All County Football A League Division 1 Round 9
St. Patrick’s 3-07 Seneschalstown 2-11
Seneschalstown traveled to Stamullen on Tuesday evening to take on their hosts in a very keenly contested league clash at the end of which they were indebted to a last gasp point from Joe Sheridan to secure the spoils after a late surge from the hosts had appeared to have garnered a share of the spoils.
All County Football A League Division 1 Round 9
St. Patrick’s 3-07 Seneschalstown 2-11
Seneschalstown traveled to Stamullen on Tuesday evening to take on their hosts in a very keenly contested league clash at the end of which they were indebted to a last gasp point from Joe Sheridan to secure the spoils after a late surge from the hosts had appeared to have garnered a share of the spoils.
The shrill blast of referee Richard Morris’ whistle had barely dissipated when the home side scored the opening point of the match with barely twenty seconds on the clock. Jonathan Gilsenan had an opportunity to snatch the opening goal of the game two minutes later but his goal bound effort was deflected out for a forty five which the in form Bryan Clarke comfortably converted.
Indeed it was Clarke who was to register the opening goal of the game when after six minutes he rounded the goalkeeper to score into an empty net after receiving a glorious reverse hand pass from Sheridan who had latched onto a free kick from Ciaran Macken. Joe Sheridan extended the Seneschalstown advantage to four when picking up the loose ball after initially failing to gather a cross-field pass from Mark Carey following a Brian Sheridan catch at midfield from a flick on from his centrefield partner Damien. James Conlon then picked off a point of his own when arrowing a shot over the bar after receiving the ball from Clarke.
St. Patrick’s hauled themselves back to level terms when scoring a goal and two points in an impressive two minute burst approaching the mid way stage of the half. On thirteen minutes they scored their opening goal after slicing through the heart of the Seneschalstown defence before getting two points, one of which was a very impressive effort from their left corner back.
The ebb and flow of the match continued thereafter as Sheridan got his second of the match, a fabulous effort over his left shoulder from way out on the right after Jonathan Gilsenan had recycled possession out the field before James Byrne on a foray forward from wing back knocked over a point before Pat’s reduced the margin to one with a point from play. James
Meade added his name to the scoring account when firing high inside the left hand upright after getting the ball from Joe Sheridan after an accurate delivery into the forwards from Brian. Bryan Clarke then converted another forty five before Seneschalstown’s goal lived a charmed existence when the crossbar was struck as it seemed easier to find the back of the empty net. The scoring for the half was then ended when St. Patrick’s struck a forty five over the bar into the slight breeze.
Just as they had done at the outset of the first half St. Patrick’s opened the scoring in the second when tapping over a close range free after referee, Morris, had spotted an off the ball foul. The scoring rate for much of the second half dropped dramatically and it took eight minutes for the next score which came from Byrne after being placed for the score by Bryan Clarke after good work from James Meade. St. Pat’s picked off another point from play before Bryan Clarke had the easy task of kicking a thirteen metre free after Gary Conlon was the recipient of a late hit as he went for a point.
Substitute Kevin Casey, on at wing forward marked his arrival with a very well taken goal into the roof of the net after Joe Sheridan had rounded his marker and found Casey on his inside. Casey then extended the Seneschalstown lead to six when chipping the ball over the bar and with only two minutes of the regulation sixty remaining on the clock Seneschalstown must have believed the two points were theirs.
However two points are very rarely collected easily in Stamullen and in the fifty ninth minute the hosts reduced the deficit to three points after a rebound from a David Lyons save was kicked into the goal. As the nerves began to jangle the unthinkable occurred as Seneschalstown with extra bodies back in defence in an attempt to stiffen the defence of the goal contrived to give away a penalty which was clinically dispatched to the net after Lyons had been sent the wrong way.
However there was still time for one more twist in this absorbing tale as Joe Sheridan once more proved his worth to the side when combining with the returning Peter Waters before squeezing the ball over the bar much to the chagrin of many of the home support.
Seneschalstown are now into seventh spot in the league and will be looking to continue their climb up the table when playing host next week in Fr. Tully Park to Summerhill and Dunshaughlin on Tuesday and Saturday evenings respectively.
Seneschalstown Scorers: Bryan Clarke 1-03 (0-02 ‘45, 0-01 Free), Kevin Casey 1-01, Joe Sheridan 0-03, James Byrne 0-02, James Conlon 0-01, James Meade 0-01
Seneschalstown: David Lyons, Niall Groome, David Matthews, Sean McCabe, Mark Carey, Gary Conlon, James Byrne, Brian Sheridan, Damien Sheridan, Jonathan Gilsenan, Ciaran Macken, James Conlon, James Meade, Joe Sheridan, Bryan Clarke.
Seneschalstown Substitutions: Peter Waters for J. Gilsenan, Kevin Casey for J. Conlon, Robert Ruddy for C. Macken.
