Seneschalstown 1-15 Simonstown Gaels 1-13

It wasn’t the prettiest but Seneschalstown didn’t care as they landed their first piece of Senior silverware since 2019 when seeing off the challenge of Simonstown Gaels to win the JM Food Services Football League Division 2 title on Saturday evening in Devenish Park, Dunganny. That last trophy they won in 2019 was also Division 2 title and having lost the final to Dunshaughlin two years ago Seneschalstown were not in the mood to let this opportunity of silverware pass them by.

Having snuck into the top four by the skin of their teeth, Seneschalstown made the most of the opportunity presented to them by adding the Peter Moore Cup to the promotion that was secured on Tuesday night. Simonstown had come third in the overall table having beaten Seneschalstown with a late goal in early May and overcame a strong Duleek/Bellewstown outfit in the semi-final.

In a windy Dunganny, Seneschalstown won the toss and captain Eoin Finnegan opted to play into the elements at the Meath Centre of Excellence.

Despite playing into that strong wind, Seneschalstown made a very fast start as patient build up from the throw-in saw Alan Mulvany lay the ball off to Colin Scanlon who kicked the opener 25 metres from goal inside the opening minute.

After dealing with some of Simonstowns first couple of attacks at the back Seneschalstown doubled their advantage in the fifth minute.  Another slow phase of possession into the wind had Seneschalstown probing around the 40 metre arc. When Donie Commons picked up possession there was nothing immediately on for the midfielder so he sauntered into a more central position when a big gap opened up for him and he was allowed go all the way to the 20 metre line before raising a white flag to continue Seneschalstown’s positive start.

Simonstown got off the mark with their first point after seven minutes when Seneschalstown gave the ball away and they levelled the game up shortly afterwards with another score from play.

In the eleventh minute, Seneschalstown’s big moment arrived. Cathal Hickey intercepted a stray pass in midfield and fed Danny Waters.  Waters carried the ball forward before the ball was quickly transferred through the hands of Mulvany who put Eoin Finnegan in on goal. The Seneschalstown captain was about to get a shot away when he was fouled in the large square. Referee Andrew Smith quickly consulted with his umpires before coming back out to signal for a penalty. Despite his miss in the semi-final on Tuesday, Finnegan didn’t shirk responsibility and put the ball on the spot before sending it straight down the middle into the net.

A minute later the lead was extended out to four points when Cian Commons did all the work himself, carrying the ball from midfield past a couple of challenges before making space for himself to shoot and raise a white flag.

The Navan side though were about to enjoy their best spell of the game, which was kickstarted by a two point effort from play in the fourteenth minute. Six minutes would pass by the time there would be another score which again went the way of Simonstown in the form of another two point effort, this time from a free to level the game up at 1-03 to 0-06.

Seneschalstown quickly retook the lead on 22 minutes when Commons kicked a close range free after a foul on midfielder Danny Waters but Simonstown would go into the lead for the first and only time in the game when their goalkeeper came up to kick a long range free and put up Simonstown’s third orange flag in succession.

The men in blue didn’t find themselves behind for long though as Cian Commons got the ball in a central position and sidestepped a challenge to kick a fine score off his left foot which wasn’t easy with the wind blowing into his face. They hit the front again a minute later when Mulvany popped a pass into Finnegan who turned to score off his right foot, having perhaps got away with a nudge on his man before claiming possession.

Finnegan’s movement was causing the Simonstown defence all sorts of problems and after being found by Cathal Hickey in the next attack, Finnegan drove at the defence again before being illegally halted and awarded a free close to goal. Once again he was unerringly accurate with resultant dead ball and David Hosie’s men lead by 1-08 to 0-8.

In first half-injury time, the Furze added to their tally. Alan Mulvany and Cathal Hickey were on the same wavelength from a quick free and combined for Mulvany to add his name to the scoresheet.

Even though Simonstown answered with their fourth two pointer with the last kick of the half from a free, Seneschalstown will have been more than pleased to go into the dressing room with a two point lead at 1-09 to 0-10 having managed the conditions superbly well in that opening thirty minutes.

