Seneschalstown 2-13 St. Vincent’s 0-06

Seneschalstown overcame a sluggish first half performance to defat St. Vincent’s in the opening game of the JM Food Services Football League Division 2 in Fr. Tully Park on Friday night. Last year’s beaten Junior Championship finalists fought hard throughout and made their Senior counterparts work for every score particularly in the opening half, who were also very wasteful when the chance presented itself.

Seneschalstown opened the scoring after a minute of play when Dylan Keating curled over after patient build up play from the home side.

St. Vincent’s though, responded impressively with an early two point free and another from play to edge two ahead after eight minutes.

Seneschalstown had a monopoly on possession but could not show it on the scoreboard. Alan Mulvany did knock over a free after eleven minutes before Niall Hickey tied the game up on the quarter hour mark after he was quickest to a loose ball deep in St. Vincent’s territory.

The home side did nudge in front moments later when Alan Mulvany kicked his first from play from wide on the right and it looked like Seneschalstown were beginning to assert themselves when Liam Dillon clipped over their fifth of the evening after Hickey and Keating were involved in the build up.

St. Vincent’s did reduce the gap to the minimum after 25 minutes with another point and Seneschalstown will have been disappointed to only be one ahead at the break after some erratic shooting and unforced errors in possession.

Just like he did in the opening half, Dylan Keating opened the scoring in second period with a point from play. Seneschalstown were beginning to click and Cian Hosie put them three ahead after Seneschalstown broke quickly from a St. Vincent’s kickout.

The game’s key score game in the 38th minute and it also gave the home side some breathing space.  Darren O’Brien claimed possession in the large square and it looked like he was destined to finish the ball to the net. However, the St. Vincent’s keeper produced a stunning save to deny O’Brien. The Seneschalstown man prevented the ball from going out for a 45’ and he had the awareness to punch the ball across the square to the waiting Séimí Byrne who palmed to the net and now Seneschalstown lead by 6.

The Ardcath men replied with two quick points in the 40th minute but they would be their only scores in the second half as Seneschalstown took full control. Alan Mulvany was next to trouble the scoreboard when he started and finished a move after playing a swapping passes with Cian Hosie.

Eoin Finnegan added a close range free befoe Hosie kicked his second with five minutes left as Seneschalstown were now 1-10 to 0-06 ahead.

Alan Mulvany kicked another free for the winners before they put the result beyond any doubt with their second goal in the 59th minute.

Darren O’Brien, who had a powerful outing around the middle third did well to break through a number of tackles before clinically firing low to the net for a score his performance deserved. It also meant all six starting forwards scored for David Hosie’s charges.

The final score of the hour was Seneschalstown’s only two pointer of the game with Alan Mulvany converting a two point from the right on the edge of the arc as Seneschalstown ran out thirteen point winners.

Having not won a League game in Division 1 in 205 Seneschalstown will be happy to get off the mark straight away this time around before they head to Athboy to play Clann na nGael on Round 2 next Saturday at 16:30.

Seneschalstown: Cathal Darby, Conor McDonnell, Danny Waters, Seán Reilly, Ronan Conneely, Niall Hickey (0-01), Séimí Byrne (1-00), Donie Commons, John Smith, Liam Dillon (0-01), Dylan Keating (0-02), Darren O’Brien (1-00), Alan Mulvany (0-06, 1 tpf, 2fs), Eoin Finnegan (0-01, 1f), Cian Hosie (0-02).

Subs: Simon Rooney, Alex Finnegan, Charles McCarthy, Seán Davis, Aran Carey

Tweet

Most Read Stories