Meath Ladies Division 1 League Round 4
Dee Rangers 1-12 Seneschalstown 3-09
An absorbing game from start to finish saw a Seneschalstown outfit who were minus their younger players due to the U-16 Championship Semi Final Friday and some key players missing prove that there is life in the old dog yet which seen them overturn a 6 point deficit at half time to claim their first victory of the 2017 season in stunning fashion on a glorious evening for football at the excellent Syddan grounds.
Meath Ladies Division 1 League Round 4
Dee Rangers 1-12 Seneschalstown 3-09
An absorbing game from start to finish saw a Seneschalstown outfit who were minus their younger players due to the U-16 Championship Semi Final Friday and some key players missing prove that there is life in the old dog yet which seen them overturn a 6 point deficit at half time to claim their first victory of the 2017 season in stunning fashion on a glorious evening for football at the excellent Syddan grounds.
Dee Rangers got off to a flyer registering the first 4 points from play with the Seneschalstown rear-guard under serious pressure in the opening quarter. It would take the Furze outfit 12 minutes to register their first score from the trusty boot of their young captain Stacey Grimes.
Dee Rangers looked menacing going forward though and latched on 2 more points before Grimes popped over a free after great work from her midfield partner Amy Gilsenan. Dee Rangers again pressed forward with some fine points and when a pointed effort dropped short and hit the post the rebound was pounced on and finished in the back of Grainne Nulty’s net. Grainne was having a fine game between the posts and her quickness and intelligence off the line came to her teams rescue on a number of occasions.
Despite the Rangers dominance The Seneschalstown girls were being kept ticking along with good football from Nina Murphy who was finding space and with superb hands helping Stacy Grimes adding another 2 points to keep the visitors in touch. A switch that seen Cathy Anne Cowley move to wing half forward from defence seen her finishing a super move with the point of the night from long range just before half time which reduced the lead to 6 as the half time whistle blew.
Half Time
Dee Rangers 1-08
Seneschalstown 0-05
The second half and the Seneschalstown spirit and attitude came to the fore. With a more direct style encouraged at half time. A ball from Cowley sent in long to Louise Coyle who was giving the Rangers Full back a torrid time broke to young Shauna Fitzgerald who finished to the back of the net and suddenly the match was on. A fine point from Nina Murphy who was having an excellent match reduced the lead to only 2 points. Rangers looked rocked with the sudden resurgence of the Furze girls and another ball from Cowley into ‘Cheesey’ Coyle found her cleverly palm the ball goal side and as she collected there was only going to be one outcome – The onion sack was rattled for the second time within 5 minutes to give the Seneschalstown girls the lead for the first time and a lead that was never to be relinquished. Stacey Grimes followed up with another point her 5th of the night and she was playing a captain’s role.
An altercation on the ground between Coyle and the Dee Rangers full back seen them both sinbinned as the game ebbed and flowed into the last quarter. Rangers were beginning to dominate possession again and pressed forward and scored 2 more points to bring the game back to a draw. However, Roisin Commons had other ideas and found the black spot with a fine point.
Again, Dee Rangers responded with a score but the full back line of the evergreen Deborah Mangan Ruth Commons and Laura Burke were proving very hard to break through. The half back line of Orla Garry Natasha Mullen in the centre and Seanaidh Hickey were a force in defence and going forward. Orla proving this with a fine point like a fine wine getting better with age – with minutes to go as the game looked in the balance to put Seneschalstown a point ahead.
The tension in Syddan was growing and as we entered the last 5 minutes Dee Rangers to their credit pressed hard and the sinbinned girls were back and Coyle was hunting in the middle breaking up attacks as if the rest had done her good! Dee Rangers equalised with another fine point from distance and just like it looked we were heading for a draw a magnificent break forward from defence and ball passing through the hands found Nina Murphy on the edge of the square and she calmly rifled the shot to the roof of the net giving the Rangers goalie no chance.
A fitting finale to a superb game of football with both teams giving their all and the chance falling to Murphy was a just reward for her industry – this scribes POTM. To their immense credit, Rangers kept pressing but the defence of the furze stood firm and as the final whistle sounded the Furze girls were delighted to get their first win of the league campaign.
Seneschalstown: Grainne Nulty, Deborah Mangan, Ruth Commons, Cathy Anne Cowley (0-01), Orla Garry (0-01), Natasha Mullen, Seanaidh Hickey, Amy Gilsenan, Stacy Grimes (0-05), Kellie Smith, Roisin Commons (0-01), Shauna Fitzgerald (1-00), Grainne Gordon, Louise Coyle (1-00), Laura Burke.
Seneschalstown Subs: Nina Murphy (1-01), Shirley Quinn.
