Seneschalstown lose out to the Hoops

Seneschalstown... 2-10

Navan O’Mahonys... 2-14

Shane Mulvany

Seneschalstown’s third string went down to visitors Navan O’Mahonys in the opening game of the Premier Football Championship Division 6 in a sunny but breezy Fr. Tully Park on Tuesday night.

Despite reducing the deficit late on, Seneschalstown ultimately could not get close enough to the victors having conceded two goals in three minutes just short of the three quarter mark.

Playing with the aid of the stiff breeze blowing towards the railway end of the ground, Navan O’Mahonys were first on the scoreboard with a point from after just over 60 seconds.

Seneschalstown replied with a point from two time SFC winner Bryan Clarke and Seneschalstown’s encouraging start continued when corner back Peter Tierney found himself in space 25 metres from goal and he found the target to put Seneschalstown ahead for the first and only time.

However, O’Mahonys would reel off the next eight points in succession using the elements to full advantage as they kicked some excellent scores from distance as Seneschalstown struggled. Bryan Clarke did have the last say of the half with his second point from play and that left the home side six in arrears at the break, 0-9 to 0-3.

Backed by the wind, Seneschasltown started well in the second period as they kicked three points in as many minutes and it looked as if a grandstanding comeback was on the cards. David Fox, Darren Laird and Stephen Finnegan came up with the scores for Alan Geraghty’s men in that quick start.

However, the Hoops’ settled with a point of their own and despite a 45’ metre free from Bryan Clarke in the 38th minute, Seneschalstown were rocked by the concession of those two goals in just over three minutes from each other and had to start all over again.

To their credit, they did and Finnegan got his hand to a long delivery to flick the ball to the O’Mahonys' net just over two minutes later. The Navan men though, were enjoying another good spell kicked the next three points as the game entered the final ten minutes.

With just over eight minutes to play, Seneschalstown were thrown another lifeline. Substitute Brian Sheridan hoisted in another long ball in the direction of Finnegan and whether it was the presence of the number 14 or the low lying sun, the ball seemed to evade everybody in the goalmouth and it ended up bouncing in to leave six in it.

Bryan Clarke and David Fox put four between the sides with another score each but O’Mahonys were able to see out the game when they countered for their last score three minutes from time. A late Seneschalstown onslaught only brought a fisted Sheridan point in the very last play as Seneschalstown left Fr. Tully Park empty handed.

Next up for the team is an away game against Donaghmore/Ashbourne’s fourth team on Monday August 26th.

Seneschalstown - Robert Ruddy, Peter Tierney, Conor Cowley, Josh Keating, Darren Laird (0-01), Dylan Doyle, Phillip Smyth, Tom McDonnell, Teean Cummins, Alex Finnegan, Bryan Clarke (0-04, 1f), Tommy Walsh, David Fox (0-02), Stephen Finnegan (1-01), Shane Mulvany. Subs - Brian Sheridan (1-01), Luke Healy, Tom Smyth, Ronan Groome, Peter Geraghty, Ciaran Collier.