A League Division 3B
Seneschalstown 2-14 St. Mary’s 2-06
As game after game fell by the wayside across the county on Tuesday due to the early evening downpour, Seneschalstown’s second string were able to make the short hop across the Boyne Valley to take on neighbours St. Mary’s in Round 4 of the Division 3B League. Despite the horrendous weather the pitch in Donore was in relatively good condition given the circumstances and referee Andrew Lenehan was able to proceed with the game.
The last minute postponement of the Senior game benefited the Junior side here, with a number of players making the dash from Dunderry to Donore ensuring Seneschalstown had quite a strong hand to pick from.
As the game began the rain cleared but there was still a strong breeze blowing towards the clubhouse end of the ground which the home side played with the aid of in the opening half, which they used to their advantage early on going two points up in six minutes. Seneschalstown opened their account in the seventh minute when Darren O’Brien coolly slotted over a point off his left boot from 20 metres. Eddie Meade drew the sides level in the ninth minute and seconds later Éamon Finnegan fired the visitors in front for the first time. Two in a row for St. Mary’s re-established their lead but the tit for tat nature of the opening half conti nued as two goals arrived 60 seconds of each other, one at either end.
Johnny Gilsenan claimed a mark out near the sideline and wasted no time in setting Eamon Finnegan through a big hole in the St. Mary’s defence. Finnegan could have tipped over a point but he spotted the unmarked Neill Darby in the large square who finished powerfully to the net, however that lead would not last long. Straight from the kickout, St. Mary’s went down the other end and were awarded a penalty which was dispatched to the net. St. Mary’s advantage was two points when they tagged on another score from play after 17 minutes.
That was to be the home side’s last score of the half as Seneschalstown accounted for the final three points of the half, with Jack Owens, Johnny Gilsenan (free) and Eddie Meade onn target as Seneschalstown headed for the warmth of the changing rooms ahead by the minimum with the elements in their favour after the break.
Upon the resumption, Gilsenan and Darren O’Brien used the wind to good effect when pointing as Seneschalstown started to take control, and after each side swapped frees they struck for goal number two.
Gilsenan was pivotal again, delightfully flicking a Séimí Byrne pass right into the path of Robbie Finnegan. Similarly to the first goal, Finnegan got through a big hole in the St. Mary’s rear-guard before offloading to half-time substitute David Fox who finished excellently across the goalkeeper into the bottom right corner of the net. Seneschalstown lead by seven when Gilsenan was on target again from distance in the very next attack.
Another sub, Danny Waters, got his name on the scoresheet with 10 minutes to play when he popped over the next point from the clubhouse corner as the result was beyond doubt at this stage. Fox added a point to his earlier goal as the clock ticked towards the 60 minute mark, sandwiched in between two points for Séimí Byrne, one of which was a superb effort from out near the sideline on the 45.
This win consolidates Seneschalstown’s position at the top of the League table, with a game against Slane to come in the next round.
Seneschalstown: Luke Healy, Óran Lawlor, Mark Fox, Cormac Carolan, Joe Norris, Conor McDonnell, Tom McDonnell, Darren O’Brien (0-02), Neill Darby (1-00), Jack Owens (0-01), Will Finnegan, Ryan Finnegan, Éamon Finnegan (0-01), Johnny Gilsean (0-04, 2fs), Eddie Meade (0-02).
Subs Used: David Fox (1-01), Séimí Byrne (0-02), Danny Waters (0-01), Robbie Finnegan, Peter Tierney
