Seneschalstown 1-11 St. Peter’s, Dunboyne 4-07

The concession of goals at crucial stages os what undone all of Seneschalstown’s good work in this Kepak Senior Football Championship Semi-Final against St. Peter’s, Dunboyne, played on the Rooske Road in Dunboyne on Saturday evening. Seneschalstown will look back on this game with more than a hint of regret as for spells they could argue they were the better team with the the momentum behind only them for the home side to show their clinical edge when raising a green flag which left Seneschalstown needing to go back to the well time and time again.

After both sides wasted some early chances in front of goal, Dunboyne opened the scoring four minutes in. Anna Donnelly got Seneschalstown on the board two minutes later with a close range free but the next score didn’t arrive for nine minutes.

It came in the 15th minute when Róisín Commons intercepted a stray kickout before she fed Stacey Grimes who put the ball between the posts.   Five minutes later it got better for the visitors.

Róisín Commons was involved again as her shot dropped short but wasn’t dealt with by the defence and Orla Finnegan was quickest to the ball and she picked it up before turning and firing a bullet past the keeper at the near post for a superb goal. Seneschalstown had chances to increase the lead but couldn’t capitalise as Dunboyne got their second point in the 24th minute before adding a goal in the 26th minute to level things up.

The home side were really enjoying this purple patch and brought their tally during this spell to 2-02 with another goal and two points to move 2-04 to 1-02 ahead on the scoreboard and leave Seneschalstown shell shocked.

However, there was considerable amount of injury time played and Seneschalstown regathered themselves. Anna Donnelly, from a free, and Róisín Commons reduced the gap to the minimum again with a score apiece within 30 seconds of each other, and when Seneschalstown won the kickout they worked it patiently all the way to Grimes who two points between the teams as the half time whistle neared.

However, there was only last twist in the tale of the half as the home side went back down the pitch and with the very last kick of the half got in for their third goal and send themselves in five point up at the break.

Neither side were able to add to their tally in the first seven minutes of the second half but this was eventually ended when Anna Donnelly popped over a close range free. Seconds later Róisín Commons hoisted over a fine point to leave three in it and Seneschalstown were given a further boost as the home side were reduced to 14 players for the next ten minutes.

After the game resumed following the yellow card, Tara Traynor won the kickout and after she found Orla Finnegan the captain fired over another score the side in yellow and now the momentum was back with the Yellow Furze outfit. Three minutes later Finnegan and Stacey Grimes worked a quick free between them and Finnegan turned on a sixpence to raise a white flag and now there was only the minimum between the teams.

However, just as it looked like Seneschalstown were about to press on they conceded possession in their own half and from a quick counter attack Dunboyne had their fourth goal and yet again Seneschalstown would have to dig deep to rescue the game as they trailed 4-04 to 1-09.

Seneschalstown did reply with thirteen minutes remaining when Finnegan dispossessed the goalkeeper to continue her impressive second half as she added another point but this was cancelled out at the other end by the home side in the next play.

Finnegan was on target again after another smart move with Grimes with ten minutes to left but when Seneschalstown were reduced to 14 players themselves in the 51st minute and from their perspective they could not give anymore to the cause after a heroic effort up to that point. St. Peter’s kicked the last two scores to ultimately win by five points and book a fourth consecutive final against defending champions Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels.

Seneschalstown: Louise Coyle, Leanne Clarke, Meadhbh Hickey, Aoibhe Monaghan, Kiah Geraghty, Seánaidh Hickey, Caoimhe Clarke, Tara Traynor, Anna Wogan, Susan Finnegan , Stacey Grimes (0-02), Róisín Commons (0-02), Orla Finnegan (1-04), Ruth Commons, Anna Donnelly (0-03, 3fs).

Sub: Caragh Monaghan

Tweet

Most Read Stories