Seneschalstown 0-10 Na Fianna 0-10

Seneschalstown resolutely battled to a draw with Na Fianna in the second round of the Kepak LGFA Senior Championship played in Fr. Tully Park on Tuesday night. Despite having never been ahead in the contest, the fact Seneschalstown were able to dig deep and pull themselves level on a number of occasions ultimately left them with a deserved share of the spoils.

Having beaten Navan O’Mahony’s in Round 1, Seneschalstown knew another positive result here would see them take another step towards the knockout stage but they were also down a couple of starters from that win in Navan two weeks ago.

It was a quick start to the game with Na Fianna pointing inside the opening minute but Seneschalstown replied instantly when they worked an opportunity for Orla Finnegan to split the posts.   The visitors then had the first of their scoring burst to move 0-04 to 0-01 ahead by the ninth minute.   Seneschalstown broke that sequence in the 12th minute when Stacey Grimes kicked a free after team captain Finnegan was fouled.   The Enfield/Baconstown combination hit back with their fifth score in the 12th minute.

From this point onwards in the opening half the home side took over and had plenty of possession and chances, however turning that into scores on the scoreboard was proving difficult partly because of their own decision making and the stringency of the Na Fianna rearguard.

Anna Donelly kicked her first score in the 19th minute with some help from the upright and this started a run of three scores on the trot for the Meath Under 16 captain.   Seneschalstown were starting to find joy when they moved the ball quickly and when Orla Finnegan was fouled again in the 24th minute, Donnelly left the minimum between the teams from the free with a fine effort from distance.   She also landed another free in the 27th minute and Seneschalstown were level.

When the half-time whistle went, the home side appeared to be in a good position to kick on.  However, the half-time break seemed to come at the right time for Na Fianna as they started the second half with a renewed vigour.

Having not scored since the 14th minute of the first half, they opened the second half with the first three points to move 0-08 to 0-05 by the 39th minute as Seneschalstown were struggling to put a move of any real quality together in front of goal.

This game however, hinged on swings of momentum and Seneschalstown seemed to regather it when Anna Donnelly kicked a badly needed free in the 41st minute from the top of the D’.   At the three quarter mark, Orla Finnegan followed this up with her second from play after she sold a defender a superb dummy bounce to make space to clip over off her right foot.   Seneschalstown’s latest resurgence was intensified when Seánaidh Hickey came forward from centre back to kick a point after a patient team move.

However, just like the opening minutes of the second half Na Fianna put a pin in the Seneschalstown momentum with a point to retake the lead in the 50th minute.  This time however, they couldn’t build on the lead and were reduced to 14 players in the 53rd minute when the referee issued a sin binning to a Na Fianna player.   Two minutes later Seneschalstown were level when some quick thinking between Stacey Grimes and Orla Finnegan enabled the former to clip over after a working a short free and leave it tied up at 0-09 apiece.

Just as the clock ticked into injury time, it looked like Seneschalstown were going to undo all of their good work when Na Fianna were awarded a free which was converted.   The game threatened to spill over into chaos in injury time, while there was also a lengthly stoppage for an injury.   When the game resumed, Seneschalstown looked to have run out of ideas when Grimes sent a hopeful ball in the direction of the square.   Orla Finnegan failed to win it cleanly initially when it dropped in, but corner back Leanne Clarke was quickest to the break and she was fouled as she stooped on the loose ball. Despite the protests of the Na Fianna defenders, the referee’s mind was not for changing and despite the proximity of the free to the goals, Grimes still had to compose herself to ensure her side would finish with a draw. That she did and the full time whistle was blown from the kickout.

The draw leaves Seneschalstown in a strong position to earn a home quarter-final ahead of the final round of games where Seneschalstown play Royal Gaels on Saturday September 6th at 7pm in Dunshaughlin.

Seneschalstown: Louise Coyle, Leanne Clarke, Meadhbh Hickey, Aoibhe Monaghan, Chloe Williams, Seánaidh Hickey (0-01), Caoimhe Clarke, Tara Trainer, Anna Wogan, Anna Donnelly (0-04, 3fs), Stacey Grimes (0-03, 2fs), Susan Finnegan, Caitlin Dunne, Orla Finnegan (0-02), Ruth Commons.

Subs Used: Caragh Monaghan, Aoife Dungan,

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