Seneschalstown 0-10 Ballinabrackey 1-17

Seneschalstown exited the Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship following a disappointing defeat to Ballinabrackey on Saturday evening.

Few could argue that Ballinabrackey were deserved winners, particularly in a second where Seneschalstown just never got going despite playing with the aid of an extremely strong wind at their backs.

Playing into the wind in the opening period Seneschalstown started very promisingly. Simon Rooney won the break from the throw-in and he took off down the centre of the pitch before laying off to the returning Cathal Finnegan who turned and pointed.

Ballinabrackey opened their account moments later with a wind assisted two pointer but Seneschalstown were presented with a massive opportunity just before the third minute mark. Cathal Finnegan was quickest to a breaking in the large square and as he was trying to turn and shoot he was fouled and Keith Sheerin awarded a penalty. This however, only appeared to be a sign of things to come from a Seneschalstown point of view as Finnegan was forced off with a knee injury and after a lengthy stoppage, Dylan Keating stepped up to take the penalty. Unfortunately for him and for Seneschalstown the keeper went the right way and it was saved. A huge double blow for the men in yellow after only three minutes.

Backed by the wind, the Bracks kicked the next two scores in the seventh and eighth minutes as they moved 0-04 to 0-01 ahead. Seneschalstown though were dealing rather well with the conditions and got their second point just after the quarter hour mark when Eoin Finnegan kicked a free after Bryan Clarke was fouled following some very patient build up.

Ballinabrackey responded at the other end after 19 minutes but in the next phase of play, Ronan Conneely made an interception inside his own half and he carried the ball on and on as the space just seemed to open up for him. He eventually got a shot off and it looked for a second that it might drop into the net but it did have enough on it to carry over the bar.

The gap was down the minimum on 22 minutes when Bryan Clarke drilled a free over into the wind following a foul on Cian Commons, but the Bracks were able to keep Seneschalstown at arms length for the time being with two further points by the 25th minute.

However, Seneschalstown battled on and Clarke kicked another superb free which drew in from the right of the upright before Robbie Finnegan linked up well with Dylan Keating down the right hand side before the latter fired high raising another white flag as the clock struck 30 minutes. Had the half time whistle gone at that stage, Seneschalstown would have been delighted at being only one down but due to the earlier injury stoppage plus a couple of other things there was seven minutes added on.

This is where Ballinabrackey made a big push to get everything out of their wind advantage. Seneschalstown indiscipline also didn’t help as the Bracks added a pair of two pointers, one from a free and one from a placed ball as well as two white flag scores and all of a sudden their leas at the break stood at seven points.

Seneschalstown would have been hoping to get similar purchase from the wind advantage but the second performance never got going. In fact it was the South Meath side who kicked the first three points of the second and went ten points in front.

Seneschalstown did have opportunities to score earlier in the second period but their profligacy in front of goal was costing them dearly and they did not score until the 15th minute of the second through a Bryan Clarke free. Cian Commons followed this up with a superb curling effort and maybe there was a kick left in Seneschalstown despite being eight behind.

However, further mistakes hampered them and Ballinabrackey got another score in the 54th minute.

A Clarke two point free in the 59th was nothing more than a consolation effort and Ballinabrackey really hammered home their dominance when Seneschalstown went for broke pushing up on the kickout which left space in behind their defence for Ballinabrackey to find the net and it was they who advanced to the knockout stages of the Championship.

Seneschalstown will be very disappointed by their second half performance but can take some solace from the fact that for the first time since 2018 they won’t be partaking in the relegation battle following two very positive outings against St. Colmcille’s and Ratoath.

It was year of ups and downs for David Hosie’s side, with the League being as chastening experience losing all eleven games but it was something that Seneschalstown learned lots from, and coupled with the three Championship points garnered it leaves plenty to build upon going into 2026.

Seneschalstown: James Meade, Simon Rooney, Conor McDonnell, Robbie Finnegan, Woodley Nicholson, Eamon Finnegan, Donie Commons, Niall Hickey, Ronan Conneely (0-01), Cian Commons (0-01), Alan Mulvany, Eoin Finnegan (0-01, 1f), Cathal Finnegan (0-01), Dylan Keating (0-01).

Subs: Bryan Clarke (0-05, 1 tpf, 3fs), Colin Scanlon, Darren O’Brien, Charles McCarthy

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