Seneschalstown reign in the senior championship

For almost 25 minutes the destination of the Ladies SFC title was still up for grabs, but in a blistering five-minute spell either side of half-time Seneschalstown turned the screw on Na Fianna to claim their ninth title in 11 years. It was a brave performance by first-time finalists Na Fianna and even as Seneschalstown were dominating in the second-half they never gave up and struck with two goals to give themselves reason to be proud of their effort. In those opening 25 minutes Na Fianna made life very difficult for the heavy favourites. Ann Healy-Wall, Aileen Smith and Claire Coffey were dominant at the back, Marie Healy-Cole was effective from midfield while Rebecca Smullen, Meadbh Downey and Deirdre Flynn were threatening up front. Seneschalstown were knocked from their rhythm and their normal swift passing and move game was severely disrupted. However, once they settled into their groove the experience and class of Fiona Mahon, Grainne Nulty, Mary Sheridan, Orla Sheridan and Louise McKeever took over. The damage was done in a disappointing conclusion to the opening half for Na Fianna and a blistering start to the second period by Seneschalstown. As Seneschalstown started to get on top in the closing stages of the opening period Na Fianna dropped their attackers into defence and that invited Nulty, Philomena Sheridan and Mary Sheridan to attack more. With that pace and power overwhelming Na Fianna's defence, they were ahead by 0-10 to 0-3 lead at the break. "After last year we're delighted to win it. But, a lot of mistakes were made tonight. All we can do is improve on it," said winning manager Jim Rooney. "The girls would probably not be happy with the display, but take nothing away from Na Fianna. They didn't let us play the football we wanted to play. "I think that little bit of strength and experience told with our girls in the second-half and they just pulled away. "We'll enjoy tonight and then get ready for the Leinster Club game next Saturday. You haven't seen the best of those girls. We haven't seen the best of those girls for a few years," he added. Seneschalstown used their slight wind advantage to start well with Mary Sheridan kicking two long-range points. Ashling Ennis and Healy-Cole responded superbly for Na Fianna, but by the end of the opening quarter further scores from the irrepressible Mahon and Eimear O'Carroll gave Seneschalstown a 0-4 to 0-2 lead. Smullen converted a free to leave the minimum between the teams, but as Na Fianna dropped back Seneschalstown upped the ante and added points from Mahon (three frees), McKeever, Nulty and O'Carroll to take their seven point interval lead. That advantage was stretched further within 15 seconds of the restart as Siobhan Sheridan, McKeever and Mahon cut through the Na Fianna rearguard to set up Orla Sheridan for a goal. Mahon (two) and McKeever added points to make it 1-13 to 0-3 and an embarrassment looked likely. Na Fianna refused to be daunted by the enormity of their task and added 1-1 from Smullen and a second goal from Colgan, which followed Seneschalstown points from McKeever and Mahon, to make it 2-4 to 1-15. Stung by that mini-rally Seneschalstown settled again and out-scored Na Fianna 0-5 to 0-1 in the final 13 minutes with Mahon bringing her tally to 11 points and McKeever adding her fourth before Ennis closed the scoring. Seneschalstown - A McCluskey; E McGrane, P Sheridan, A McAdam; S Hickey, G Nulty (0-1), A Carolan; M Sheridan (0-2), S Sheridan; F Mahon (0-11 six frees), O Sheridan (1-0), S Byrne; E O'Carroll (0-2), L McKeever (0-4), R Nulty. Na Fianna - M Dixon; L Boggan, A Healy-Wall, M O'Malley; T Cosgrove, C Coffey, A Smith; S Ennis, M Healy-Cole (0-1); M Downey, D Flynn, A Colgan (1-0); A Ennis (0-2 one free), C Boggan, R Smullen (1-2 two frees). Subs - D Moroney for Boggan 10mins, A Kirby for O'Malley half-time, H Cullen for Flynn 40m, C Neary for Coffey 60m. Referee - Gerry McGivney (Simonstown).