Meath U-16 Division 2 League Round 3
Seneschalstown 2-13 Navan O’Mahonys 2-08
Meath U-16 Division 2 League Round 3
Seneschalstown 2-13 Navan O’Mahonys 2-08
Brews Hill was the venue on Tuesday evening for the latest match between sides from these two clubs and on this occasion, as with last Thursday’s U-14 match it was the youngsters from Seneschalstown who prevailed after a cracking encounter. While the scoring stats may show the Furze outfit led from pillar to post, always managing to pull ahead when their opponent pulled close they only tell part of the story. For it would be fair to say Navan O’Mahonys could well have at least taken a share of the spoils were it not for some poor finishing and good saves from custodian Keith Waters when in on goal.
Over the course of the hour the two sides played some superb football, with both sides having players of rich potential. For Seneschalstown full back Daire Finnegan had a fine outing, cutting out a series of dangerous attacks, particularly in the second half, wing back Eoin Traynor turned in a tremendous shift as did the midfield pairing of Brian Maguire and Robert Wogan. Then up front Cathal Finnegan was a constant menace while Dylan Keating covered a huge amount of ground and when he let his feet do the talking, was well able to conjure up some exquisite moments.
Similar to the meeting of these two clubs in the Senior Championship last Friday Seneschalstown got off to a blistering start courtesy of a very early goal but this time before striking for goal they had struck for two points as well. Inside the opening minute they had the two points registered courtesy of Robert Wogan after fourteen seconds and Cathal Finnegan after fifty seven. Full forward Finnegan then displayed his eye for a goal when finding the net after getting on the end of good work from corner back Sean Carey. The away sides great opening act continued when with five minutes on the clock Dylan Keating pointed, the score only being possible thanks to sterling work in defence from Eoin Traynor.
Navan O’Mahonys soon began to gain a foothold in proceedings as their work rate started to cause Seneschalstown to turn the ball over when in possession. Two minutes after Keating’s point they grabbed a fine goal on the counter attack before reducing the gap between the sides to one point after thirteen minutes following a brace of points. A seven minute spell without a score for both sides followed but this was broken when Wogan split the posts after catching a stray clearance out of defence. Finnegan added his second point of the game soon in response to one from the home side after he was placed for the score by a pass from pacey wing forward Adam O’Mara.
Corner forward Alan Mulvany and Cathal Finnegan combined with half time approaching to set Dylan Keating up for a score from the most acute of angles out on the left but there was still enough time left on the clock for O’Mahonys to raise their fourth white flag of the half on the stroke of half time to leave just the two points between the sides, Seneschalstown 1-06 Navan O’Mahonys 1-04.
With the game delicately poised as the second half began Seneschalstown would have been looking for another quick start but it was the home side who could easily have had a lightening opening as they had missed two glorious goal scoring opportunities by the time they got the first score of the half with thirty three minutes elapsed on referee Martin Griffins watch. Seneschalstown though soon restored their two point advantage after a wonderful team score. Daire Finnegan, showing his ability to read the game so well, intercepted a pass before laying off to Sean Carey. Carey, with his cultured left foot picked out Brian Maguire in space who quickly laid off to Dylan Keating. The playmaking centre forward transferred on to Alan Mulvany who then hand passed to the supporting Jason Kearney who displayed a tremendous burst of pace to outsprint the defence before sending the ball over the crossbar.
Wogan followed this score with another well taken point of his own, before Keating stretched Seneschalstown’s lead. Keating’s score coming as a direct result of Wogan battling hard in his defence to win a ball he had no right to get to, an example of the high work rate his side displayed all night, with others such as Christian McAuley and Fionn Hall also epitomising this over the hour. On forty two minutes Keith Waters goal continued to lead a charmed existence when the ball was sent wide when it seemed easier to hit the target. O’Mahonys then pointed from a free to keep the game close.
Dylan Keating soon struck for his fourth point of the evening when the ball was worked back out to him by corner forward Jason Lyons. Then as the match entered its final quarter Seneschalstown appeared to have struck for home when Robert Wogan buried a shot into the net, only minutes after the Navan O’Mahonys goalie had pulled off a fine save to prevent an almost certain goal. However, similar to how the Grand National can often have some twists and turns as the horses round the elbow in the gallop towards the finishing line so too had this match. Within two minutes of Wogan’s goal the youngsters in blue and white struck for their own second goal when after keeping out the initial effort Waters could do nothing about the follow up. Suddenly there were only four points between the sides and this was down to three just a minute later following another point from play.
Cathal Finnegan, a player with the ability to sell a dummy to an opponent in a phone box steadied the Seneschalstown ship on fifty one minutes when firing over after displaying wonderful footwork to jink past his marker. Indeed if his cousin Joyce’s feet are as quick when partaking in our Strictly Come Dancing event next month she’ll surely be one of the favourites to win. Wogan then put five between the sides once more after his effort clipped the left hand upright on its way over but this lead lasted less than sixty seconds as O’Mahonys tagged on a point. However, Finnegan was to point once more when fisting over the bar to again give his side that five point cushion. There was still time for one last great goal scoring opportunity for O’Mahonys but Waters showed his shot stopping prowess when making a point blank save.
This was an impressive performance from Seneschalstown who have now recorded two good victories since their opening day reversal against St. Colmcilles. Next up for them is their Round 4 game against Drumconrath/Meath Hill on Tuesday April 21st in Fr. Tully Park. This is a game which they can approach with confidence and should they have another solid defensive display, only nineteen scores conceded in their last two matches, then they are well capable of securing a third win. To this end the continued good form of Richard McKeown, a lynchpin of the team’s defensive efforts at centre back allied to the hard working Traynor and Hall at wing back plus the positive impact of the subs when introduced will be key.
Seneschalstown Scorers: Cathal Finnegan: 1-04, Robert Wogan 1-04, Dylan Keating 0-04, Jason Kearney 0-01.
Seneschalstown: Keith Waters, Sean Carey, Daire Finnegan, Christian McAuley, Eoin Traynor, Richard McKeown, Fionn Hall, Robert Wogan, Brian Maguire, Adam O’Mara, Dylan Keating, Jason Kearney, Jason Lyons, Cathal Finnegan, Alan Mulvany.
Seneschalstown Substitutions: Brian Boyd for J. Lyons, Andre Norton, James Commons.
