Seneschalstown 2-21 Duleek/Bellewstown 2-11

Seneschalstown rounded off their Premier Football Championship Division 2 Group B campaign with a resounding 10 point win over Duleek/Bellewstown in Slane on Sunday morning. Despite the heavy victory as a result of arguably their best performance of 2024, Seneschalstown’s Championship ambitions came to an end as a result of St. Patrick’s victory over St. Colmcille’s in the other game in the group.

It left three teams level on four points at the top of the table and as per county board regulations a ‘mini-league’ scenario was created among them. Seneschalstown’s score difference of minus nine in this sub section left them in a vastly inferior position to the pair of Saints clubs from the east coast and ultimately saw them finish in third place overall.

Seneschaltown played into the breeze away from the clubhouse in Toddy Harding Park when the game got underway after a slight delay but were first to open the scoring when Johnny Gilsenan kicked the first point after 90 seconds of his eventual morning’s 1-09 tally. Duleek/Bellewstown equalised but Gilsenan restored Seneschalstown’s lead after he knocked over a 20 metre free after David Fox was fouled while shooting.

From the sixth to the thirteenth minute Duleek/Bellewstown would enjoy their most productive spell of the game where they conjured up 1-04 for themselves with Gilsenan managing the only reply for Seneschalstown, evading the challenge of his marker to pop over leaving the scoreboard reading 1-05 to 0-03.

From there on, Seneschalstown gained a foothold with the next score proving absolutely crucial.   A slick Seneschalstown move involving Rob Wogan, Will Finegan and Éamon Finnegan eventually saw the ball end up in the hands of Gilsenan who went around the goalkeeper and his shot had just enough in it to beat the retreating defender on the goaline and end up in the net.   Despite a Duleek point at the other end, Gilsenan brought his and Seneschalstown’s tally  to 1-04 for the morning with the next score.

The same player was on target in the 26th minute before Will Finnegan eventually became Seneschalstown’s second scorer of the game when found his range to tie it up. Éamon Finnegan put Seneschalstown in front with two points in quick succession, the second of which came off his right foot 20 metres out.

Duleek kicked the final score of the half but Seneschalstown lead by the minimum at the break.

Backed by the wind, Seneschalstown started the half quickly as Rob Woagn kicked his first of the day after Éamon Finnegan picked him out with a cross field pass which Gilsenan added to with another point in the 35th minute. Will Finnegan was starting to become a thorn in Duleek/Bellewstown side as he kicked his second.

From the kickout, Seán Commons produced a strong fist to break and the ball eventually made it’s way to Rob Wogan who pointed. Duleek replied with two in a row which Wogan answered with his third.

Gilsenan and Will Finegan (two) heaped more pressure in Duleek but they were awarded a penalty in the 50th minute which was converted to bring the deficit back to four points.

Gilsenan swapped points with the men in green before Seneschalstown made sure of victory with in the 52nd minute.

Éamon Finnegan pinged a beautiful ball into Will Finegan, and he popped the ball off to Rob Wogan who slammed the it home and put Seneschalstown seven to the good again.

Seneschalstown’s next score was greeted by a huge cheer from the Seneschalstown support present as midfielder John Smith celebrated becoming a father for the first time on Thursday by launching over a skyscraper which went over with a bit to spare.

Will Finegan kicked his fifth from play before Duleek registered their last score four minutes from time before Gilsenan and Wogan each notched up another point each as Seneschalstown ran out deserving winners.

The win proved to be immaterial due to the result in the game involving St. Patricks’s but Seneschalstown will be buoyed by this performance heading into a potential Relegation Play-Off, particularly with the fact that 2-20 of the tally came from open play.

Seneschalstown: David Gordon, Peter Tierney, Oran Lawlor, Cormac Carolan, Liam Dillon, Conor McDonnell, Seán Reilly Sean Commons, John Smith (0-01), Will Finegan (0-05), Rob Wogan (1-04), Jack McDonnell, Éamon Finnegan (0-02), David Fox, Johnny Gilsenan (1-09, 1f).

Subs Used: Niall McCabe, Seán Martin, Colin Scanlon, Seán Davis

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