Seneschalstown 5-18 Duleek/Bellewstown 7-11

Seneschalstown edged a breathless encounter by the narrowest of margins as they overcame Duleek/Bellewstown 5-18 to 7-11 in Round 5 of the Waterways Environmental Ltd. Football League Division 10 played in Fr. Tully Park on Tuesday night. In a match that ebbed and flowed the whole way throughout, it was a couple of goals coming down the stretch that edged this topsy turvy encounter in the hosts favour after the most dramatic of sixty minutes.

Duleek/Bellewstown hit the ground running, hitting a point inside the opening minute and following it up shortly after with a goal. Their early dominance asked serious questions of the Seneschalstown defence, but the home side didn’t panic. Charles McCarthy and David Fox replied with a point apiece, the latter from a free after a breach of the backpass rule, to settle Seneschalstown.

Another goal from Duleek/Bellewstown restored a five-point cushion, but from there, Seneschalstown began to find their rhythm. Johnny Gilsenan, who would go on to register 1-09, hit two points in succession, before Joe Norris added another to narrow the gap.

From the kickout, Teean Cummins broke the ball into Jamie Barry’s path 50 metres from goal, and the wing forward took off.   The Duleek defence couldn’t get a hand on him

The game continued at a blistering pace, with both sides trading scores in quick succession. Duleek/Bellewstown found the net again and added a point to push ahead, but Seneschalstown responded in kind, Johnny Gilsenan bursting through for a goal before notching two more points, including one from a free.

Substitute ean Noonan chipped in from a placed ball, and just before the interval, Teean Cummins kicked a stunning two pointer from a narrow angle to ensure Seneschalstown went into the break with a narrow lead

Seneschalstown extended their lead immediately after the restart through another point from Gilsenan, but Duleek/Bellewstown hit back with intent. A quick point and two clinical goals in the space of just over two minutes left the home side reeling and shifted the momentum.

Again, it was Gilsenan who steadied the ship, converting a two point free from the top of the arc. Duleek/Bellewstown’s potent forward line continued to cause trouble, notching another goal and a point to leave Seneschalstown chasing the game once more.

Refusing to let the contest slip away, Seneschalstown mounted a response. Gilsenan kept his side ticking over with another free before David Fox added a point from play.

The same player was responsible for the game’s next turning point in the 50th minute when Fox broke through to finish low into the corner. Seconds later, Ross Howard struck another green flag and it looked like Seneschasltown were finally pushing for home.

With momentum swinging back in their favour, Teean Cummins added another from play before Duleek/Bellewstown struck back with their seventh goal of the evening. Substitute Colm McDonnell slotted over another Seneschasltown point after a string run through the Duleek defence, though the visitors would again rally with two points from play to edge in front heading into the final five minutes.

However it was Ross Howard who came up big once again for the home side with a little over three minutes to play as he slalomed his way by a number of tackles before producing an outstanding finish to the top right corner, before Gilsenan added his ninth point to leave the home side a goal up.

Duleek/Bellewstown weren’t finished yet—adding a point from a free and one from play in the closing stages—but they couldn’t find the equaliser, and the final whistle brought to an end one of the craziest games of football it has seen at adult level for many a year.

Seneschalstown: Cathal Darby, Josh Keating, Oran Lawlor, Peter Tierney, Charles McCarthy (0-01), Ryan O’Dowd, Joe Norris (0-01), John Smith, Teean Cummins (0-03, 1 tp), Luke Healy, Ross Howard (2-00), Jamie Barry (1-00), Shane Mulvany, David Fox (1-02), Johnny Gilsenan (1-09, 1 tpf, 2 fs)

Subs: Seán Noonan (0-01, 1f), Colm McDonnell (0-01), Tommy Walsh, Darragh Nangle,

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