Under 15 Football League Division 2 Round 2
Seneschalstown 5-09 Walterstown 5-06
Having experienced contrasting fortunes in the first round of action, Seneschalstown and Walterstown met in a warm but dewy Walterstown on Sunday morning. The visitors were looking to bounce back from their defeat to Navan O’Mahonys, while Walterstown were aiming to build on their comfortable victory over Rathkenny.
Under 15 Football League Division 2 Round 2
Seneschalstown 5-09 Walterstown 5-06
Having experienced contrasting fortunes in the first round of action, Seneschalstown and Walterstown met in a warm but dewy Walterstown on Sunday morning. The visitors were looking to bounce back from their defeat to Navan O’Mahonys, while Walterstown were aiming to build on their comfortable victory over Rathkenny.
With a number of changes from the first outing, Seneschalstown showed a superior sharpness in the opening half, and despite conceding the first point in the second minute, were on the scoreboard when Simon Rooney charged through the home defence and sent the ball to the corner of the net. In the build-up, Daire Finnegan used the maximum steps his one hop and one solo allowed him before laying off to Rooney to finish. Dylan Keating then stretched the advantage to three when firing over a fine point, and the same player was on hand to repeat the feat moments later. In the eighth minute, Walterstown kicked their second point when their full forward fetched a high ball before turning to score. Keating kicked his third point shortly afterwards and with his confidence high, he went for point number from thirty metres out. However, it dropped short but most importantly, it landed in the net, taking his tally to 1-03 of Seneschalstown’s 2-03.
Ross Mullen, who would go on to have a major say in the outcome of the game, became the third Seneschalstown player to score when he ran an excellent line off Daire Finnegan’s shoulder. Alan Mulvany played a key part in the score when finding Finnegan with an excellent foot pass. The hosts then hit two points in a row to narrow the deficit before arguably the best team score of the game arrived. Centre half back Sean Carey was picked out with a pass from goalkeeper Brian Boyd, Carey picked out Daire Finnegan who transferred the ball to Simon Rooney. Rooney laid the ball off to Cillian Gormley before the final pass of the move ended up in the hands of Alan Mulvany on the twenty one metre line, who pointed to complete an excellent team move which began on Seneschalstown’s goal line.
Walterstown though, did manage to score their first goal of the game when a low shot found the corner of the net. Seneschalstown responded in the best possible way however. A few minutes afterwards, a quick layoff from Dylan Keating allowed Cillian Gormley lots of space in front of goal who made no mistake from close range. At the interval, the Joe Finnegan managed outfit led by 3-05 to 1-04.
The visitors’ main intention at half time was to start the second half strongly and that was exactly what they did. Alan Mulvany won the throw in beforehand passing to Cillian Gormley. Gormley then played a diagonal ball to Dylan Keating who, off his left boot, split the posts. Keating turned provider in the very next attack for Seneschalstown, after Ross Mullen won a breaking ball from the kickout with Mulvany on hand to finish off by tapping the ball over. On thirty six minutes, Keating and Mullen were tormenting the home defence again as Mullen, who was being pressurised saw Keating in space who again was accurate with his attempt for a point. Two minutes later Walterstown scored their second goal but the visitors did not let this deter them as again they answered with a goal. A high sideline ball from Alan Mulvany was superbly flicked the ball on to the path of Ross Mullen by Keating and with just the keeper to beat Mullen dispatched the ball to the net with aplomb.
With forty six minutes on the clock, the home side got their third goal to reduce the deficit. Keating then converted a free, which was the first and only Seneschalstown score to come from a placed ball over the duration of the game. At this stage, Seneschalstown led by eight points with seven minutes remaining. But anyone in attendance knew that this game was far from over and by the sixtieth minute Walterstown were level having hit an unanswered two goals and two points. At this stage all the momentum appeared to be with the side wearing black.
However, Seneschalstown were not done yet and the ball was worked up the pitch to Ross Mullen. Mullen could have taken the simple option and go for a point, but that was not on his mind as he absolutely buried the ball into the roof of the net. Seneschalstown now led by three points again in the third minute of stoppage time. There was time for another play but Seneschalstown put enough pressure on the Walterstown backs to force a turn over. To the delight of all the visiting players, managers and supporters referee Mick Ryan blew the full time whistle.
The winners were well served by Sean Carey, Daire Finnegan, Alan Mulvany, Ross Mullen and Dylan Keating in an overall impressive team performance. Both teams deserve credit for serving up an excellent game of what was free flowing football played in a hard but fair way. Next up for Seneschalstown is a home game against Rathkenny.
Seneschalstown: B. Boyd, C. Lynch, J. Moore, C. McAuley, J. Kirwan, S. Carey, C. Hickey, D. Finnegan, A. Mulvany (0-02), C. Gormley (1-00), S. Rooney (1-00), R. Mullen (2-01), F. Hall, J. Lyons, D. Keating (1-06, 1f)
Subs Used: L. Maguire, J. Commons, W. Finnegan, P. Finnegan.
