Big Joe is the Furze hero at both ends
SENESCHALSTOWN 1-15
RATHKENNY 1-14
COUNTY reserve keeper Joe Sheridan blocked a penalty in added time as Seneschalstown leap-frogged Rathkenny at the lower end of the league table last Friday evening.
In a sensational ending to a hard-fought encounter Sheridan replaced David Gordon between the posts for the spot kick, awarded for a foul on Caolach Halligan.
Sheridan managed to turn Jack Gore’s effort around the post and then his brother Damien plucked the resultant ‘45 out of the sky and prevented it from going over the bar for the equalising score. That ‘45 was taken by Halligan who had converted one earlier in the match.
With both sides involved in the relegation battle it was a game neither could afford to lose. It was nip and tuck throughout in a game which was played with a remarkable intensity.
Rathkenny, who finished with 14 after having James Macken red-carded in the closing stages, led 1-7 to 0-8 at half-time, with their goal arriving two minutes before the break when Ivan Lenehan palmed to the net from a Stephen Crosbie delivery.
Halligan, who was the most impressive player on view, accounted for four opening-half points for Rathkenny, including two from play.
That Rathkenny lead didn’t last long in the second half, though, as Brian Sheridan reduced the deficit from a free and then Joe produced a moment of magic as he flicked the ball to the Rathkenny net.
The home side replied with a point before Seneschalstown had scores from Bryan Clarke, Cathal Finnegan and Brian Sheridan (free) to strengthen their grip on proceedings.
Rathkenny eventually got the lead back to the minimum before Ross Howard hit what proved to be Seneschalstown’s winning score.
Halligan had Rathkenny’s last point on 51 minutes and they then had an opportunity of a share of the spoils from that late penalty, but he decided to go for the win and Joe Sheridan got in the way. RATHKENNY: Andrew Finney; Niall Brannigan, Ross Gore, Joe Gore; Cathal McCabe, Christy Meade, Stephen Crosbie; Brian Meade 0-1, James Macken 0-2; Ivan Lenehan 1-0, Jack Gore 0-3 (2f), Caolach Halligan 0-7 (2f, 1 ‘45); Keith Timmons 0-1, Derek Smith, Brian Lenehan. Subs: Graham Brennan for Smith, Mark Byrne for McCabe.
SENESCHALSTOWN: David Gordon; Conor Cowley, John Smith, David Matthews; Niall McCabe, Cormac Noonan, Adam Carey; Niall Groome, Damien Sheridan; Ross Howard 0-1, Brian Sheridan 0-5 (4f), Brian Maguire 0-1; Cathal Finnegan 0-3 (1f), Bryan Clarke 0-3 (1f), Joe Sheridan 1-2. Sub: Ronan Conneely for B Sheridan.