Seneschalstown 1-15 Simonstown Gaels 2-11

Seneschalstown produced a late late show to defeat Simonstown Gaels in the final round of group matches in the Meath Cleaning Supplies All-County Junior Football Championship Division 1 to snatch a semi-final place from under their visitors noses in Fr. Tully Park on Sunday morning.   Having trailed by six at the interval and then by three points with fifteen minutes to go following the concession of a goal, Seneschalstown showed a steely determination to not let the opportunity of qualification pass. In the final quarter they outscored the north Navan side by 0-06 to 0-02.

Simonstown, backed by the wind, opened the scoring with a point in the eighth minute but Seneschalstown undeterred by the wind in their faces responded with their opener in the tenth minute when Jamie Norris tapped over a free after Neil Darby was fouled. Two minutes later the same player was on target from another close range dead ball, before Simonstown had their second score on the quarter hour mark.

There was a pattern beginning to develop from a Seneschalstown point of view as the hard running Darby was halted to the left of the goal on the 13 metre line. Norris did the needful and kicked the free.

A minute later though Seneschalstown coughed up possession not far from their own goal and were duly punished as Simonstown found the net. They added a point to lead by four in the 22nd minute before Seán Carey kicked the home side’s first from play from 30 metres out after 27 minutes. However, Simonstown finished the half the stronger by kicking a two pointer and a single pointer before the half time whistle to lead 1-07 to 0-04 at the break.

Seneschalstown would have been hoping to for a repeat of the Senior game the night before and came out with a renewed intensity at the start of the second half and Ryan Finnegan got the ball rolling with a fine curling effort straight from the throw-in.

Three minutes later, a ball over the top was judged to perfection by Seán Carey which landed in the arms of Bradley Kirwan as he made his way goal wards, but as he was about to pull the trigger he was tripped from behind. Up came David Gordon all the way from his goal to take the penalty and the netmidner made no mistake to leave two in it.

After passing up a couple of opportunities to reduce the gap further, Seneschalstown got another chance in the 41st minute when Mark Fox was fouled outside the two point arc. Out came Jamie Norris to assume responsibility and he hoisted his effort between the posts to raise an orange flag for his side. Norris was lethal from placed balls and he edged his side in front after Bradley Kirwan was fouled once more.

Simonstown did get their first score of the second half fourteen minutes and it came in the form of a two point free. Kirwan, after being fouled for a couple of earlier scores, got his name on the scoreboard when he equalised straight away but Seneschalstown were rocked when Simonstown struck for their second goal in the 45th minute.

It took Seneschalstown a couple of minutes to recover from that setback but crucially they didn’t concede before the scored again through Norris’ boot. Mark Fox won the resulted kick-out and he returned it with interest after getting himself within shooting range he popped over a point to leave the minimum between the sides.

With seven minutes remaining it looked like the Gaels were making a push for the winners enclosure with two points in double quick time and Seneschalstown frantically searching for something once more with time running out.

Liam Dillon, now operating further forward got his side going again with a point in the 54th minute after cutting in from the left wing and three minutes later, he did exactly the same thing from a similar position and momentum was back in Seneschalstown’s possession. In the 58th minute, Seneschalstown were level through Jamie Norris who kicked yet another placed ball but Seneschalstown still needed another score as a draw was no use to them in terms of qualification, whereas it would have suited Simonstown just fine.

Just before the 60 minute mark, Seán Carey won a break from kickout and space opened up in front of him. After composing himself he got his shot away which was greeted with a massive roar from Seneschalstown’s players and supporters before the white flag had even been raised.

Seneschalstown now had to hold on as Simonstown came looking for the equaliser which would see them through, but after three minutes of additional time Seneschalstown were able to hold on and book a semi-final date in two weeks time.

Seneschalstown: David Gordon (1-00, 1 pen), Eoghan McGauran, Cillian Lawlor, Jack McDonnell, Liam Dillon (0-02), Ryan Finnegan (0-01), Mattie Cowley, John Smith, Seán Carey (0-01), Neil Darby, Will Finegan, Owen Mullen, Seán Davis, Jamie Norris (0-08, 6 fs, 1 tpf) Cormac Carolan.

Subs: Bradley Kirwan (0-01), Mark Fox (0-01), Cormac Carolan, David Fox

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