Senior Championship
Sat 9th Apr Simonstown 1-9 Seneschalstown 0-12
CORMAC Quinn was lauded as Seneschalstown’s hero when his fisted point eight minutes into injury-time earned the Yellow Furze side an SFC draw with Simonstown at Pairc Tailteann, on Saturday evening.
As referee Jimmy Henry earnestly scrutinised his watch, he deemed there was enough time for Joe Sheridan to take a short free to his brother Damien. The elder Sheridan lofted a high ball into the square and Quinn flicked it over the bar.
Senior Championship
Sat 9th Apr Simonstown 1-9 Seneschalstown 0-12
CORMAC Quinn was lauded as Seneschalstown’s hero when his fisted point eight minutes into injury-time earned the Yellow Furze side an SFC draw with Simonstown at Pairc Tailteann, on Saturday evening.
As referee Jimmy Henry earnestly scrutinised his watch, he deemed there was enough time for Joe Sheridan to take a short free to his brother Damien. The elder Sheridan lofted a high ball into the square and Quinn flicked it over the bar.
It was a case of same old Simonstown in the latter stages of the first-half and during the third-quarter as they fell apart in attack and failed to trouble the scoreboard operator for over 26 minutes.
Prior to that blank, the 2004 SFC finalists had looked magnificent. They moved the ball with purpose, poise and panache and kicked some wonderful scores, as they appeared to have Seneschalstown on the ropes.
The defence looked a little brittle at times, but with Graham Geraghty having a quiet opening period they weren’t overly stretched with Joe Sheridan only causing the odd problem.
After the resumption Simonstown hit Geraghty hard on a few occasions. It backfired and Geraghty produced a master class for the final 20 minutes.
The Meath star was outstanding. He won possession he had no right to win and kicked points that beggared belief. Simonstown just couldn’t contain him and were relieved to boot the ball clear.
When they did manage to stitch together some fine passing movements they were lucky that John Lunney was in equally impressive form with a couple of superb points.
In a hugely entertaining contest, both sides produced several exciting passages of play and while Seneschalstown deserved the draw, Simonstown will consider the result as a point lost.
Many of the referee’s decisions baffled them and the fact that he awarded Simonstown just one second-half free speaks volumes for Seneschalstown’s discipline.
Points from Lunney (two) and Evan Kelly gave Simonstown a 0-3 to 0-0 lead inside three minutes and they looked comfortable.
Joe Sheridan replied with a free, but as early as the 11th minute the contest looked beyond Seneschalstown as Gavin McGovern fouled D.J. Corbett and Henry awarded a penalty. Lunney made it 1-3 to 0-1.
Seneschalstown replied through Quinn and Geraghty, but Simonstown were 1-6 to 0-3 clear by the 20th minute. However, Corbett’s point was their last for 26 minutes as Seneschalstown closed the gap to 0-5 to 1-6 at the break.
Points from Shane Clarke (two), who took over the free taking duties, Geraghty and Joe Sheridan brought Seneschalstown level, 1-6 to 0-9, but Lunney fisted over to restore Simonstown’s advantage.
Seneschalstown levelled again through Joe Sheridan before Geraghty kicked an unbelievable point to edge his men ahead for the first time. Simonstown’s response was swift as Lunney gave them the lead again with a fine brace.
Brian Clark’s leg injury ensured plenty of injury-time and Seneschalstown needed every second.
Seneschalstown – S. Finnegan; C. Duffy, J. Byrne, P. Carey; C. Gleeson, J. Cowley, G. McGovern; A. Finnegan, C. Quinn (0-2); B. Clarke, G. Geraghty (0-3), D. Sheridan; S. Clarke (0-2), J. Sheridan (0-5), Ciaran Macken. Subs – D. Byrne for McGovern, S. Dillon for Ciaran Macken, Conor Macken for B. Clarke.
Simonstown – G. Lynch; N. McMahon, R. McGrath, E. Donoghue; R. Brady (0-1), H. Traynor, N. Kearney; S. ONeill,. P. Meade; S. Kennedy, C. McNulty, DJ. Corbett (0-1); S. Kenny, E. Kelly (0-2), J. Lunney (1-5). Subs – A. Meade for Kenny, C. Brady for McNulty.
