Seneschalstown 1-20 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 4-05

Seneschalstown overcame a lacklustre opening quarter to beat Donaghmore/Ashbourne in the Meath Cleaning Supplies Junior All County Football Championship Division 5 clash played in Fr. Tully Park on Saturday afternoon.

At the end of the opening quarter of the game, the visitors looked like they were well on their way to a second consecutive comprehensive win in the competition having comfortably overcome Longwood in the opening game in this three team group, but Seneschalstown hung in the game and were able to open up in the second half.

The opening ten minutes was a nightmare from a Seneschalstown point of view, conceding 1-03 before David Fox eventually opened their account in the 11th minute through David Fox but another goal for the ‘Moors followed in the 14th minute.

Seneschalstown slowly began to warm to the task and two points on the trot from Johnny Gilsenan settled the homes side.

The Seneschalstown defence were finally getting to terms with the sextet of Donaghmore forwards and the next four scores were evenly shared.   Alex Finnegan and Niall McCabe were on target for the home side in the 21st and 27th minutes which left the two goals between the sides.

The last score of the half proved to be a bug moment in the game.   When Seneschalstown were awarded a free outside the new arc, Niall McCabe assumed responsibility and he sliced the ball thorough the posts to leave what was an eight point gap after fifteen minutes at a much more manageable four at the interval, 2-05 to 0-07.

McCabe was at it again moments after the restart as he raised another orange flag, this time from play as Seneschalstown now had the breeze behind them and by the 35th minute Seneschalstown were level thanks to two David fox points, one of which was a free.

The game was by this stage all Seneschalstown and when two Johnny Gilsenan scores in quick succession edged them as many in front for the first time, they never looked back.

The hard working Kyle Hosie, Gilsenan and wing back Joe Norris tagged on further scores as Seneschalstown lead 0-15 to 2-05 and shortly, the game’s big score arrived.

With just over eleven minutes to go, Seneschalstown worked another impressive move and with Joe Norris still having some work to do.   He managed to weave his way past a number of tackles before finishing past the keeper to all but secure the victory for the home side.   Alex Finnegan and Niall McCabe, who got two, kept adding to the lead which was now up to double digits.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne did finish strongly though adding two quickfire goals and a point to give Seneschalstown something to think about as the clock went deep into injury time but Seneschalstown had the final say when Kyle Hosie put over the last score to leave Seneschalstown five point winners.

If Seneschalstown beat Longwood in their next game they will secure top spot in the group, a loss however would leave things more complicated with score difference required to figure which two of the three teams will advance.

Even with a win secured, the biggest positive for Seneschalstown was the return to action of Cillian Lawlor who returned to action for the first time in 15 months after he suffered an ACL injury in a Senior League game in May last year.

Seneschalstown: Luke Healy, Seán Reilly, Cillian Lawlor, Colm McDonnell, Seán Carey, Jamie Kirwan, Joe Norris (1-01), Teean Cummins, Aran Carey, Kyle Hosie (0-02), Niall McCabe (0-07, 1 tpf), Owen Mullen, Alex Finnegan (0-02), David Fox (0-03, 1f), Johnny Gilsenan (0-05).

Subs: Peter Tierney, Shane Mulvany, Josh Keating, Tommy Walsh, Jack Boland, Daragh Nangle

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