Seneschalstown 2-09 Simonstown Gaels 1-15

A goal with practically the last play of the game left Seneschalstown empty handed in this gripping JM Food Services Football League Division 2 encounter played in Fr. Tully Park on Saturday. This was a much improved showing from Seneschalstown than their previous two displays and will rue not being able to hold on to their four point lead they held with two minutes of normal time left on the clock along with the five minutes of additional time.

The Navan side started the brightest of the sides with a two point free after two minutes which they added to with a point from play. Seneschalstown’s account was opened in the  fifth minute when full-forward Aran Carey rode a tackle before splitting the posts.

Simonstown got another point before Carey did realt well to engineer his second score of the game from just inside the two point arc after thirteen minutes.   Simonstown did continue to have the best of the opening 20 minutes and lead by 0-07 to 0-02 at that stage before Seneschalstown came roaring into the game before half time.

A ball into the Simonstown square wasn’t dealt with and Ronan Conneely picked it up. He laid off to Carey and he smashed the ball in off the back stanchion to give Seneschalstown a renewed energy. Darren O’Brien continued to add to the growing momentum when he popped over after a powerful surge down the middle of the pitch.

Seneschalstown now very much had a foothold and after some really patient build up play Liam Dillon hoisted over after being found in space on the right hand side to draw the sides level and when Adrian Corcoran brought the ball forward 50 metres when Seneschalstown were awarded a free further out the field, Alan Mulvany took the one point option right on the short whistle to leave the home side one to the good at the interval.

The second half turned into be a pulsating thirty minutes of football with both sides enjoying spells in the ascendancy.

Seneschalstown pushed their lead out to two points when Brian Maguire broke the line just inside the Simonstown half and with nobody coming to close him down he popped over a fine individual point. Simonstown replied in kind before Alan Mulvany kicked a free from the scoreboard corner in Fr. Tully Park.

Right on the three quarter mark, it looked like Simonstown were going to seize the momentum when they kicked a two point effort from play to level the game up at 1-07 to 0-10. Indeed, the visitors edged in front with ten minutes left on the clock and looked in a strong position.

However, Brian Maguire who enjoyed a fine game on his start of the year sliced over moments later off the outside of his left foot and it started another mini spell for the home side down the stretch.

Another patient move involving numerous players ended with Alan Mulvany switching passes with Aran Carey for the centre forward to clip over and Seneschalstown were in front. It looked they had the win wrapped up two minutes from time.

Darren O’Brien made another lung bursting run through the middle before the ball skidded away from his hands. He toe poked the ball sideways to Ryan Finnegan who was at a tight angle to the goal. Finnegan pulled on the ball first time and as it headed goalward it took a deflection and squirmed over the line and Seneschalstown were four points to the good with 58 minutes on the clock.

However credit must go to Simonstown for their response as they immediately hit a two pointer to halve the deficit and make the home side sweat once more. They kept the pressure up to get level with two minutes of injury time played. Both sides had chances to win it before one last Simonstown attack saw the ball come down off the post to one of their players who fisted across the square for the ball to be palmed home in the 65th minute and leave Seneschalstown stunned. The hosts did have one last attack to force a goal but it came to nothing and Seneschalstown could scarcely believe what had happened. It was the second time in 48 hours a Seneschalstown side had suffered as a result of a last minute goal in Fr. Tully Park following the Division 10 game on Thursday which ended in similar circumstances.

Up next Seneschalstown have a chance to bounce back from this late defeat away to Ballinabrackey on Saturday May 16th and 18:00.

Seneschalstown: James Meade, Conor McDonnell, Woodley Nicholson, Seán Reilly, Liam Dillon (0-01), Brian Maguire (0-02), Séimí Byrne, Darren O’Brien (0-01), Danny Waters, Ronan Conneely, Alan Mulvany (0-03, 2fs), Ryan Finnegan (1-00), Dylan Keating, Aran Carey (1-02), Seán Davis.

Subs: Éamon Finnegan, Jack McDonnell, Mattie Cowley

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