Mighty Meath see off Longford to reach the final
THERE was a sensational ending to this high tempo SFC encounter as substitute Luke Mitchell completed a Dunshaughlin revival with a match winning goal in the first minute of added time at Ashbourne on Sunday.
The goal following a short passing movement through the Seneschalstown defence left Dunshaughlin two points clear.
There was still enough time for Seneschalstown to at least force a share of the spoils after Cathal Finnegan pointed a free to leave the minimum between the teams.
The Yellow Furze outfit had two opportunities of an equaliser but one effort went wide while sub Eoin Finnegan dropped his shot short into the grateful hands of Dunshaughlin keeper Adam McDermott in the last action of the game.
Dunshaughlin had played the final 15 minutes with 14 after Niall Murphy picked up a second yellow card with the sides on level terms at the time.
Seneschalstown made a whirl wind start to proceedings and led 2-4 to 0-1 after 16 minutes.
Veteran Bryan Clarke opened their account from a free and Dylan Keating, Clarke and Adam Carey added points before Clarke netted from close range with Keating creating the opening.
Seneschalstown added a second goal a minute later, this time Cathal Finnegan found the net after corner back Brian Maguire made a surging run.
Dunshaughlin improved as the half progressed but still found themselves 0-6 to 2-6 in arrears at the break.
The introduction of Luke Mitchell heralded a Dunshaughlin revival in the third quarter.
Mitchell, Ben Duggan and Tadhg Ó Dúshlaine all pointed and the sides were level following Matthew Moyles 35th minute goal.
Clarke pointed to restore Seneschalstown’s lead momentarily but Mitchell struck for another Dunshaughlin goal and when Matthew Costello added a point it left it 2-10 to 2-8.
Both Brian Sheridan and Alan Mulvany made an impression when introduced to the action for Seneschalstown with Sheridan’s point drawing the sides level on 54 minutes.
Mulvany then pointed his side in front and Seneschalstown held that lead until Mitchell popped up to score his second goal in added time.
Seneschalstown were left to rue missed chances, both before and after Mitchell’s goal, and now face an uphill battle to avoid the relegation play-off.
DUNSHAUGHLIN: Adam McDermott; Oisin Foley, Fergus Toolan, Niall Byrne; David Dunne, Niall Murphy, Adam Kealy; John Crimmins, Ronan Geraghty; Tadhg Ó Dúshlaine 0-1, Matthew Moyles 1-1, Ray Maloney; Wes Goodwin 0-1f, Ben Duggan 0-3, Matthew Costello 0-3 (2f). Subs: Tommy Johnson for Geraghty (17), Luke Mitchell 2-2 (1f), for Goodwin (h-t), Caoimhin King for Dunne (46), Niall Hurley for Ó Dúshlaine (48), Cian Gallogly for Maloney (56), Josh Wall for Hurley (62).
SENESCHALSTOWN: Darren Laird; Cathal Hickey, Andrew Collins, Brian Maguire; Adam Carey 0-1, Niall Hickey, Ronan Conneely; Joe Sheridan 0-1, John Smith; Joe Moore 0-1, Bryan Clarke 1-4 (1f), Sean Noonan; Dylan Keating 0-2 (1f), Cathal Finnegan 1-2 (1f), Niall McCabe. Subs: James Meade for Noonan (39), Brian Sheridan 0-1 for Smith (44), Alan Mulvany 0-1 for McCabe (46), Eoin Finnegan for Moore (56).
REF: Keith Sheerin (Drumconrath)
MEATH LONGFORD 5-18 3-10
MEATH qualified for their second Lidl NFL Division 3 decider in as many years following this clearcut semi-final win at Coralstown, Kinnegad on Sunday.
Eamonn Murray’s side had the edge throughout and were seven points clear at the break, 2-11 to 1-7.
However they upped the tempo significantly throughout the second half to win comfortably and set up a final meeting with Sligo with a place in Division 2 at stake.
A foul on St Patrick’s Emma White led to a penalty after just six minutes and Seneschalstown Stacey Grimes made no mistake, to give her side a platform which they didn’t relinquish throughout the game.
The goal left Meath leading 1-3 to 0-1 but Longford remained competitive throughout the half and were back in contention following a goal from Aisling Greene on 17 minutes which left the midlanders trailing by just three points, 1-3 to 1-6.
However Meath finished the half strongly and a goal on the stroke of half-time from Vicki Wall proved to be a timely boost.
The sides exchanged goals in the opening minutes of the second half with Kelsey Nesbitt on target for the Meath girls. Longford though were left with a mountain to climb when Wall struck for a fourth Meath goal.
Minor star Emma Duggan kicked some wonderful points in that second half to finish with a tally of six while Stacey Grimes added Meath’s fifth goal before the finish.
The final is scheduled for a fortnight’s time.
MEATH: M McGuirk; O Duff, S Powderly, S Ennis; S Wall 0-1, A Cleary 0-2, N Gallogly; M O’Shaughnessy, O Lally 0-1; V Wall 2-2, E Duggan 0-6, M Thynne; E White 0-2, K Nesbitt 1-1, S Grimes 2-2 (2f, 1-0 pen). Subs: O Byrne 0-1 for White, K Byrne for Lally, K Newe for O’Shaughnessy, N Sheridan for Powderly.