When the breeze is blowing in Dunganny in the middle of February and a misty rain falling it can be a pretty cold place to be.  However if you happen to be a Seneschalstown supporter then on Sunday afternoon it was the place to be as the club's U-14 side served up a brand of football that would warm the heart.  The quality of football they played all weekend at the Féile Peile na nÓg an Mhí was outstanding but in particular their performances in Sundays semi-final and final illustrated just why this particular group of players are regarded as highly promising. 

Once possession was attained the players played with their heads up, all the time moving the ball swiftly on either through fast, snappy hand passing or accurate kick passes delivered in front of the oncoming teammate.  Another hallmark of the sides performance was their accuracy in front of goal as practically every shot they took went over the bar while they displayed a marvellous knack of dispossessing their opponents in the tackle. 

In their opening game of the Féile on Friday evening the side took on Skryne, a side which they have had some titanic battles with in the past, including some cracking games when playing at U-12.  The Seneschalstown team got off to a brilliant start, going three points to no score ahead after five minutes and going on to lead 1-04 to 1-00 at half time.  Their impressive beginning to the competition continued in the second half as they kicked on to emerge victorious by 2-07 to 1-02. 

Seneschalstown Scorers:  Ross Mullen 1-01, Sean Commons 0-03, Joseph Moore 0-02, Jamie Kirwan 0-01. 

Seneschalstown:  John Cahalane, Liam Maguire, Owen Mullen, Aaron Traynor, Simon Rooney, Will Finnegan, Joseph Moore, Cathal Hickey, Sean Commons, Jamie Kirwan, Alan Carey, Donal Commons, Daire Walsh, Seanie Dalton. 

The games came thick and fast during the Féile and their second match on Friday was against a very big Slane side.  The youngsters from Slane struck early to surge into a seven point lead, notch 2-01 before Seneschalstown managed a score.  But gradually the boys from the Furze reeled their opponents in and with the aid of majors from Sean Commons and centre back Simon Rooney they had drawn level by half time, 2-02 apiece. 

In the second half they continued to put their foot on the accelerator as aided by Joseph Moore and Cathal Hickeys dominance at midfield they pulled away to win by 5-04 to 4-02. 

Seneschalstown Scorers:  Ross Mullen 2-02, Sean Commons 1-01, Jamie Kirwan 1-00, Simon Rooney 1-00, Joseph Moore 0-01. 

Seneschalstown:  John Cahalane, Liam Maguire, Owen Mullen, Aaron Traynor, Simon Rooney, Will Finnegan, Joseph Moore, Cathal Hickey, Sean Commons, Jamie Kirwan, Alan Carey, Donal Commons, Ross Mullen, Seanie Dalton. 

Saturday afternoon saw the boys return to Dunganny where this time they faced the Round Towers combination.  Similar to their game against Slane the Seneschalstown team got off to a slow start going a goal and a point behind before scoring.  The composure shown on Friday night when reeling Slane in was to be evident here once more as with the aid of great scores from Ross Mullen, Sean Commons and Joseph Moore they had drawn level by the interval. 

In the second half, with whatever kinks had been evident in their first half performance ironed out they opened their shoulders and marched to a six point victory as they got on top all over the field, with the final score being Seneschalstown 1-09 Round Towers 1-03. 

Seneschalstown Scorers:  Ross Mullen 0-04, Jamie Kirwan 1-00, Sean Commons 0-01, Joseph Moore 0-02. 

Seneschalstown:  John Cahalane, Liam Maguire, Padraic Finnegan, Owen Mullen, Kit Waddington, Simon Rooney, Will Finnegan, Joseph Moore, Cathal Hickey, Sean Commons, Jamie Kirwan, Alan Carey, Aaron Traynor, Ross Mullen, Aaron Traynor. 

The team were down to play Wolfe Tones in the fourth game of the group stage but received the points, ensuring they topped their group and progressed to a semi-final encounter with St. Patrick's on Sunday afternoon. 

SENESCHALSTOWN 2-09 ST. PATRICK'S 0-02

The 3G pitch in Dunganny was the venue for the semi-final clash between the two East Meath clubs and with a stiff breeze blowing straight down the pitch conditions were always likely to have a bearing on the match. 

