JM Food Services Football League Division 2 Round 10
Seneschalstown 3-10 Syddan 1-11
Seneschalstown rubber stamped their spot in the last four of the JM Food Services Football League Division 2 with a five point win over a game Syddan in Fr. Tully Park. Trailing by three at the interval, Seneschalstown upped the pace and intensity after half-time to outscore their opponents 2-06 to 0-04.
The home side started brightly and had the opening two points of the hour, both from the same source.
Firstly, David Fox set up Eoin Finnegan to clip over his first of the game and he followed up straight away with another after he claimed a high ball from Alan Mulvany.
Syddan opened their account in the seventh minute with a point and were handed a massive boost in the ninth minute when they were awarded a penalty which Daire Rowe duly dispatched.
Seneschalstown replied to this with a Dylan Keating point after he did a lot of good work himself to make the opportunity. As the 16th minute ticked by Seneschalstown registered a green flag.
Cathal Hickey, who had come on in place of Simon Rooney early in the piece, took aim at goal but his shot dropped in around the Syddan goalmouth. David Fox, 24 hours after he found the net for the second string in Simonstown, managed to get a very strong fist to the ball and it ended up bouncing over the line and into the net.
The sides swapped points with Alan Mulvany and Hickey combining for Hickey to pop over before Syddan registered the final four points of the half to go into the changing rooms three points up, something which would not have been foresaw by too many outside of Syddan but the North Meath men were full value for their advantage.
Whatever was said in the confines of the Seneschalstown dressing room certainly had the desired effect as within 20 seconds of the restart, Seneschalstown were level.
Hickey was fouled after winning Cormac Reilly’s throw up. He quickly played the ball into space for Joey Moore to run at the Syddan goal. Moore played the ball into Eoin Finnegan and he clinically finished to the roof of the net to give Seneschalstown the perfect start.
Dylan Keating put Seneschalstown ahead in the 36th minute with an excellent point after Hickey played a 45’ quickly to him. The same player was on target less than a minute later when this time he found his range off his right foot. Syddan hit back with a point in the 39th minute which was countered by Alan Mulvany’s only point of the night in 41st minute.
Seneschalstown made an attempt to kill the Syddan challenge off once and for all moments after. Woodley Nicholson did well after the ball broke to him and he laid off to Cathal Hickey. Hickey took the ball at pace and sidestepped one defender before unleashing a rocket which ricocheted in off the under side of the bar to give Seneschalstown some breathing space.
However Syddan effectively wiped that out in 3 minutes with as many points on the bounce which left two between them once more. Unfortunately for those from and green and yellow persuasion, they wouldn’t trouble the scoreboard operator again.
When James Meade put a long kickout on top of Rob Wogan, he offloaded for Seán Carey to tear up the ground in front of him. Carey let fly from distance and his shot dropped over the bar. Eoin Finnegan brought his tally to 1-03 for the night when he was on target with a free after Hickey was fouled.
Finnegan had a chance to add a second goal to this tally when he was hauled down inside the square. He dusted himself down but his effort was saved down to the keeper’s right. Two players who were sprung from the bench, James Conlon and Will Finnegan picked up the pieces for the latter to clip over from close range which was followed shortly afterwards by Cormac Reilly’s full-time whistle.
The win strengthens Seneschalstown position at the top of the table and at this stage, they would be very unfortunate not to stay there given head to head results and their superior score difference. A win will confirm top spot in what will be a tough away game against Meath Hill in the final round on Saturday July 6th at 6pm.
Seneschalstown: James Meade, Neil Darby, Simon Rooney, Séimí Byrne, Woodley Nicholson, Liam Dillon, Mark Fox, Danny Waters, Ronan Conneely, Dylan Keating (0-03), Joey Moore, Ross Howard, Eoin Finnegan (1-03, 1f), David Fox (1-00), Alan Mulvany (0-01).
Subs: Cathal Hickey (1-01), Donie Commons, James Conlon, Seán Carey (0-01), Rob Wogan, Will Finnegan (0-01), John Smith.
