Under-strength Gaels far too hot for Furze
THERE was bad news for contenders to Simonstown Gaels’ Keegan Cup crown as the champions brushed aside the challenge of Seneschalstown in this SFC tie at Pairc Tailteann last Friday evening.
The holders were minus a number of regulars, including Padraig McKeever, Sean Tobin and Nathan O’Brien, and that might have left them vulnerable. However, they still had plenty in reserve as they cantered to an impressive win.
Star of the show was Mark McCabe who scored all three goals for his side. Conor Sheridan, Ben Hoey and Andrew Kearney also excelled in an attack that had the ability to tag on scores every time Seneschalstown threatened to close the gap. By the end of the first quarter the Gaels had raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after a brace of scores each from Kearney and Hoey, and one from Joe Lyons.
Cathal Finnegan had the Furze men’s only point in that period, but they responded to the champions’ challenge and had reduced the gap to the minimum when Finnegan set up Brian Sheridan for the game’s first goal on 17 minutes.
Simonstown 3-15 Sen’chalst’n 2-6
However, it didn’t take long to Simonstown to reassert their authority as McCabe struck for his first goal and Conor Sheridan (two) and Brian Conlon added points to leave it 1-8 to 1-3 at half-time.
Any chance Seneschalstown had of causing an upset disappeared within six minutes of the restart as Simonstown added two further points from Sheridan before McCabe dispatched a penalty to the net.
Brian Sheridan had Seneschalstown’s opening point of the second half and he then set up Finnegan for his side’s goal following a quickly taken free.
The two-time champions produced yet another scoring burst as McCabe pounced on a short kickout from David Gordon to complete his hat-trick. Simonstown added points from Kearney, Mickey Brennan and Niall Kane as Robert Wogan and Niall Lyons responded for Seneschalstown during that period.
Robbie Burlingham, Shane Gallagher, Stephen Moran, Stephen O’Reilly; Brian McGrath, Mark Gardiner, Neil Kane 0-1, Brian Conlon 0-1, Rory O’Connor; Joe Lyons 0-1, Conor Sheridan 0-4, Mark McCabe 3-0; Eanna O’Donoghue, Ben Hoey 0-3 (2f), Andy Kearney 0-3. Subs: James Kilcullen for O’Connor, Nicky O’Brien 0-1 for O’Donoghue, Shane Barry for Gallagher, Mickey Brennan 0-1 for Sheridan.
SENESCHALSTOWN: David Gordon; Mark Fox, Dylan Doyle, Brian Maguire; Niall McCabe, Joe Cowley, Niall Groome; Niall Hickey, Stephen Finnegan; Bryan Clarke, Joe Sheridan 0-1, Dylan Keating; Cathal Finnegan 1-2, Brian Sheridan 1-1, Robert Wogan 0-1. Subs: James Meade for Wogan, Alan Mulvany for Cowley, Niall Lyons 0-1 for Clarke.