Dunboyne revived their SFC title hopes with an emphatic win over Seneschalstown in favourable conditions at Skyrne on Friday evening.

Dunboyne ................. 4-20
Seneschalstown ........ 2-6

Conor O'Donoghue's men  - who needed a late Shane McEntee point to snatch a draw with Skryne in the opening round - were never headed here and ran out 20-point winners. 

Donal Lenihan top scored with 0-10 for Dunboyne. His opener was quickly countered by a Cathal Finnegan free. It was the only time the scores were tied.

Lenihan led the charge as the team in black-and-amber stripes moved 0-8 to 0-1 clear at the first water break.

A Lenihan point from the left wing just before the refreshment stop was one of the highlights of the hour. Dunboyne were fitter and stronger than Seneschalstown, bringing greater intensity to proceedings than in the opening round. .

To their credit, Seneschalstown, who lost by three points to Summerhill first time out - were spirited until they ran out of gas in the latter stages. Early in the second quarter the Yellow Furze side pulled a goal back through Cathal Hickey to trim the deficit to four points.

Within seconds of the midfielder's score, Cathal Lacey netted for Dunboyne. They moved 10 points clear by the 20th minute when Ronan Jones goaled. At this stage they had posted as many scores as they did in the opening round.

Seneschalstown 'keeper David Gordon denied Lenihan a goal. Bryan Clarke - star of Seneschalstown's 2007 SFC success went close to goaling in the 29th minute. When the ball was recycled Cathal Finnegan bagged his side's second goal.

Most notable of the scores in the remainder of the half was Cathal Lacey's goal that boosted Dunboyne to a 3-10 to 2-3 interval advantage.

The scoring rate dropped significantly in the third quarter during which the sides shared six points. With a couple of fine saves Dunboyne goalkeeper Cian Flynn prevented Seneschalstown from eroding the deficit.

The water break was reached with the board reading 3-15 to 2-6. Eoin Finnegan's fine solo effort just before the second water break proved to be Seneschalstown's late score.

Dunboyne closed out with 1-7 without reply in a fragmented final quarter with Shane McEntee getting his side's fourth goal. Retaining their senior status is Seneschalstown's target. They negoiated the relegation play-off last year. 

Dunboyne didn't make the knockout stage last year. While they are set to improve this time, their true worth will be revealed against tougher opposition. 

Scorers: Dunboyne - Donal Lenihan 0-10 (3fs); Cathal Lacey 2-2; Ronan Jones; Shane McEntee 1-1 each; Stuart Lowndes, Cathal Finn 0-2 each; Seamus Lavin, Fergal Watters 0-1 each. 

Seneschalstown - Cathal Finnegan 1-3 (2fs, 1 45); Cathal Hickey 1-1; Brian Sheridan (f), Eoin Finnegan 0-1 each.

Dunboyne - Cian Flynn; Seamus Lavin, Gavin McCoy, Jack Scannell; Sean Ryan, Craig Lowndes, Shane McEntee; Jack Donnelly, Ronan Jones; Stuart Lowdnes, Cathal Finn, Conor Doran; Cathal Lacey, Jason Daly, Donal Lenihan. Subs - Jordan McLoughlin for Scannell (22), Niall Jones for Lacey (55), Fergal Watters for Finn (57).

Seneschalstown - David Gordon; Mark Fox, Simon Rooney, Woodley Nicholson; Ronan Conneely, John Smith, Adam Carey (C); Cormac Noonan, Cathal Hickey; Bryan Clarke, Brian Sheridan, Sean Carey; Cathal Finnegan, Donal Commons, Eoin Finnegan. Subs - Ryan O'Dowd for Conneely (28), Niall Hickey for Rooney (28), Niall McCabe for Fox (ht), Johnathan Gilsenan for Commons (ht), Padraig Finnegan for S Carey (55).

Referee - Barry Tiernan (O'Dwyer's, Balbriggan);

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