Seneschalstown storm to yet another victory

The irrepressible force that is Seneschalstown clinched their eighth Ladies SFC title in nine years with a devastating display against a game St Ultan"s side at Ashbourne on a dreary and wet Sunday evening. Victory was almost inevitable for the defending champions from the outset, but at times they had to work very hard before eventually pulling away from a St Ultan"s side that did cause them some problems for small periods of the game. St Ultan"s did enjoy a few moments of success against the raging hot favourites, but those patches were too short and very infrequent. Seneschalstown were overwhelmingly the better side and thoroughly deserved the victory that once again underlines the fact that they are the best team in the county. The St Ultan"s attack is filled with talented footballers including excellent players like Anna Mullen, Elaine Duffy, Geraldine Doherty and Shauna Bennett, but yet only one of their six points came from play as Seneschalstown defended stoutly and gave their opponents few opportunities. It is not as if St Ultan"s had a flurry of chances either. They kicked only five wides for the hour and got in for two well-worked goal chances, which they took. Seneschalstown reigned supreme in almost every department. Without being overly spectacular their performance was near flawless. There was very little they did wrong and trying to find a fault would only be nit-picking. Philomena Sheridan, Roisin Nulty and Louise McKeever swept up any possible danger at the back. Mary Sheridan and Grainne Nulty ruled the airways around midfield, while Fiona Mahon, Stephanie Byrne, Orla Sheridan and the magnificent Eimear O"Carroll ran the St Ultan"s defence ragged. St Ultan"s had their excellent performers as well with Karen Healy, Katie O"Brien, Duffy and Doherty all causing Seneschalstown problems, but the Yellow Furze girls were ruthlessly efficient and despite kicking 11 wides they took their scores clinically. A good start is half the battle and Seneschalstown were fortunate inside four minutes when O"Carroll"s speculative free deceived Nuala O"Brien and dropped to the net. That left St Ultan"s with a mountain to climb, but they did manage to stay in touch. Duffy"s free was followed by a brace of points from Byrne and Emma Harris before Bennett netted from point blank range to leave St Ultan"s just 1-1 to 1-2 behind after eight minutes. A Mahon free settled Seneschalstown before a brilliant move involving Mary Sheridan, Mahon and Nulty finished with Mary Sheridan pointing the best score of the contest. By the early stages of the second quarter Orla Sheridan and Byrne had stretched Seneschalstown"s lead to 1-6 to 1-1 and a rout looked on the cards. However, St Ultan"s refused to panic and were boosted when Mullen picked out a great pass to find Doherty and the former Allstar produced a stunning finish to make it 2-1 to 1-6. The joy of that goal was shortlived for St Ultan"s. Within seconds Orla Sheridan"s outstanding solo run ended with a blistering shot into the roof of the St Ultan"s net to restore Seneschalstown"s five-point cushion. Duffy pointed two frees either side of a fine Grainne Nulty point to close the deficit to 2-3 to 2-7 at the break. St Ultan"s must have been pleased to be still in the game, but after the resumption Seneschalstown took over. Grainne Nulty and O"Carroll stretched Seneschalstown"s lead to 2-10 to 2-3. Duffy responded with a free, but St Ultan"s needed a goal. Aisling Marley was denied by a fine stop from Caroline Mooney and then O"Brien"s follow up was deflected out by Philomena Sheridan. Duffy did convert following the resultant '45", but it was St Ultan"s second last score as Seneschalstown took over. Grainne Nulty (two) and O"Carroll (four) were responsible for the next six points, while Byrne also registered her third point before McKeever netted from the penalty spot after Harris was fouled three minutes from time. O"Brien"s final response was a pointed free, but it was Orla Sheridan who closed the scoring with a fine score to bring the curtain down on a magnificent Seneschalstown performance. SCORERS Seneschalstown - E O"Carroll 1-5, 1-1 frees; O Sheridan 1-2; S Byrne 0-3; G Nulty 0-4; L McKeever 1-0, penalty; E Harris 0-1; F Mahon 0-1 free; M Sheridan 0-1; St Ultan"s - E Duffy 0-5 four frees; S Bennett 1-0; G Doherty 1-0; K O"Brien 0-1, free. TEAMS Seneschalstown - C Mooney; D Dillon, P Sheridan, A McAdam; R Nulty, L McKeever, Adelle Carolan; M Sheridan, S Sheridan; E O"Carroll, F Mahon, S Byrne; E Harris, G Nulty, O Sheridan. Subs - G MacGabhann for McAdam 45 mins, S Crosby for Byrne 57m, Amy Carolan for Harris 57m, L Byrne for Mooney 57m, L Quinn for R Nulty 58m. St Ultan"s - N O"Brien; M Coyne, T Newman, E Casserly; K Healy, A M Ball, V Newman; J Healy, K O"Brien; A Mullen, M O"Brien, C Coyne; E Duffy, G Doherty, S Bennett. Sub - A Marley for C Coyne 38 mins, REFEREE Martin Mannering (Ratoath).