Match Report
Senior Championship – Final Replay
Sun 4th Nov O’Mahony’s 0-9 Seneschalstown 0-15
Seneschalstown show true grit to see off Navan challenge.
Seneschalstown are the new Meath senior football champions after they produced a brilliant performance to see off Navan O’Mahonys in this replay in Pairc Tailteann, Navan, yesterday. Many felt that the underdogs had blown their chance after missing a kickable free late in the drawn game but they ran out worthy winners in a highly entertaining contest.
Match Report
Senior Championship – Final Replay
Sun 4th Nov O’Mahony’s 0-9 Seneschalstown 0-15
Seneschalstown show true grit to see off Navan challenge.
Seneschalstown are the new Meath senior football champions after they produced a brilliant performance to see off Navan O’Mahonys in this replay in Pairc Tailteann, Navan, yesterday. Many felt that the underdogs had blown their chance after missing a kickable free late in the drawn game but they ran out worthy winners in a highly entertaining contest.
Seneschalstown dominated proceedings from pillar to post and they had six points to spare over a Navan side that included six players who lined out for Meath at some stage during this year’s championship. Seneschalstown gave a blistering first half performance and had a goal chance within seconds of the throw in. Damien Sheridan won possession and found his brother Joe with an early delivery. He gathered and turned only to see his shot palmed away by Keith Lane in the O’Mahonys goal.
Both sides showed nerves during the opening ten minutes but it was Seneschalstown who settled quickest after that as they went 0-4 to 0-1 up after a quarter of an hour. Despite Mark Ward’s opening point, O’Mahonys struggled to get into the game and with Brian Clarke in fine form from frees, Seneschalstown started to dominate through scores from Joe Sheridan and a brace from impressive wing back Mark Carey. David Bray, brother of Meath’s newest All-Star Stephen, had been having a bad day with frees but he landed a point late in the half to leave four points between the sides at the break, 0-8 to 0-4.
The second half started much like the first as Seneschalstown put more daylight between the teams thanks to the unerring accuracy of Brian Clarke from placed balls. Clarke would eventually finish the day with eight points and, deservedly, the man of the match award. O’Mahonys did manage something of a rally midway through the second period when they cut the gap to two points thanks to scores from Stephen Bray and Paul Quinn, but that was a s good as it got for O’Mahonys as Seneschalstown were able to tag on more points through the accuracy of Clarke.
The expected Navan comeback never materialised and as the game wore on it was apparent that there was only going to be one winner. The attitude with which Seneschalstown played the game was typified late on when full forward Joe Sheridan cleared from under his own posts to end a desperate Navan attack. It was fitting that Clarke had the last say and he fired over three unanswered points before the end. David Coldrick’s final whistle sparked scenes of wild celebration as Seneschalstown crowned champions for the first time since 1994.
On receiving the Keegan Cup winning captain Cormac Quinn revealed manager Damien Sheridan told them early in 2007 they would win the championship this year. “We didn’t believe him then but we believe him now,” said Quinn.
SCORERS:
Seneschalstown: Brian Clarke 0-9 (8f, 1 45), Mark Carey 0-2, Joe Sheridan 0-2, Shane Clarke 0-1 (1f), Damien Sheridan 0-1.
Navan O’Mahonys: Mark Ward 0-2, Stephen Bray 0-2, David Bray 0-2 (1f), Paul Quinn 0-1, Paddy Smyth 0-1, Garry O’Brien 0-1.
Navan O’Mahonys — Keith Lane; Lee Russell, Kevin Reilly, Ian Matthews; Paul Quinn, Richie Hogan, Niall McKeigue; Stephen MacGabhann, Mark Ward; Garry O’Brien, Paddy Smyth, Cormac McGuinness; David Bray, Barry Regan, Stephen Bray Subs: Neville Dunne for MacGabhann (42 mins), Darren O’Toole for McGuinness (46 mins).
Seneschalstown — David Lyons; Stephen Sheridan, Andrew Collins, Colin Clarke; Mark Carey, Cormac Quinn, Colin Gleeson; Robert Ruddy, Damien Sheridan; Ciaran Macken, Andrew McCann, Joe Cowley; Brian Clarke, Joe Sheridan, Shane Clarke Subs: David Byrne for Shane Clarke (49 mins), Brian Sheridan for Joe Cowley (56 mins), James Byrne for Colin Clarke (60 mins).
REF — David Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels).