At the break a shower of rain fell to add to the already tricky conditions but Seneschalstown now had them in their favour playing towards the Trim Road end of the ground.

After clearing an early Simonstown attack, Darren O’Brien did well to get possession along the sideline in front of the clubhouse before the ball eventually made its way to Cathal Hickey. Donie Commons had made a support run through the middle and when the midfielder got then ball in the square he flashed the ball over the cross bar.

Seneschalstown turned the resultant kickout over and when they went across the field Simon Rooney had made an untracked run from corner back.  Rooney, probably not best known for his scoring ability used the wind to his advantage and kicked a superb point from just inside the forty metre arc as Seneschalstown looked to be building momentum.

The eventual winners will have been disappointed not to have added to their tally for another eight minutes as they took some bad options and also guilty of perhaps forcing it with the wind but they did remain resolute at the back.

On 42 minutes Seneschalstown did get on the board again as Hickey and Donal Commons combined in attack before Ronan Conneely pointed from close range after a good support run off the sideline.

Six minutes later, Seneschalstown had their biggest cushion of the day when Darren O’Brien came barraging through to claim a kick out mark. He fed the ball to Alan Mulvany and after Mulvany played a one two with Ronan Conneely, the centre forward spun and got his shot away between the posts as Seneschalstown lead by 1-13 to 0-10 points with twelve minutes left on the clock.

Simonstown got their first score of the second half on 49 minutes with a point from play before following up with another two minutes later to remind  Hosie’s side that there was still a game to be won.

As the clock ticked on, Donie Commons took another kickout down from the sky and he quickly played the ball into the path of Eoin Finnegan. Finnegan spotted the tireless Cathal Hickey running off him and when the Meath panellist got possession his shot had just enough on it to go over after kissing the inside of the post.

Again Simonstown replied at the other end before the game was halted for a couple of minutes as Eoin Finnegan suffered a serious injury when in possession of the ball.

This could have taken the wind out of Seneschalstown’s sails seeing their captain having to leave the field but if they wanted an emphatic response, they got it.

Colin Scanlon, named We Are Meath Man of the Match for his all court display at the heart of the defence won another turnover and the ball was given to substitute Cian Hosie in space. Hosie kept going until Danny Waters came up behind him unmarked and was given the ball.   Waters kept his cool to slot over what looked like the score that would ultimately seal victory deep into stoppage time.

There was one final twist when Simonstown were awarded a penalty with forty seconds of time reaming after an over zealous challenge from a dropping ball. The penalty went into the net and maybe the Gaels had one last chance to steal it at the death. Gordon’s kickout needed to be on the money and when the ball was sent out to midfield Scanlon won the break which got Seneschalstown up the pitch and not long after Andrew Smith blew for full-time and Seneschalstown could celebrate.

It was a long seven years since Seneschalstown tasted success and having been relegated from Division 1 twelve months ago without a point to their name, Seneschalstown earned the right to celebrate this one. After the game Eoin Finnegan was presented with the Peter Moore Cup by county board chairman Jason Plunkett in front of the large Seneschalstown crowd that had gathered which included a group of young supporters who brought plenty of colour and noise to the game in the form of flags and airhorns which helped drive the team on.

Seneschalstown will be happy to have silverware in the trophy cabinet ahead of the Senior Football Championship opener against St. Colmcille's on August 8th in Donore.

Seneschalstown: David Gordon, Conor McDonnell, Woodley Nicholson, Simon Rooney (0-01), Séimi Byrne, Colin Scanlon (0-01), Ronan Conneely (0-01), Donie Commons (0-02), Danny Waters (0-01), Éamon Finnegan, Alan Mulvany (0-02), Darren O’Brien, Cathal Hickey (0-01), Cian Commons (0-03, 1f), Eoin Finnegan (1-03, 2fs).

Subs Used: Aran Carey, Liam Dillon, Seán Carey, Cian Hosie

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