Seneschalstown 1-11 Na Fianna 1-14

Seneschalstown concluded their Group C campaign of the Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship with a three point defeat to Na Fianna in Ashbourne on Thursday night. Despite the much improved performance on the opening two rounds, Seneschalstown’s second half comeback was halted by the concession of a 59th minute goal which put five points between the teams entering injury-time.

The small crowd which gathered in Ashbourne were treated to an open game of football, even if there was little riding on the fixture other than deciding third and fourth placings in the group ahead of the upcoming Relegation Play-Offs.

Seneschalstown were forced into a couple of changes prior to throw-in which included the absence of Cathal Hickey, but also made a few positional alterations from the Round 2 clash against Simonstown Gaels.

Seneschalstown were quickest out of the blocks and opened the scoring in the third minute when Dylan Keating received a hand pass from Donie Commons to point into the town end after three minutes.   However Na Fianna, playing with the aid of a strong breeze dominated the opening ten minutes and in particular Shane Walsh who seemed to convert anything he sent in the direction of the posts.   This helped the Enfield/Baconstown combination into a 0-04 to 0-01 lead inside nine minutes. Alan Mulvany halved the deficit with the first of his four points of the evening from a free after Keating was fouled off the ball but Na Fianna replied likewise instantly.

Seneschalstown were hanging in there despite the strong breeze and Eoin Finnegan landed a free which was brought forward for something said to referee Patrick Coyle. It was 0-06 to 0-04 after 17 minutes when Mulvany kicked a longer range free after Finnegan had done the hard work to earn it but Na Fianna would get on top again for the remainder of the half adding a further three points to lead by five at the short whistle.

Backed by the elements after the interval, James Meade sent a kickout long which evaded everyone in midfield and landed in the hands of Joey Moore on the 45’. Moore did well to hold possession and kicked a superb score from the stand side of the ground. The men in yellow replied but Seneschalstown’s tails were very much up now and had half a goal chance after a move involving Alan Mulvany, Eoin Finnegan and Robbie Finnegan ended with Dylan Keating having to opt for a point after the chance for a major was shut down.

The gap was down to three when Mulvany kicked another free after Dylan Keating did well to force a Na Fianna defender to handle the ball on the ground. Eoin Finnegan left two between the teams when flicked a bouncing ball in the square after it wasn’t dealt with properly in the large square.

Another score for the winners left a goal in it after 42 minutes but as the final quarter began. Mulvany chipped over a 14 metre free after Robbie Finnegan did well to carry the ball for 35 metres to win the free.

The score for score nature continued and after Seneschalstown went three behind again, substitute Mark Fox curled over a superb point from the right wing. The three point margain was maintained when Séimí Byrne got forward to clip over from the top of the D’.

However, the telling score was to arrive in the 59th minute.   Despite being down to 14 men following a black card, Na Fianna still committed men to attack and were rewarded when a shot dropped short to the left of the Seneschalstown posts and there was Owen McDonnell who had stolen in around the back to collect the stray ball and finish to the net. Na Fianna made sure of victory with another Walsh free.

Eoin Finnegan did manage to get in for a consolation goal for Seneschalstown in the third minute of injury time at the near post but unfortunately, it was too little too late as Seneschalstown were condemned to fourth place in Group C ahead of the Relegation Play-Offs in two weeks’.

Seneschalstown: James Meade, Danny Waters, Simon Rooney, Ronan Conneely, Seán Carey, Woodley Nicholson, Séimi Byrne (0-01), Donie Commons, Darren O’Brien, Joey Moore (0-01), Robbie Finnegan, Alan Mulvany (0-04, 4fs), Dylan Keating (0-02), James Conlon, Eoin Finnegan (1-02, 1f).

Subs Used: Mark Fox (0-01), Ross Howard

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