Tommy Dowd Oil Football League Division 5 Round 2
Seneschalstown 0-13 Moylagh 0-09
Seneschalstown recovered from their Round 1 trouncing at the hands of Wolfe Tones last weekend to pick up their first two points of the Division 5 League at the expense of Moylagh. Just like the Division 2 game on Saturday evening, Seneschalstown were the beneficiaries of a late venue switch to Fr. Tully Park and were saved the long journey after an hour less in bed on Sunday morning!
Maybe that could be the excuse for what could probably described as a lacklustre opening to the game with possession switching hands regularly, and shooting efficiency definitely lower than what would have been expected. It took seven minutes for the first score to arrive and it went the way of the home side, Éamon Finnegan stinging the palms of the Moylagh keeper as he diverted the ball over the crossbar.
Despite playing into the strong wind, it was Seneschalstown who would continue to dominate the opening quarter. Kyle Hosie opened up a two point lead for the hosts when he created space for himself with a lovely dummy and split the posts off his left foot. In the 13th minute, Jack McDonnell found space on the right and he made no mistake as he extended the Seneschalstown lead out to three points. Jamie Kirwan made it four after 17 minutes after being set up by Alex Finnegan and when Hosie came up with his second point of the morning with a tasty effort off the outside of his right it looked like Seneschalstown would cruise to victory from here on.
To their credit, Moylagh started to gain a foothold in the game helped in no small part by Seán Reilly as they pulled two points back before the interval and kept Seneschalstown at bay. When Martin Dawson blew his half-time whistle, the home side lead by 0-05 to 0-02.
Having made a couple of half-time alterations, Seneschalstown were aiming to regain control of proceedings. Almost immediately one of those substitutes, Seán Davis, made a lung bursting run from wing-back to recive the final pass in a move and he clipped over a fine point. Moylagh replied similarly but Éamon Finnegan converted a free and Jamie Kirwan put over his second point after working hard to make the opportunity for himself. Another score for the visitors had it at 0-08 to 0-04 after 38 minutes.
Kyle Hosie, who was having an industrious outing, tagged on his third point of the game soon after and then Seneschalstown lead by seven points at the three quarter mark when usual net minder David Gordon who was plying his trade outfield in this one, found himself in space on the end of a move to pop over another point for Yellow Furze men which was supplemented by another Eamon Finnegan score in the immediate aftermath.
Between the 45th and 58th minutes Moylagh launched a charge to get themselves back into the game with four points in a row to reduce Seneschalstown lead to three points. Indeed, the north Meath men could have been level had it not been for a superb save from Seneschalstown net minder Luke Healy who produced a stunning save to keep out what looked like a certain goal low down to his right.
As the clock ticked into injury time, Seneschalstown managed to make the game safe for themselves through two second half substitutes. Firstly, when Hugh Maguire won a ball about 50 metres from goal he took off on a solo run and a couple of times it looked as if he had ran out of road but he somehow managed to make space for himself to score from 30 metres out off his left boot. The five point cushion was restored for Seneschalstown when a Moylagh free deep in their own half was kicked straight to Shane Mulvany and he returned the ball with interest as it went between the posts. Moylagh kept looking for a goal, but a point was all they could manage as Seneschalstown won out by four points.
Seneschalstown now turn their attention to the Division 2 Reserve Cup Final against St. Patrick’s in Stamullen on Thursday night, and will also be back in League action next Sunday at home to Navan O’Mahony’s.
Seneschalstown: Luke Healy, Seán Martin, Oran Lawlor, Cormac Carolan, Liam Dillon, Conor McDonnell, Jamie Kirwan (0-02), Ronan Conneely, Mark Fox, Kyle Hosie (0-03), Eddie Meade, Jack McDonnell (0-01), Éamon Finnegan (0-03, 1f), David Fox, Alex Finnegan.
Subs Used: David Gordon (0-01_, Peter Tierney, Seán Davis (0-01), Josh Keating, Shane Mulvany (0-01), Hugh Maguire (0-01), Tommy Walsh
