SFC semi: Rathkenny finally defeated as Seneschalstown go through
September 13, 2010
Rathkenny's Damien McBride
Rathkenny 0-08
Rathkenny's involvement in this years Senior Football Championship came to an end after going down by two points to defending champions Seneschalstown in Pairc Tailteann.
Rathkenny opened the scoring with a Richie Timmons pointed free on two minutes, which was added to a minute later by county man Brian Meade. In the sixth minute, Joe Sheridan opened his teams account, with Ivan Lenehan popping over Rathkenny's third point. Rathkenny edging the first quarter by 0-3 to 0-1. Joe Sheridan added his second of the day on sixteen minutes before John Donegan caught a high centre and drilled over his sides fourth point on twenty-two minutes. Seneschalstown levelled matters just before the break with scores from Joe Sheridan and midfielder Cormac Quinn. It could have been so different had Rathkennys Colm Gore not seen his goal effort hit the butt of the post and rebound to safety midway through the first half.
A fired up Rathkenny came out for the second half and by the 38th minute were three points to the good. Brian Meade landing a 32nd minute point before Damien Sheridan levelled matters a minute later. Three scores in three minutes had Rathkenny tails up when Richie Timmons pointed a free followed two minutes later by John Donegan fisting over a high centre, before Timmons added another free.
This however proved to be their final score as Brian Clarke added two points on 13 and 15 minutes to narrow the gap to one point. Brian Sheridan popped over points on 16 and 18 minutes to put the defending champions in front again. Substitute James Conlon extended the lead further on twenty-two minutes, but neither team troubled the scoreboard in the final ten minutes of play. Rathkenny tried very hard to conjure scores but took the wrong option on a number of occasions as Seneschalstown swarmed their defence in the closing stages. Rathkenny ran themselves into the ground and had Seneschalstown on the ropes at stages, but the experienced outfit saw it through to reach the final once again.
Rathkenny should be proud of their achievements this year and maybe the 'critics and experts' will finally agree that they are a good senior side.
Rathkenny - J. Martin; D. Keogan, J. Macken, R. Gore; D. Donegan, T. McKeever, M. Macken; R. Curtis, J. Donegan (0-2); D. McBride, B. Meade (0-2), D. Curtis; C. Gore, I. Lenehan (0-1), R. Timmons (0-3). Subs - O. Elliott for C. Gore (45), B. Lenehan for Timmons (55), T. Rowan for McBride (55) Tweet