Playing into the breeze Seneschalstown couldn't have wished for a better start to the match as they surged into a four point advantage with six minutes on the clock.  Sean Commons had opened the scoring when finding the bottom left corner of the goal before Alan Carey squeezed a point effort over the bar.  Aided by the conditions St. Patrick's began to get a bit of a foothold in the game, registering a point from a free on the run in to half time. 

A two point advantage having played into the teeth of the breeze suggested that the outlook looked good for the Boynesiders and when they burst from the traps at the start of the second period when scoring 1-05 inside four minutes they were on the road to victory and the final.  Joseph Moore and Jamie Kirwan helped themselves to two points apiece during this impressive spell while Cathal Hickey struck for goal and Commons picked off a point.  The scoring rate dropped from there on but Moore hit two more points from play while Commons brought his tally to 1-02 before the boys from Stamullen brought the scoring to a close. 

Seneschalstown Scorers:  Sean Commons 1-02, Joseph Moore 0-04, Cathal Hickey 1-00, Jamie Kirwan 0-02, Alan Carey 0-01. 

Seneschalstown:  John Cahalane, Aaron Traynor, Padraic Finnegan, Cillian Lawlor, Kit Waddington, Simon Rooney, Will Finnegan, Joseph Moore, Cathal Hickey, Sean Commons, Jamie Kirwan, Alan Carey, Liam Maguire, Ross Mullen, Seanie Dalton. 

Seneschalstown Substitutes:  Daire Walsh, Owen Mullen, Sean Commons. 

SENESCHALSTOWN 5-05 TRIM 1-06

Just as in the semi-final conditions were to have an impact on the final as the rain now began to fall in addition to the wind.  Trim were the opposition and boosted by having the wind at their backs they looked as though they were going to blow Seneschalstown away when kicking three impressive points before the third minute.  However as they had shown in some of their earlier matches the boys in blue are made of stern stuff and they quietly knuckled down to the task at hand. 

Ross Mullen, who had been a lively presence up front in all their matches, was fouled on the endline and with the angle suiting the left footed sharp shooter he tapped the resultant free over the bar.  Seanie Dalton then grabbed a goal to send his side into a one point lead after making the most of excellent approach play from Mullen and Cathal Hickey.  The Trim outfit got back on level terms shortly after before Mullen tagged on another free.  Daire Walsh had by now been introduced and he didn't take long to make his presence felt after he latched onto a loose ball in the square to rifle it past the goalkeeper.  Sean Commons and Cathal Hickey had combined brilliantly out the field in the build up before Commons' point effort fell short to gift Walsh his opportunity.  The first half scoring wasn't finished there though and the character of the Trim side shone through as they replied to this set back with another point of their own. 

With a four point advantage at half time and the wind at their back the impressive Seneschalstown side could sense blood and they immediately went for the jugular when the second half commenced.  A sumptuous passage of play involving Hickey, Mullen and Joseph Moore saw Commons in on goal and he made no mistake, finishing to the roof of the net.  Mullen, who had been floating like a butterfly then stung like a bee, as he pilfered another goal.  The side's nose for three pointers continued in the twentieth minute as Walsh displaying excellent spatial awareness fisted past the goalie when judging the flight of a dropping ball to perfection. 

Trim were not done yet and they tried to get back into the game when managing to squeeze a shot past John Cahalane to grab a three pointer.  The score of the game was yet to come though and while a point seemed unlikely when Mullen gained possession way out on the left he curled a superb effort over the bar with the outside of his left boot.  Eleven points now separated the teams and that was to remain the case as both sides managed a point apiece in the remaining five minutes, Hickey registering the Seneschalstown score. 

Seneschalstown Scorers:  Dara Walsh 2-00, Ross Mullen 1-03, Seanie Dalton 1-00, Sean Commons 1-01, Cathal Hickey 0-01.

Seneschalstown:  John Cahalane, Aaron Traynor, Padraic Finnegan, Cillian Lawlor, Kit Waddington, Simon Rooney, Will Finnegan, Joseph Moore, Cathal Hickey, Sean Commons, Jamie Kirwan, Alan Carey, Liam Maguire, Ross Mullen, Seanie Dalton. 

Seneschalstown Substitutes:  Daire Walsh, Owen Mullen, Sean Commons.

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