Seneschalstown 1-19 Wolfe Tones 3-12

With twelve minutes gone in this opening round game in Division 1 of the Meath Cleaning Supplies Junior All-County Football Championship at Fr. Tully Park on Sunday morning, Wolfe Tones looked like they were going to continue their recent dominance over Seneschalstown at this level as they lead by eleven points, 3-03 to 0-01 and were full value for it as the hosts struggled to get to grips with their opponents from Gibbstown, Kilberry and Oristown.

Come second-half injury time, Liam Dillon was standing over a two point free at the top of the arc to decide if Seneschalstown would take home the points on offer after a herculean effort to wrestle control of the game back. Dillon was deadly accurate and shortly after the full time whistle blew and Seneschalstown could celebrate an important victory.

Playing towards the railway end in the first half, Wolfe Tones wasted no time in settling into the contest with a two point effort from play in the opening play before adding a point and their first goal in the fifth minute.

Seneschalstown’s opening score came courtesy of Seán Carey when he pointed from the left hand side in the eighth minute but further goals for the men in purple after nine and twelve minutes left Seneschalstown in a massive hole and staring down the barrel of another heavy defeat to their opponents.

Slowly though, Seneschalstown clawed their way back into the game which started with a Seán Davis free but the score that really brought the hosts to life came in the 16th minute.

Ryan Finnegan took possession around 40 metres from goal and took on a couple of defenders which he got around before smashing the ball in at the near post for an excellent goal from the team captain.

Seneschalstown’s good spell continued right up until half time. Will Finegan was next to score, followed up by Cian Hosie’s first point of the day after 22 minutes.

Liam Dillon then came forward to kick a free from just inside the forty metre mark before Cian Hosie did the same from much closer to goal.

The last score of the half also went the way of the home side as Neil Darby won the ball on the edge of the large square before finding space to get his shot away which flashed just over the bar. From eleven points down, Seneschalstown trailed by just two points at the break, 3-03 to 1-07.

The gap increased immediately in the second half when Tones got their first score since their third goal, a point less than a minute after the restart.  Seneschalstown got back into their stride straight away however, with Cian Hosie getting Seneschalstown going once more.

The two Seans, Davis and Carey were each on target with points to level the game up after 34 minutes and when Will Finegan pointed from play moments later Seneschalstown lead for the first time.

To their credit, Wolfe Tones tied things up once more before Seneschalstown looked like they were going to pull away. The inside line were causing plenty of problems as Sean Davis and Hosie raised further white flags and Liam Dillon gave further evidence of his dead ball prowess when converting a 45’ to leave Seneschalstown 1-14 to 3-05 ahead.

A two point free kept the visitors very much interested with the gap now down to the minimum once more after 52 minutes but Aran Carey kept the Seneschalstown score ticking at the other end.

With two minutes to go Seneschalstown looked to be defending comfortably outside the arc when a Wolfe Tones player took a shot from way out the pitch and it landed between the posts to level the game at 3-09 to 1-15.

Substitutes Alex Finnegan and Johnny Gilsenan combined to force a Wolfe Tones defender into over carrying and Gilsenan tapped over the free to put Seneschalstown back in front.  However, it looked like Seneschalstown were going to leave empty handed when another long range two point effort for the visitors went between the posts in the third minute of stoppage time, this time from a free.

There was still time for further drama. Sean Davis kicked a free after Ryan Finnegan was fouled 30 metres from goal but when the Tones went up the other end they were awarded a close range free to put them in the driving seat.

As Seneschalstown chased another score to earn something from the game, Wolfe Tones were guilty of breaking the three up rule and thus Seneschalstown had a golden opportunity. They could have taken the close range free to take a draw but the message from the sideline was to play to win and go for the two point effort. Liam Dillon, who had kicked all his placed balls from this kind of range made no mistake in the eighth minute of added time and when the final whistle went Seneschalstown were a point to the good.

The win leaves them in a good position heading into the Round 2 clash with fellow table toppers Simonstown Gaels on Sunday August 23rd.

Seneschalstown: Jamie Norris, Cillian Lawlor, Conor McDonnell, Cormac Carolan, Liam Maguire, Liam Dillon (0-04, 1tpf, 1f, 1 45’), Jack McDonnell, Ryan Finnegan (1-00), Seán Carey (0-02), Seán Reilly, Aran Carey (0-01), Neil Darby (0-01), Cian Hosie (0-04, 1f), Will Finegan (0-02), Seán Davis (0-04, 2fs).

Subs Used: Johnny Gilsenan (0-01, 1f), Mattie Cowley, Alex Finnegan

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