Seneschalstown 2-13 Ballinabrackey 2-15

Seneschalstown were left to rue a dismal first half showing when going down to a second defeat in this year’s Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship at the hands of Ballinabrackey in St. Loman’s Park, Trim on Sunday afternoon.

Seneschalstown trailed by nine points at the break and were not helped by the fact that they kicked twelve first half wides, which rose to eighteen by the end along with a couple that dropped short over the course of the hour. Had they converted even a small percentage of what they missed there’s every chance that their second half showing would have snatched both points on offer but alas it wasn’t to be.

After Seneschalstown wasted a couple of early opportunities, it was Eamon Finnegan who opened the scoring off his left foot from close to goal in the fifth minute before Ballinabrackey equalised in the next play.

Ballinabrackey got in for their first goal after seven minutes but Dylan Keating replied with a point instantly down the other end.

As the half grew on Seneschalstown really started to struggle in front of goal which Danny Waters eventually put right in the 17th minute with a point from the right hand side but that would be the last time the Yellow Furze would score in the opening half A’s  Ballinabrackey added a further 1-04 to lead by nine points at the break, 2-06 to 0-03 and Seneschalstown looked down and out.

However, Seneschalstown came out at the start of the second half a different team. The comeback was kickstarted in the best possible fashion, midfielder Darren O’Brien burst his way through a number of challenges before firing to the net to spark some life into the Seneschalstown challenge in the first minute of the second half.  Three Cian Commons points, two frees and one from had only a goal between the sides by the 36th minute and now Seneschalstown were beginning to gain serious momentum.

This was only further enhanced by a two point effort from Dylan Keating from the top of the arc to leave the minimum between the teams. Ballinabrackey briefly broke the momentum with their first point of the second half but Robbie Finnegan struck a superb curling effort from outside the forty metre arc and the sides were level ten minutes into the second half.

From the kick out, Seneschalstown pressed high and when Ballinabrackey were penalised for passing the ball back to their goalkeeper in open play, Cian Commons tapped over the resultant free and Seneschalstown were in front.

However, a stoppage in the play killed the Seneschalstown momentum and Ballinabrackey were able to wrestle control of the game back in their favour once more with four points in as many minutes just after the three quarter mark to go 2-11 to 1-11 ahead.

After being wasteful a couple of times in front of goal again, Seneschalstown looked like they might run out of ideas. However, when Alan Mulvany intercepted a kickout on the 20 metre line it was the break they craved.

He raced in on goal and after perhaps getting  away with an extra step or two he finished low to the net to ignite life into the Seneschalstown challenge once more and level the game with eight minutes left.

A minute later Cathal Finnegan, playing his first competitive game at this level since suffering an ACL injury almost a year to the day against the same opponents, chipped over from a tight angle to move Seneschalstown into pole position and despite a reply from the Bracks at the other end, Collie Scanlon nudged the side in blue in front by a nose with two minutes remaining and perhaps Seneschalstown were going to make a decisive move.

That however, didn’t occur as the South Meath side finished the stronger with three points as the clock ticked into the additional minutes.

Seneschalstown tried as they might to force their way back into the game with either a two point score or a goal, but alas it wasn’t to be as Ballinabrackey held on to secure a vital win. Defeat means Seneschalstown are rooted to the foot of the table no matter what happens against Wolfe Tones in Round 3 and are resigned to the relegation play-offs.

Seneschalstown: David Gordon, Conor McDonnell, Woodley Nicholson, Séimí Byrne, Colin Scanlon (0-01), Simon Rooney, Danny Waters (0-01), Darren O’Brien (1-00), Cathal Hickey, Ronan Conneely, Dylan Keating (0-03, 1tp), Alan Mulvany (1-00), Éamon Finnegan (0-01), Cian Commons (0-04, 3fs), Robbie Finnegan (0-02, 1tp).

Subs: Donie Commons, Cathal Finnegan (0-01), Seán Carey, Brian Maguire

Tweet

Most Read Stories