Sensational Clarke points Seneschalstown to final

Seneschalstown just about made it into the knock-out stages of the SFC and at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday they just about made it into the final of the Keegan Cup when Brian Clarke sent a high-pressure '45' over the bar with the last kick of the game. Just about proved to be enough and they will certainly take a lot of positives from this game where they worked hard for victory, but were worthy winners. "Brian Clarke is the man you want to be take a '45'in a situation like that, he could probably send it over the bar in his sleep," suggested Seneschalstown manager Damien Sheridan after he came back to the dressing rooms on Sunday afternoon. The manager had noticed a Summerhill player receiving attention on the pitch and went to check on his welfare. The player in question was Willie Milner and he had to be removed in an ambulance following treatment from the first aid personnel on duty. "That was a real pressure kick, we had talked about the need for spirit during the week, we knew that we would have to match Summerhill in that department. "Things were going against us on a few occasions, but the players showed great spirit and pride, they dug very deep, it was on a knife edge. "I thought a few decisions went against us, when that happens you start to think it's not your day, but we kept our focus and kept playing. "We gave away a goal on the stroke of half-time, but we re-grouped and the breeze was fairly substantial as well, we had it in the second-half and we are just delighted that we are in the final," concluded the manager who guided the team to glory two years ago. Summerhill struggled to cope with early Seneschalstown pressure and gave away six frees in the first five minutes, three of which produced points from Brian Sheridan (two) and Shane Clarke. With wing-forwards Gary Conlon and Stephen Finnegan covering back impressively and with Damien and Joe Sheridan dominating possession at midfield, Seneschalstown enjoyed early supremacy and managed their first point from play when Shane Clarke split the posts in the 11th minute. Despite all the possession, that only gave them a 0-4 to 0-2 advantage as Rory Donnelly from play and a Stephen Kennedy free kept wind-assisted Summerhill in touch. By the end of the opening quarter a brace of easy enough points from Maurice Kennedy drew the sides level (0-4 apiece) and Summerhill gradually began to take control. Seneschalstown attempted to batten down the hatches and after a tallying three poor wides, they forged ahead again when Brian Sheridan kicked over a free out of his hands which was brought within range after a Summerhill player kicked the ball away. Undaunted, Summerhill were back on terms a minute later when Paul Larkin converted a 13-metre free and then temporary substitute Conor Gillespie, who only seconds earlier replaced Stephen Kennedy, rifled the ball to the net. Gillespie was involved in the build-up to the goal and was in the right place at the right time to take a return pass from Davy Dalton and finish to the net. Summerhill were ahead by 1-5 to 0-6 at the interval after Seneschalstown's Shane Clarke claimed his third point of the half, his second from a free. Seneschalstown were beck on level terms within a minute of the resumption when Shane Clarke and Stephen Finnegan were on the mark from play, but Dalton countered at the other end almost immediately. Then, Dalton was guilty of losing possession in his own half to Mark Carey and the Seneschalstown player released Shane Clarke for an opportunist point. That left the sides level for the second time in the half and when Brian Ennis and Joe Sheridan traded points it was still all square until Brian Sheridan's free gave the Yellow Furze side the edge again. Seneschalstown squandered a good goal chance when Stephen Sheridan was penalised for a pick-up inside the Summerhill 20-metre line. It was a costly error as Conlon was inside him totally unmarked. Summerhill made the most of the reprieve and countered immediately with a Brian Ennis point drawing the sides level for the fourth time in the half and the seventh in total. There were roars of disapproval from the Seneschalstown supporters when Brian Sheridan appeared to be fouled out on the terrace wing, but referee Cormac Reilly wasn't interested. That seemed to spur on the Furze players and they went two clear with a brace from Shane Clarke only to be hauled back to parity once more when Ennis (free) and Donnelly sent over. With extra-time looming, Seneschalstown surged forward and Joe Sheridan, who had moved to full forward in the second-half, gained possession on the edge of the Summerhill square, but was blocked by Caolan Young for that '45' which paved the way to the winner's enclosure. Seneschalstown - D Lyons; P Carey, A Collins, G Sheridan; M Carey, J Cowley, S Sheridan; J Sheridan (0-1), D Sheridan; G Conlon, C Macken, S Finnegan (0-1); B Clarke (0-2, one '45') B Sheridan (0-4, four frees), S Clarke (0-6, three frees). Sub - T Ledwidge for S Clarke 60 mins. Summerhill - T McDonnell; C Young, A Kenny, R Hatton; P Rispin, W Milner, S Husband; M Kennedy (0-2), D Byrne; D Dalton (0-1), B Ennis (0-3, frees), R Donnelly (0-2); S Dalton, P Larkin (0-1, one free), S Kennedy (0-1, one free). Sub - C Malone for Husband 22mins; C Gillespie (1-0) for S Kennedy 24m. Referee - Joey Curley (Moynalty).