SENESCHALSTOWN 1-11
LONGWOOD 0-11

A shock of seismic proportions was on the cards before Seneschalstown staged a late rally to preserve their senior status in this SFC relegation play-off at St Finian’s Park, Clonard on Sunday.

Longwood, without a victory in the group stages, produced their best performance since their IFC success 12 months ago but were undone by a goal from substitute James Meade on 58 minutes which turned the game in Seneschalstown’s favour.

Meade’s strike from a Niall Hickey pass left the Yellow Furze side leading 1-10 to 0-11 and they hit another point in added time from Bryan Clarke after Longwood had squandered two chances at the other end.

Seneschalstown were well off the pace for long spells and it took them 18 minutes to open their account and they also went 21 minutes of the second half without a score.

Six efforts went wide of the target and Seneschalstown also dropped two efforts short before Bryan Clarke opened their account. At that stage a well organised Longwood had points from Ryan Moore (two) and Mickey Burke. Longwood also went close to finding the net in the opening quarter but Moore shot wide of the target with only keeper David Lyons to beat.

Further points from Clarke and Cathal Finnegan had the sides’ level at 0-3 each and Seneschalstown led for the first time when sub Joe Moore fired over on 23 minutes.

Clarke from a free and a ’45, and Joe Sheridan from play added further points before half-time as Seneschalstown enjoyed a 0-7 to 0-4 lead at the break.

That lead was wiped out in a five minute spell as Longwood restarted in a positive fashion. Moore and Anthony Healy both converted frees and Thomas Coloe shot over from play.

Longwood were completely on top at that stage with Seneschalstown unable to make any headway in attack and they added three further points from Moore and Healy (two frees) to move into a commanding 0-10 to 0-7 lead by the end of the third quarter.

A long range free from Cathal Finnegan eventually ended the Seneschalstown scoring drought but that score was cancelled out by a free from Mickey Burke at the other end.

Cathal Hickey who was reintroduced after been replaced at half-time narrow the gap with a point on 55 minutes and Clarke then left the minimum between the teams.

Seneschalstown were gaining momentum at that stage and substitute Meade, who replaced Joe Moore early in the third quarter, finished off a great move by rattling the net with two minutes of normal time remaining.

That effectively ended Longwood’s hopes and Clarke fisted the insurance score to take his tally of point for the hour to six.

SENESCHALSTOWN – David Lyons; Ronan Conneely, John Smith, Simon Rooney; Adam Carey, Andrew Collins, Cathal Hickey 0-1; Niall Hickey, Stephen Finnegan; Bryan Clarke 0-6 (2fs, 1 ’45), Joe Sheridan 0-1, Alan Mulvany; Dylan Keating, Brian Sheridan, Cathal Finnegan 0-2 (1f). Subs – Joe Moore 0-1 for Mulvany (9), Sean Carey for C Hickey (h-t), James Meade 1-0 for Moore (BC 34), Hickey for S Finnegan (44), Brian Maguire for Keating (53).

LONGWOOD – Kevin Maguire; Chris Lynch, Damien Healy, Ross Kerrigan; Karl Ennis, Niall Mulvey, Mickey Burke 0-2fs; Sean Coloe, Eoin Lynch; Joey Stenson, Ryan Moore 0-5 (2f), Jacob Baldwin; Thomas Coloe 0-1, Anthony Healy 0-3fs, David Rowley. Subs – Sean Sheridan for Rowley (h-t), Conal Byrne for Baldwin (41).

Referee – Cormac Reilly (St Mary’s)

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