Deserved victory gives confidence and hope to Na Fianna
Seneschalstown's missed chances prove costly
Na Fianna...1-14
Seneschalstown ...1-11
Just when they needed something to give them a pick-me-up in the SFC Na Fianna produced a little gem of a performance to defeat Seneschalstown under the lights at Ashbourne last night.
It would be understandable if Na Fianna were left wondering what they could have achieved if they had played like this in their opening two games when they suffered defeats to Simonstown and St Colmcille's.
As it was they were, like Seneschalstown, out of the running for the Keegan Cup before this encounter making the fixture a real dead rubber tie if there ever was one.
No doubt that fact was a one of the reasons why only a meagre attendance showed up. Another small crowd at another senior game.
Yet one victory can transform a team and this could spark Na Fianna. They led almost all the way including the break when they were in front 0-9 to 0-4.
Seneschalstown did get the deficit down to two points in the second-half but that was as close as they got. Their main score-getter was Eoin Finnegan who finished with 1-2.
Na Fianna produced at times some truly swashbuckling counter-attacking football and they showed the sharpness in front of the posts to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
They had very strong performances from players all over the pitch including Ethan Devine, Seanie Martin, Owen McDonnell, Jamie Queeney, Conor Downey and their main marksman Shane Walsh.
He was in the zone from the start teasing and tormenting the Seneschalstown defence and capping his all-action display with nine points, five frees, two marks.
Downey too was outstanding and he contributed a lot more than the four tasty points he knocked over from play. He was regularly seen, for instance, helping out his defence.
McDonnell bagged Na Fianna's goal in the closing minutes when he finished off a super move. Even a black card to Oran Smullen in the closing stages of normal time couldn't knock Na Fianna off course.
Seneschalstown had a formidable attacking trio in Robbie Finnegan, Eoin Finnegan and Alan Mulvany. Sharp, pacy.
However the Yellow Furze side undermined their own cause by repeatedly dropping shots short and Na Fianna netminder Shane Geraghty was only too happy and too able to mop up and clear.
Seneschalstown hit only one more wide (8) than their opponents but repeated shots that fall short can demoralise any team.
Dylan Keating, Joe Moore, Seamie Byrne and Ross Howard were others to fire over for Seneschalstown.
Eoin Finnegan's goal arrived three minutes into injury time when his team already trailed by six. It was a classic case of too little, too little for a Seneschalstown side who produced spells of good football fully of attacking verve. They didn't have the cutting edge to make the most of their chances.
Their supporters will go into the relegation play-offs rightly concerned about their prospects especially if that aspect of their performance is not addressed.
Na Fianna - Shane Geraghty; Peter Slevin, Oran Smullen, Evan Mullally; Ciaran Regan (0-1), Seanie Martin, James Geagan; Ethan Devine, Owen McDonnell (1-0); Jamie Queeney, Sean McDonnell, Sam Jordan; Luke Kelly, Shane Walsh (0-9 five frees, two marks), Conor Downey (0-4). Subs - Jack McNally for Geagan 31m, Cormac Rafferty for S McDonnell 47m.
Seneschalstown - James Meade; Woodley Nicholson, Simon Rooney, Seamie Byrne (0-1); Ronan Conneely, Danny Waters, Sean Carey; Donal Cummins, James Conlon; Dylan Keating (0-2), Joe Moore (0-1), Darren O'Brien; Robbie Finnegan, Eoin Finnegan (1-2 one free), Alan Mulvany (0-4 frees). Sub - Ross Howard (0-1) for Conlon 48m.
Referee - Patrick Coyle (Curraha).