Royal Gaels recover to complete four-in-a-row

Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels ...................3-13

Seneschalstown .................................4-6

Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels produced a remarkable comeback from trailing by nine points five minutes into the second-half to secure their fourth Meath Ladies SFC title in a row in a thrilling decider at Bective on Saturday.

Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels were without the services of their captain and All-star nominee Niamh Gallogly. Gallogly’s absence was certainly felt in the first 35 minutes as Seneschalstown inspired by Orla Finnegan, who scored a hat-trick of goals, led by 4-3 to 1-3.

The champions began to eat into their opponents' lead through four points on the spin from Bronagh Sheridan. During that bright spell, Sheridan missed a penalty but that certainly did not deter her or her incredibly resilient teammates.

However, that penalty decision did lead to Seneschalstown’s Megan Clarke having to endure a spell on the sidelines after she was handed a yellow card and the eventual winners made the most of the numerical advantage and kept chipping away at the gap between the sides.

The real turning point came at the start of the final quarter when Sheridan and Meadhbh Byrne both found the back of the net in the space of two minutes to put Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels ahead by three points with 10 minutes left.

Muris Moran’s side are four-time champions for a reason and despite the fact that Gallogly didn’t feature and they also lost their stalwart Niamh O’Sullivan to injury midway through the second-half, Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels closed out the game well and once again were crowned Ladies SFC champions.

It took some time for both teams to settle but in the fifth minute the contest came alive when Stacey Grimes played a lovely pass to Finnegan who bore down on the Dunshaughlin goalmouth with great speed and dispatched the ball to the net for the first of her green flags.

Two minutes later Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels responded with a goal of their own as Sheridan expertly finished to the bottom left corner of the net.

Seneschalstown were playing with fantastic fluency early on and they were rewarded for their efforts with two points on the spin courtesy of the talented minor Anna Donnelly and Emma O’Donoghue. Finnegan traded frees with Sheridan. Sheridan had taken over dead-ball duties from O’Sullivan after the latter took a heavy knock early on but stayed on the field until the 44th minute.

Finnegan’s initial shot on goal in the 20th minute was saved by Michelle O’Hare before the prolific full-forward managed to bundle the ball over the line. Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels players protested heavily that an infringement had occured in the scramble but after consultation with his umpires referee Ian Dowdall decided that the goal should stand.

Byrne pulled a point back for Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels but a minute later Seneschalstown had the ball in the opposition net again, this time it was Donnelly with the finish. Niamh McEntee forced a good save out of Louise Coyle in the 30th minute.

On the cusp of half-time Sherdian knocked over another free but at the break the eventual winners trailed by 1-3 to 3-3.

Five minutes into the second-half, Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels supporters had every reason to be concerned that their team was going to relinquish the title as Seneschalstown scored their fourth goal. A super ball in from Donnelly was well gathered by Finnegan before she completed her hat-trick and put her side nine points ahead. Three points in quick succession from Sheridan kept Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels hopes alive. In the 40th minute Clarke fouled Anna Moyles in the large rectangle. A penalty was awarded and Clarke was also given a yellow card. However, Sheridan could not convert the penalty and Seneschalstown’s six-point lead remained intact.

Sheridan knocked over another free and at the end of the third quarter McEntee pointed from a tight angle to reduce the gap back to four points.

Byrne then took a stern hold on proceedings. The centre forward found the back of the net in the 47th minute. In the 48th minute, she drew the sides level and in the 49th minute she played a superb kick pass into the danger zone before Sheridan fisted the ball to the net for Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels third goal.

In the space of two minutes, largely down to the exploits of Byrne, the champions had turned a four-point defecit into a three-point lead.

In the last 10 minutes, Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels closed out proceedings well. Sheridan cancelled out scores for Finnegan and Donnelly. Caitlin Dunne was given a yellow card late on for a cynical foul. Points in injury time for Sheridan and Ella Moyles were well received by the Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels faithful as the final whistle confirmed a fourth SFC title in a row for the ladies in black and amber.

Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels: Michelle O'Hare; Sarah Duffy, Ava O'Brien, Keva McTigue; Karla Kealy, Sadhbh O Muiri, Petra Reilly; Ella Moyles (0-1), Anna Moyles; Leah Sheridan, Meadhbh Byrne (1-2), Elena Kennedy; Niamh O'Sullivan, Niamh McEntee (0-1), Bronagh Sheridan (2-9 seven frees). Subs: Emily Carter for O’Sullivan 44m, Molly O’Connor for Reilly 50m, Niamh Summerville for L Sheridan 54m.

Seneschalstown: Louise Coyle; Aoibhe Monaghan, Meadhbh Hickey, Kayleigh Fitzgerald; Seanaidh Hickey, Megan Clarke, Caoimhe Clarke; Anna Wogan, Stacey Grimes; Anna Donnelly (1-2 one free), Tara Traynor, Susan Finnegan; Kiah Geraghty, Orla Finnegan (3-3), Emma O’Donoghue (0-1). Subs: Caitlin Dunne for S Finnegan 42m, Kellie Finnegan for Hickey 54m.

Referee: Ian Dowdall (Bective).