Champions open on a losing note

Ugly scenes after the final whistle marred an exciting SFC encounter at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday evening as defending champions Navan O"Mahonys were edged out by plucky and courageous Seneschalstown. The melee was totally out of context with the game and was ignited when players, substitutes and mentors from both sides became involved in a tangle between Navan O"Mahonys defender Cormac Reilly and Seneschalstown"s Gary Conlon. What followed was disgraceful and as the O"Mahonys players left the field one 'supporter" in the stand proceeded to spit on the players as they went in under the tunnel. It was a pity that the hugely entertaining game was spoiled by the incident because both sides had contributed to an excellent encounter, just as they always tend to do when they meet. After a disappointing 2008, Seneschalstown were eager to get back into consideration for Keegan Cup honours and Sunday"s display will certainly ignite the belief that they are capable of that. O"Mahonys played well below par - a bad day at the office when nothing went right for them, perhaps? Even the injury-time red card for Kevin Reilly seemed very harsh. Referee Brendan Darby had a very uneasy evening and made many strange decisions. The contest was full-blooded and hard hitting, but there wasn"t a dirty blow despite five yellow cards and a red. The early stages were very poor as both sides looked nervous. O"Mahonys weren"t at their potent best in attack while the Seneschalstown rearguard were on top of their game with Stephen Sheridan impressing throughout. It took O"Mahonys just nine seconds to open their account when Paddy Smyth scored from 30 metres and three minutes later David Bray, who was lacking in match practice after an injury-enforced absence, made it 0-2 to 0-0. Brian Sheridan responded with a great point before Mark Ward emulated that feat. Shane McKeigue should have stretched O"Mahonys lead, but hit the side netting and Seneschalstown breathed a sigh of relief. O"Mahonys" indiscipline enabled Brian Sheridan and Brian Clarke to restore parity from frees, but by the end of the first-quarter O"Mahonys were ahead again when David Bray (free) and Henry Finnegan pointed. The champions threatened to pull away, but Seneschalstown finished the half strongly and despite another excellent score for Sean Keating the 2007 winners were level (0-6 each) at the break when Brian Clarke and Shane Clarke pointed frees either side of a Joe Sheridan effort that bounced over the bar. Seneschalstown started the second period by out-scoring O"Mahonys 0-3 to 0-1 in the third-quarter with points from Joe Sheridan (two) and a Brian Sheridan (free) which countered Stephen Bray"s effort for a 0-9 to 0-7 lead. O"Mahonys were rattled. Finnegan missed a straightforward free before David Bray converted from 14 metres to close the gap to the minimum. David Bray repeated that trick six minutes from time to tie the scores, 0-9 each. Seneschalstown"s claims for a penalty when Brian Clarke lost a goal opportunity were waved away, but they refused to panic and Ciaran Macken pointed superbly before Damien Sheridan secured victory with an excellent score. There was still time for Reilly to mysteriously see red for O"Mahonys, but unfortunately the exciting conclusion to an entertaining game was undone by the disgraceful scenes after the final whistle. Seneschalstown - D Lyons; W Smith, A Collins, S Sheridan; M Carey, J Cowley, G Sheridan; B Sheridan (0-3, two frees), D Sheridan (0-1); G Conlon, C Macken (0-1), P Carey; B Clarke (0-2, two frees), J Sheridan (0-3), S Clarke (0-1, one free). Navan O"Mahonys - M Brennan; S O"Toole, K Reilly, D Moran; C Reilly, S Crosby, G O"Brien; M Ward (0-1), C McGuinness; P Smyth (0-1), S Bray (0-1), H Finnegan; D Bray (0-4, three frees), S McKeigue, S Keating. Sub - L Russell for Smyth 48 mins. Referee - Brendan Darby (Ballinabrackey).