Seneschalstown 2-10 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-03

Seneschalstown advanced to another Kepak Senior Championship Semi-Final with this deserved ten point win over Donaghmore/Ashbourne on Saturday evening. Except for when Donaghmore/Ashbourne struck for a first half goal, Seneschalstown were never headed and as the second half wore they increased the lead score by score.

Susan Finnegan, enjoying a fine debut campaign in the team got Seneschalstown’s opener  in the third minute. However, Donaghmore/Ashbourne struck back with a well taken goal in the seventh minute to go two ahead.

Seneschalstown’s response to this was impressive. Orla Finnegan kicked Seneschalstown’s second point in the next attack as she somehow managed to get her shot away under severe pressure before Stacey Grimes levelled matters with a free a minute later. From here, Seneschalstown never looked back.

They retook the lead after ten minutes when Caoimhe Clarke made a vital interception in her own defence and the ball was transferred through the hands of Seánaidh Hickey and Stacey Grimes before the centre forward clipped over from play. Orla Finnegan extended the lead just after the quarter hour mark with a fine point off her left from a tight angle and four minutes later, the captain was at it again when she expertly created a yard of space for herself to move Seneschalstown three ahead.

Despite bossing possession and creating some other good scoring opportunities, Seneschalstown were wasteful in front of goal and didn’t add to their tally again before the break with Donaghmore/Ashbourne adding a point to their goal in the 27th minute to leave the scoreboard reading 0-06 to 1-01 at half time.

Seneschalstown got the opening score of the second half instantly when Grimes kicked a free and this set them on their way for the second period.

Orla Finnegan was winning a lot of ball that came her way inside and when she shrugged off a number of tackles to score in the 37th minute the home side were now four points to the good. Grimes kicked another free before the visitors kicked two points in a row just shy of the third quarter mark.

Seneschalstown did not let this knock them off their stride and when Orla Finnegan was fouled as she made her way towards goal, Grimes tapped over the resultant free after 47 minutes.

Like in the first half, Seneschalstown did spurn some good scoring opportunities in the time remaining but the two they did convert both happened to be goals from their two best players on the night.

With twelve minutes remaining, Seánaidh Hickey made yet another surging run forward from her centre back berth and she had space to hit a point attempt. The ball was travelling towards goal and the flight of it decived the goalkeeper and nestled in the top corner of the net which ended the game as a contest. They had to wait until the final kick of the game to add their second goal.

Another swift team move ended with a ball over the top to the onrushing Orla Finnegan who was one on one with the keeper and she finished it first time along the ground to the net to rubber stamp Seneschalstown’s semi-final berth.

The performance leaves them in a good place going into next Saturday’s semi-final away to St. Peter’s, Dunboyne at 5pm looking to avenge the result against the same opponents at the same stage two years ago.

Seneschalstown: Louise Coyle, Leanne Clarke, Meadhbh Hickey, Moya Waters, Aoibhe Monaghan, Seánaidh Hickey (1-00), Caoimhe Calrke, Tara Traynor, Anna Wogan, Anna Donnelly, Stacey Grimes, Susan Finnegan (0-01), Orla Finnegan (1-04), Ruth Commons, Caragh Monaghan.

Sub: Caitlin Dunne

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