Top class action as St Mary's win thriller

There was plenty of excitement at Toddy Harding Park, Slane on Sunday evening as St Mary's advanced to the last four of the Junior B FC with a hard-earned victory against neighbours and great rivals Seneschalstown. The large crowd was treated to a thriller that was full of wholehearted tackling, plenty of guts and courage, a few over-the-top and high challenges, which referee Donal Forde dealt with, and the outcome was in the balance until the final three minutes. Adding some spice to the mix was the inclusion of Pete Watters, a former St Mary's player, in the Seneschalstown team. His move was the subject of lots of debate at Co Committee meetings and, probably, behind closed doors also, before he was able to make the change from Donore to the next parish. At no stage during Sunday's game was there even a hint of anything untoward from the St Mary's players towards their former colleague, but the victory was probably a little bit sweeter as a result. Factor-in also the fact that the minnows (St Mary's) beat the big boys. It's the type of game that is the hallmark of the GAA. Parish rivalry, pride in the jersey, bragging rights, and at the end of a totally absorbing game, there was a series of hearty handshakes exchanged. For St Mary's it was a case of on to the next round and a joust with one of the bigger guns in the Junior B FC, Moynalty, a team that tasted defeat in last year's final when they were beaten by Duleek / Bellewstown. "We won this game today, but we have to face the favourites for the title in the semi-final and we will have to improve our shooting," commented a St Mary's official. The quality of the football wasn't great, but that is not meant as a slight on either team. This was Junior B or the fourth grade of club football. St Mary's play in the A FL Div 5. Seneschalstown failed to score in the second-half. They were ahead by 0-5 to 0-4 at the interval with the former St Mary's player pointing a '45' and two frees. Tommy McDonnell and James Conlon were the other marksmen. Tommy Ledwidge also used his pace to create chances for Seneschalstown, his best opportunity arose in the 29th minute when he raced towards the St Mary's goal, but 'keeper Derek O'Brien averted the danger with a smart save. St Mary's created plenty of chances, but they were too anxious, too eager sometimes, and too often they tried to do the complicated instead of keeping it simple. Keeping it simple can be a challenge in the heat of a game. However, the Donore team stayed in touch with points from Robbie Callan (two), Stephen Madden and Simon Neary. St Mary's lost corner back David Gogarty to an ankle injury at half-time, but they survived the setback and were on terms (0-5 apiece) only 60 seconds after the resumption when Stephen Bishop split the posts. For the next 25 minutes the teams attacked and counter-attacked and by the 26th minute the tally of wides was five to four in favour of Seneschalstown. Fever pitch hardly does justice as a description of the atmosphere. A former stalwart of the St Mary's club had a seat along the sideline, due to his frail condition I believe, but on at least two occasions in the closing minutes I spotted him jumping up from the seat to celebrate. The first occasion was Callan's pointed free, the next was the two-point margin when substitute Cormac Drew fisted over. The good gentleman didn't manage it a third time when Madden made it 0-8 to 0-5. Injury-time lasted five minutes during which various powers were beseeched to intervene with the referee in an effort to get his whistle working - the prayers were answered. St Mary's march on for another day of drama and the dream of ultimate glory is still alive. This might only be Junior B football, but out around Donore it is the only football that matters. St Mary's - D O'Brien; D Gogarty, E Morrisson, D Smith; P Scanlon, E Craven, B Smith; J Moore, G Teelin; S Madden (0-2 frees), S Neary (0-1), A Madden; S Bishop (0-1), L Madden, R Callan (0-3 one free). Subs - B Lynch for Gogarty half-time; E Everard for Bishop 46 mins; C Drew (0-1) for Neary 53m Seneschalstown - C Flynn; C Cowley, C Ruddy, W Smith; C Gleeson, T Maguire, C Noonan; F Sheridan, A Finnegan; N Groome, P Watters (0-3 two frees, one '45'), N Darby; T McDonnell (0-1), J Conlon (0-1), T Ledwidge. Subs - R Darby for Groome 40 mins; J Gilsenan for Watters 43m; J Macken for Ledwidge 54m. Referee - Donal Forde (Slane)