Seneschalstown survive with stunning success
Seneschalstown 1-26
Simonstown Gaels 2-19
The relief was palpable among Seneschalstown players and supporters in Skryne on Friday night when Robert Purfield’s final whistle sounded on a enthralling SFC relegation semi-final that saw the Yellow Furze men retain their senior status.
Defeat leaves Simonstown facing into last chance saloon where they will take on Na Fianna with their place in the senior championship in jeopardy.
After an understandably nervous contest the sides were deadlocked after 60 minutes, but in the extra-time Seneschalstown played with a freedom and endeavour that blew Simonstown away who challenge was sustained by a couple of fortunate goals.
This was the fourth meeting of the sides this year with Simonstown winning in the Feis Cup and round five of FL Div 2. However, Seneschalstown claimed the FL Div 2 title with victory over the Navan men and this win on Friday was the most important of them all.
Seneschalstown opened the scoring with a 13 metre free from Cathal Finnegan after the Simonstoewn 'keeper was deemed to have been too ponderous over a kickout.
Scores were scarce and it took a further 10 minutes for the new scoreboard in Skryne to be called into action with Simonstown landing a two-pointer and a single white flag to edge ahead.
Colin Scanlon eventually got Seneschalstown's scoring ticking again before Cian Commons landed two-point free to restore his side's lead, 0-4 to 0-3, and he added another point soon after.
Alan Mulvany stretched that lead before Simonstown replied with another two-pointer, but Mulvany had the final say of the half to ensure a 0-7 to 0-5 interval lead for Seneschalstown.
Cathal Finnegan traded frees with Simonstown after the resumption, but then Simonstown enjoyed their first huge slice of luck when a long punt forward was allowed bounce over the bar for a two-pointer which restored parity.
Rattled Seneschalstown conceded a free outside the arc and Simonstown punished them and despite a Sean Carey score the Yellow Furze side were 0-9 to 0-13 adrift at the end of the third quarter.
Carey kept his side in contention with a brilliant two-pointer and from the resulting kickout Seimi Byrne was fouled and Commons converted the two-point free to bring Seneschalstown level again.
With 10 minutes left Cathal Finnegan landed another free to make it 0-14 to 0-13, but Simonstown retook the the lead with a brace of points before Mulvany again restored parity.
Seneschalstown looked to have won it when Cathal Finnegan converted a late free, but Simonstown battled hard and forced extra-time.
Extra-time was a slow burner before Cathal Finnegan landed a two-pointer and a '45', while Eamon Finnegan was also on target to put Seneschalstown in control again, 0-20 to 0-16.
In the considerable amount of injury-time Simonstown were boosted when a dropped shot decieved David Gordon and fell to the net and moments later another error led to the concession of a second goal as Simonstown took a two-point lead.
Seneschalstown's heads didn't drop. Carey added his fourth point before Dylan Keating landed a two-pointer to make it 0-23 to 2-16 at the break.
That strong finish to the first-half of extra-time boosted Seneschalstown's confidence as Cathal Finnegan took his tally to nine points with a two-pointer and almost immediately the issue was put beyond doubt when Eamon Finnegan found the net with six minutes remaining.
Simonstown did halve that deficit with an orange and white flag, but Commons had the last word with the closing score as Seneschalstown retained their status and remain the second longest serving side in senior football and will play their 59th consecutive season in the top flight in 2027.
Seneschalstown: David Gordon; Ronan Conneely, Simon Rooney, Brian Maguire; Colin Scanlon (0-1), Woodley Nicholson, Seán Carey (0-4); Danny Waters, Darren O’Brien; Éamon Finnegan (1-1), Cian Commons (0-6), Alan Mulvany (0-3); Cathal Finnegan (0-9), Dylan Keating (0-2), Robbie Finnegan. Subs: Séimí Byrne, Ryan Finnegan, Liam Dillon, Conor McDonnell.