Seneschalstown 2-12 St. Colmcille’s 1-09

Seneschalstown produced a barnstorming second half performance to earn a first win of the Coolrite Under 19 Football Championship against St. Colmcille’s in Fr. Tully Park on Friday night. Despite the strong showing after the interval, Seneschalstown had to withstand a late Cilles rally which lead to two goals which Seneschalstown will certainly feel were soft in their concession.

After both sides had some early possession which came to nothing, the visitors playing wind assisted were first on the scoreboard with points in the fourth and sixth minutes.

Seneschalstown’s response was impressive and set the tone for the evening.  Playing into the breeze Seneschalstown had to be patient with their build up, but Charlie Finnegan spotted an opportunity to pop an inch perfect ball into the full forward line. Jamie Norris had made the run and gathered the ball to leave him one on one with his marker and after engineering a yard of space he finished the ball low to the bottom left hand corner.

St. Colmcille’s levelled matters two minutes later with a point but Cian Hosie edged his side ahead with a free after 14 minutes. The visitors did respond emphatically with two points in consecutive attacks to regain the lead but another Hosie free wiped out that advantage after 20 minutes.

The fare became more cautious in the last minutes of the first half with both sides only able to register a further point apiece. St. Colmcille’s edged back in front after 23 minutes but the sides went in level at the break after Cian Hosie took the option to kick a single point free with the very last kick after St. Colmcille’s were caught with a three up breach by referee Jospeh Curran which left the scoreboard reading 1-03 to 0-06.

The home side’s start to the second thirty minutes could not have been any better. Cian Commons won the throw-in and made his way directly for the St. Colmcille’s goal. Sean Davis peeled off his marker just ahead and Commons set the wing forward in on goal. Davis still had some work to do to beat the keeper but his left footed shot was placed to perfection and Seneschalstown had a goal mere seconds after the resumption.

The home’s rip roaring start the half continued and Charlie Finnegan hoisted over a two pointer from outside the 45’ from play before 90 seconds had elapsed and suddenly the home side were five points to the good.

The hard working Davis added a point to his goal after 33 minutes when he found the target after being placed for the score by Liam Dillon. Seneschalstown were motoring well now and Cian Commons chipped over the next point sixty seconds later after Finnegan and Jamie Norris helped create the score. The blistering five minute spell yielded a tally of 1-05 after Commons tagged on a free from just inside the arc on 35 minutes.

The scoring rate slowed for the remainder of the third quarter with only only one further point but it was worth the wait as Commons, now having a huge impact on proceedings barrelled his way through a two man tackle and despite losing balance somehow managed to kick an absolutely stunning point from 35 metres to increase the home side’s lead to nine point after 42 minutes.

St Colmcille’s however were not finished in having a say and opened their second half account in the 46th minute, and followed up with a second point thirty seconds later.

Jamie Norris answered at the other end for Seneschalstown but St. Colmcille’s were given a lifeline when they raised their first green flag with just over eight minutes remaining leaving it 2-10 to 1-08.

Seneschalstown to their credit did not fold. Cian Hosie kicked a vital score to restore the six point lead and with five minutes to go Cian Commons was quickest to a loose ball deep in Cilles territory to clip over from an angle after Sean Davis shot was blocked. Unfortunately, Davis had to depart with an injury shortly afterwards.

With time almost up, there was six between the sides and St. Colmcille’s went in search of goals. They did manage to force the ball over the line from a goal mouth scramble in the 62nd minute to make things slightly nervy for Seneschalstown and despite having one last opportunity to snatch a draw, Seneschalstown comfortably cleared the ball to the sound of the full-time whistle as they celebrated an important win.

With one group game to go at home to Donaghmore/Ashbourne in a fortnight’s time, Seneschalstown’s fate is in their own hands as they seek to extend their interest in the competition by another few weeks by reaching the semi-finals. A win will do just that!

Seneschalstown: Colm McDonnell, Eoghan McGauran, Jack McDonnell, Mattie Cowley, Adam Clarke, Aran Carey, Charles McCarthy, Cian Commons (0-04), Collie Scanlon, Seán Reilly, Charlie Finnegan (0-02, 1 tp), Seán Davis (1-01), Cian Hosie (0-04, 3fs), Jamie Norris (1-01), Liam Dillon.

Subs Used: Tadhg Caffrey, Johnny Finnegan

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