Seneschalstown Do It In Style
Seneschalstown 1-11
Skryne 0-12
BY NOEL COOGAN
Seneschalstown’s long wait is over. Twenty two years after their first ever Meath S.F.C. triumph the Keegan Cup is again being feted along the banks of the Boyne.
The modern day marvels in blue and yellow turned in a stylish display and were definitely the better team on the day.
Apart from brief spells early in the game and midway through the second half, Seneschalstown were always in front.
The new champions’ most blistering spell came between the 13th and 19th minute when points were sent sailing through the posts at the hospital end.
That burst transformed a 0-01 to 0-03 deficit into a 0-07 to 0-03 advantage. The Yellow Furze side produced some clever approach work and splendid finishing during that period.
Seneschalstown seemed determined to take their feet off the throttle subsequently and only managed one more point from play.
THE GOAL
It was 0-09 to 0-07 at the interval and the all-important goal came 16 ½ minutes after the restart.
Full forward and captain Padraig Coyle was the scorer. Mal Hickey sent in a ball which was broken by Mattie McCabe to Coyle who fired the leather well out of ‘keeper Philip Kinsella’s groping arms.
Just before that score Skryne had battled back to get on level terms. But overall the holders’ big guns’ failed to fire on the day.
At midfield John McDermott and Liam Hayes failed to master Graham Geraghty and David Dillon. Geraghty got a lot of ball and even though best use wasn’t always made of it the leather was being kept away from McDermott.
Hayes had a couple of goal attempts but both were blocked down.
The winners’ forwards served up some lovely football. Coyle went away with two trophies, also gaining the ‘man of the match’ award.
Apart from the goal the number 14 slotted over a point from play and two more from frees.
But Padraig Coyle will hardly argue the point that any one of a few other Seneschalstown players could have gained the individual accolade.
YOUNG STARS
Young centre forward Alan Finnegan looked a really classy player, leading the attack splendidly and sending over two fine points from play.
Two other teenagers, corner forwards Tony McDonnell and Stephen Dillon, also made handsome contributions to the great victory. Both foraged deep to profitable effect and each struck points during their side’s best spell.
Seneschalstown’s oldest player, Mattie McCabe, had a quiet enough outing although sending over three points, two of them from play.
At the opposite end Kevin Macken did a terrific marking job on Colm O’Rourke who only scored a single point.
Colm Coyle was another to put a big input into the victory. The centre back did not give a lot of scope to Trevor Giles, only one of whose four points came from play. Paul Finnegan and Jim Farrell were others to show notable defence qualities.
Even though Padraig Coyle was their only scorer in the second half – the two points were from frees – they looked the more likely winners as Skryne played into the breeze.
The holders started Mick O’Dowd and Brian Smyth instead of Brendan McDonnell and Declan Browne. But then both of the dropped players were brought on instead of their replacements in the second half.
‘NOT AT RACES’
The fact that most of the Skryne players were not ‘at the races’ adds extra gloss to the winners’ performance.
Repairs were also needed in the holders’ defence with David Keogh replacing Paul Donnelly for the second half. Hayes kept battling and O’Rourke also had a couple of goal attempts blocked.
Skryne may regret not going for points instead of goals on a few occasions.
But they will hardly begrudge Seneschalstown their overdue place in the sun and appropriately the sun shone after the morning had looked so ominous.
The new champions also dispelled doubts about they having the bottle to come up trumps on the big day. On Sunday all of their players worked really hard for each other and selector Joe O’Brien, who last week suggested that the 1972 team would die for one another, must have been proud of the fighting spirit shown.
After the goal McDermott had a chance of levelling but Farrell made a vital interception.
Points from Giles and O’Rourke cut the arrears to the minimum and just when many thoughts were turning to a replay Seneschalstown regained control.
Finnegan earned a free which Coyle converted and the new champions finished the final on the attack.
Seneschalstown: P. Darby, P. Finnegan, K. Macken, R. Butler, P. Donoghue, C. Coyle, J. Farrell, D. Dillon, G. Geraghty (0-01), M. Hickey, A. Finnegan (0-02), M. McCabe (0-03), T. McDonnell (0-01), P. Coyle (1-3), S. Dillon (0-1). Sub – C. Macken for Butler.
Skryne: P. Kinsella, P. Donnelly, P. Finnerty, L. Pentony, T. Donnelly, W. Donnelly, S. Lynch, J. McDermott (0-1), L. Hayes (0-1), M. O’Dowd (0-1), T. Giles (0-4), B. Smyth (0-1), D. Smyth, C. O’Rourke (0-1), H. Monaghan (0-3). Subs – D. Keogh for P. Donnelly, B. McDonnell for O’Dowd, D. Browne for B. Smyth.
Referee – P. Kavanagh (St.Ultan’s)
This report was first printed in The Weekender, on Saturday 8th October 1994.
