Fairyhouse Steel Meath SFC Group B Round 1
Seneschalstown 1-09 Moynalvey 0-17
Having come through the group stages of the 2016 Meath SFC unbeaten before losing out to Donaghmore/Ashbourne in the quarter final, hopes were high in Seneschalstown that they could get their 2017 campaign off to a bright start on Friday last only for Moynalvey to prove to be the rock on which these ambitions floundered.
Fairyhouse Steel Meath SFC Group B Round 1
Seneschalstown 1-09 Moynalvey 0-17
Having come through the group stages of the 2016 Meath SFC unbeaten before losing out to Donaghmore/Ashbourne in the quarter final, hopes were high in Seneschalstown that they could get their 2017 campaign off to a bright start on Friday last only for Moynalvey to prove to be the rock on which these ambitions floundered.
In excellent conditions for a game, with the Trim playing surface as always in pristine condition, the fare of football on display provided good value for money for those in attendance with some excellent defensive play, high fielding and accurate shooting on display.
For the winners, two members of Martin Ennis’ hurling team were in sparkling form as Anthony Forde and Mark O’Sullivan caused Seneschalstown endless trouble while for the defeated side Meath substitute goalkeeper Joe Sheridan showcased that he is still a force to be reckoned with outfield as he fired a goal and three points while elder brother Damien pulled off some excellent catches around the middle third.
It was though a power packed second half display from the south Meath side which proved to be the decisive turn in the game as they put the defensive shackles on Seneschalstown and found their shooting boots as they attacked the town end of the pitch. Mark O’Sullivan was a key operator in this spell as his powerful running caused Seneschalstown issues as well as his accurate shooting, three points were landed off his right boot, each one better than the one before.
For Seneschalstown the loss in the opening half through injury of Adam Carey was a big blow despite the impressive showing of Niall McCabe who came on in his stead as Carey certainly possesses the pace which can trouble any defence.
A fifteenth minute rocket of a goal from Joe Sheridan who held off the full back with one hand as he caught the ball with the other before firing across the goal and into the right corner of the net was the highlight of the opening half from a Seneschalstown point of view and helped to ensure that the two sides retreated to the sanctuary of the dressing rooms on level terms, Cathal Finnegan, Brian Sheridan, Bryan Clarke and Joe himself with two points raising the white flags for Seneschalstown, 1-05 to 0-08.
Brian Sheridan opened the scoring for the second half with a pointed free but from there on Moynalvey took charge of the scoring with O’Sullivan and David McLoughlin leading the charge for the men in maroon before Joe Sheridan, Robert Wogan and Brian Sheridan completed the Seneschalstown scoring.
Seneschalstown: David Gordon, Conor Cowley, John Smith, David Matthews, Niall Hickey, Cormac Noonan, Gary Conlon, Sean Noonan, Damien Sheridan, Adam Carey, Joe Sheridan (1-03), Niall Groome, Cathal Finnegan (0-01, 0-01 Free), Brian Sheridan (0-03, 0-02 Frees), Bryan Clarke (0-01).
Seneschalstown Substitutions: Niall McCabe for A. Carey, Brian Maguire for G. Conlon, Robert Wogan (0-01) for C. Finnegan.
Moynalvey: Conor Egan, Conor Harnan, Robert Lawless, Cathal McCabe, Padraic Harnan (0-01), Stephen Donoghue, Anthony Forde (0-03), Donal Smith, John Donoghue, Mark O’Sullivan (0-03), Daniel Treacy, Cillian O’Sullivan (0-02, 0-02 frees), David McLoughlin (0-06, 0-03 frees), Fearghal McCabe (0-01), Darren Brennan.
Moynalvey Substitutions: Eamon Walsh for J. Donoghue, Adam Murphy (0-01) for D. Treacy.
