Seneschalstown 2-07 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 4-11

An extremely injury ravaged Seneschalstown went down to Donaghmore/Ashbourne in the Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship Relegation Playoff Quarter-Final despite a very spirited performance in Duleek on Thursday night. Having lost all three group games in the Championship, Seneschalstown were hoping to get a few bodies back on the pitch and secure safety at the first attempt. However the situation on the injury front only deteriorated with Alan Mulvany and Simon Rooney on the treatment table along with Dylan Keating who was also absent.

Seneschalstown started reasonably brightly and could have had a goal inside three minutes. Darren O’Brien made his way through the Moores’ defence and his low pile driver came back off the butt of the post and bounced out. The ball was eventually recycled back out and across to midfielder Donie Commons who put over off his left foot for the opening score of the game. Seneschalstown had a couple of half chances to add to that before Donaghmore kicked their first score in the fifth minute. Seconds later, the victors had their first goal when Michael O’Sullivan powerfully finished to the net.

Commons replied with his second point from the right hand side moments later which in turn was cancelled out by an Ashbourne point into the new clubhouse end.

In the 10th minute, a hop ball from Cormac Reilly on the Donaghmore 21’ was fisted all the way out to Brian Maguire 35 metres out from goal and the roaming corner back sliced the ball beautifully between the posts.

Donaghmore kicked two in a row in the 16th and 18th minutes but Seneschalstown were handed a massive boost a minute later.

Eoin Finnegan lined up a free from out on the right and his effort fell short onto the crossbar. John Smith who had positioned himself in front of Andy Colgan was on hand to palm the ball home from close range and reduce the deficit to a point.

To Ashbourne’s credit, they responded in superb fashion as they cut Seneschalstown open straight off the kickout and Michael O’Sullivan emphatically finished for his second goal. Seneschalstown’s misery was compounded when possession was conceded off the resultant short kickout and put over the bar, going from one down to six down in two minutes.

Two further points for the winners stretched the lead before Robbie Finnegan put over Seneschalstown’s last score of the half with a superbly executed free off the deck just before Cormac Reilly blew for half-time at 2-08 to 1-04.

After a fairly entertaining opening half, the first 19 minutes of the second was more mundane. Seneschalstown stood up well in this period defensively and limited Donaghmore/Ashbourne to a solitary point during that spell but unfortunately couldn’t capitalise on the other end as they struggled to keep possession. The battling performance was undone in the 49th minute when a high ball broke fortuitously for Michael O’Sullivan to toe poke home after a Seneschalstown player had lost his footing. They added a point two minutes later before Eoin Finnegan got Seneschalstown’s first score of the second half when he landed a point from 30 metres out off his right foot.

Donaghmore added another to their tally before Seneschalstown’s night was summed up when James Conlon played the ball across the square and John Smith’s flick rattled the bar and bounced away to safety. Up went Donaghmore into the Seneschalstown half and after a shot from distance was half blocked down and fell into the arms of Andy Tormey who rolled the ball home.

The spirited nature of the Seneschalstown display however was typified in the next attack when Eoin Finnegan was hauled to the ground inside the large square and the men in blue were awarded a penalty. Finnegan dusted himself down and planted the ball into the bottom right corner. Their strong finish continued as James Conlon converted a mark and Finnegan kicked a long range free with the last kick of the game.

There’s no doubting that Donaghmore/Ashbourne were deserving winners but on another night the margin could have been more favourable to Seneschalstown. The aim now will be to get some players out of the injury bay and regroup for another shot at safety in two weeks time.

Seneschalstown: James Meade, Brian Maguire (0-01), Danny Waters, Neill Darby, Mark Fox, Woodley Nicholson, Séimí Byrne, Donie Commons (0-02), Darren O’Brien, Seán Carey, Joey Moore, Ronan Conneely, Robbie Finnegan (0-01), John Smith (1-00), Eoin Finnegan (1-02, 1-00pen, 0-01f).

Subs: Liam Dillon, Cormac Carolan, James Conlon (0-01), Johnny Gilsenan.

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