02), Adam Gleeson, Brian Sheridan (0-01), Adam Carey (0-01), Jonathan Gilsenan (0-04), Niall Groome (1-00), Bryan Clarke (0-08, 0-06 Frees).
Seneschalstown Substitutions: Stephen Finnegan for A. Gleeson, Eoin Finnegan (0-01, 0-01 Free) for B. Sheridan, Teean Cummins for J. Byrne.
