SFC Group B: Bryan's brace boosts Seneschalstown
August 02, 2020
Seneschalstown's Bryan Clarke beats Sean Rafferty Na Fianna to the ball during the Meath SFC game at Pairc Tailteann
Two Bryan Clarke goals in the opening nine minutes set Seneschalstown on the road to victory over Na Fianna in this SFC opener at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday evening.
Seneschalstown ....... 2-13
Na Fianna ................ 1-11
His first arrived with just over 90 seconds gone with Cathal Finnegan playing a central role. Brian Sheridan assisted for the second to leave it 2-2 to 0-0.
Finnegan and Clarke were the standout forwards in a fluid attack while Sheridan's experience gave them a strong presence at midfield.
Cathal Finnegan's 16th minute point as another highlight of Seneschalstown early burst and his left-footed scores were also important to the outcome.
Deep inside his own half, Finnegan broke up a Na Fianna move, pushed forward to take a pass from Clarke before pointing.
Before the end of the first quarter a Daniel Queeney free broke his side's scoring duck. A second such score from the midfielder doubled Na Fianna's total but Seneschalstown were already nine points clear. They moved 10 ahead twice in the second quarter and were 11 to the good at half-time, 2-9 to 0-4.
Another feature of Seneschalstown's success was the deployment of nominal corner forward Colm Carr in a sweeper role. When he was withdrawn in the 33rd minute, he was replaced by Jonathan Gilsenan who performed a broadly similar role very effectively.
He managed to get on the scoresheet in the 41st minute at which stage the board read 2-12 to 0-6. Na Fianna outscored Joe Cowley's men by 1-5 to 0-1 in the time remaining but the Yellow Furze outfit had the points in the bag.
Conditions dampened for the second-half, but didn't stop Na Fianna having a go at reeling in the deficit. Fine points from play by Conor Downey and Jamie Queeney helped the efforts.
Heading into the final quarter 10 points separated the teams again after Ethan Devine and Jamie Queeney registered scores.
In the first of six minutes of added time, Devine goaled when lobbing Seneschalstown 'keeper David Lyons with a close range effort to cut the gap to four points, 1-11 to 2-12.
That was as good as it got for the south county side. In the time remaining Gilsenan made an important interception deep in his own half before Cathal Finnegan closed the scoring with his fifth point of the evening in the fading light. .
Seneschalstown - Davy Lyons; Woodley Nicholson, John Smith, Niall Hickey; Adam Carey, Colm Carr (0-1), Ronan Conneely; Brian Sheridan (0-1 f), Cathal Hickey; Alan Mulvany (0-1), Joseph Moore (0-1), Dylan Keating (0-2); Cathal Finnegan (0-5 3 fs), Bryan Clarke (2-1), Paudge Carr. Subs - Jonathan Gilsenan (0-1) for P Carr (33), Brian Maguire for Smith (47), Stephen Finnegan for Moore (57), Simon Rooney for Keating (58).
Na Fianna - Shane Geraghty; John Baldwin, Michael Farley, Luke Kelly; Oisin McCloskey, Dean Hendrick, Jake McCredin; Vincent Ward, Daniel Queeney (0-4, 2fs); Owen McDonnell, Sean Martin, Ethan Devine (1-1); Conor Downey (0-1), Jamie Queeney (0-3 2 fs), Shane Walsh (0-1). Subs - Jack McNally (0-1) for Martin (11), Michael Collins for Ward (37), Sean Rafferty for Farley (39), Evan Hendrick for D Hendrick (60 + 4).
Referee - Keith Sheerin (Drumconrath)
Round 2 - Na Fianna v O'Mahonys, Sat Aug 15, 6,30, Trim.
Seneschalstown v Donaghmore-Ashbourne, Fri Aug 14, 7.0, Skryne.
