On an evening more akin to mid-February than late August, the U14's of Seneschalstown and St. Colmcilles took to the sod of Paddy O Brien Park to renew rivalries for the prize of the Division 1 Championship and a trophy in the name of the legend of the O’Mahonys club. To view photos from this game click here

These two teams have been bouncing off each other in the business end of the top Division of underage in Meath since U12's and this end of Summer contest promised to deliver more of the same.

They say a good start is half the battle and the boys from Yellow Furze/Kentstown certainly proved that in the first 4 minutes, getting two goals in quick succession. First Ben Lynagh got on the end of defence splitting pass from Kyle Hosie before finishing low to the net, less than 2 minutes later, the flying half forward Hosie raising the green flag once more with a cool finish following a well worked ball from defence right through to attack with wing forward Sam Kirwan finding Séimí Byrne with a pinpoint pass who in turn opened the door for Hosie to deliver

The Cilles however were never going to lie down and they showed admirable patience in getting right back into the game , eventually taking over the lead as the game headed for the interval shooting a goal and six points. Some subtle positional switches for Seneschalstown to cope with the main threats of the opposition would soon bear fruit. Midfielder Darren O’Brien moving to Centre back ensured more stability in defence for the furzemen, with Full Forward Cian Commons repositioned to a more central role and the young tyro was claiming vital marks around the middle. One such possession led via a sweet one-two with Lynagh to a peach of a point from the outside of the boot before a similar effort came down off a post and fell to Éamon Finnegan who had been reposted forward from his centre back slot and he applied a classy finish to the net. With referee Keith Sheerin about to blow for half time, a major turning point in the game unfolded. Big corner forward Joe Norris gained possession 20 metres out and looking to build on his goal tally for the season was 'downed' by the influential Cilles centre back, who in 'taking one for the team' was deemed worthy of a black card by Sheerin who had a good game. Robbie Finnegan pointed the resultant free and at half time the score was Seneschalstown 3-2, St. Colmcilles 1-6.

The second half began with Seneschalstown enjoying the lions share of possession and a Robbie Finnegan free was followed by a phase of play in which Alex Finnegan was desperately unlucky to see a goal effort come back off a post. The wait for a goal would be short lived however as substitute Liam Dillon’s first act was to be fouled in the large box. Kyle Hosie duly obliged with a low powerful finish to the net from the spotkick.

This Seneschalstown team have matured greatly in a few short years and showed how to close out a game in expert fashion as the rains came again to try in vain to spoil the occasion. One such play came late on with the furze men seemingly locked into the corner of Paddy O’Brien park with little room for movement, they never panicked and worked the ball through the hands to eventually engineer an opportunity for Robbie Finnegan to curl a sweet right footed shot over the black spot.

The ever dependable Luke Healy between the post ensured vital possession for his team through his pinpoint kickouts with the full back line of Josh Keating, Oran Lawlor and Danny Waters have been a rock solid foundation all season and continued in this vain defying all attacks with vital blocks and turnovers, helped in no small part by the half back line of Conor Rooney, Éamon Finnegan and Séimí Byrne who deal in the currency that the best form of defence is attack.

The forward bursts and ultra reliable shooting of Robbie Finnegan from midfield together with his deadly free-taking accounted for the remainder of the second half scoring. Darren O Brien, who had earlier repositioned to centre back from midfield locked down the centre channel and nullified the Cilles attack while ensuring turnovers to positive forward moves with half forward Sam Kirwan pulling further strings in a vital playmaking role along with Hosie, Ben Lynagh and Cian Commons. Joe Norris and Alex Finnegan worked tirelessly up front always ensuring there was plenty of movement and worked very well with the oncoming wave of attacking play throughout the match.

St. Colmcilles kept the fight but found the Seneschalstown defence and hunger for turnovers too much and further forward bursts from Byrne, Lynagh, R Finnegan, Lawlor and O Brien who at this stage were combining well with substitutes Liam Dillon, Tommy Walsh and Jack McDonnell up front amongst others led to phases of controlled possession which encouraged fouls from the opposition and opportunities for Robbie Finnegan to execute his free taking skills.

The final whistle sounded in monsoon conditions but it did little to dampen the Seneschalstown celebrations as they claimed one of the most prestigious titles in Meath underage football. Credit must go the St. Colmcilles side who never gave up and valiantly played right to the end, matches between these two sides have always ensured tight affairs and although the finish score line didn’t reflect this the battle on the pitch was as always tough but fair.

Final Score Seneschalstown 4-07 St. Colmcilles 1-08

Captain Robbie Finnegan accepted the Paddy O’Brien cup from the granddaughter of the O’Mahonys club legend along with Meath Co. Board representative Brian Kelly.

Seneschalstown; Luke Healy, Josh Keating, Oran Lawlor, Danny Waters, Conor Rooney, Éamon Finnegan,Séimí Byrne, Robbie Finnegan, Darren O’Brien, Sam Kirwan, Ben Lynagh, Kyle Hosie, Joe Norris, Cian Commons, Alex Finnegan. Subs; Liam Dillon, Tommy Walsh, Jack Mc Donnell, Sean Davis, Sean Reilly, Ben Lynch, Colin Scanlon, Colm Mc Donnell.

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