Still hope for Furze men after big loss
Dunboyne 0-21 Sen’chalst’n 1-12
THIS Dunboyne victory not only secured their place in the knockout stages of the SFC but also that of Donaghmore/Ashbourne and champions Simonstown at Ashbourne on Sunday evening.
Dunboyne will top the group regardless of the outcome of their final match against Dunshaughlin, while the meeting of Ashbourne and Simonstown will determine second and third spot. Defeat for Seneschalstown leaves them needing at least a draw in their final match against Blackhall Gaels to steer clear of the battle against relegation - and on the evidence of this display that should be well within the capability of the Yellow Furze outfit.
This game was effectively over after Dunboyne hit six successive points in a seven-minute spell immediately after half-time to go eight points clear. They had led 0-9 to 0-7 at the break.
Dunboyne extended that lead by three further points before Seneschalstown ended a 22-minute spell without a score after Brian Sheridan hit a free.
The game was beyond them at that stage, but they failed to throw in the towel and closed the gap after Brian Sheridan caught the Dunboyne rearguard dozing by taking a quick free to the net.
Seneschalstown eventually reduced the deficit to five points in the closing stages. They could have got closer, but substitute Dylan Keating flashed an effort across goal when he should at least have hit the target.
Niall Jones opened the scoring in the first minute for Dunboyne, but Seneschalstown had the better of the opening quarter exchanges as they built up a 0-5 to 0-2 lead. Cathal Finnegan was in outstanding form in that spell, hitting a number of wonderful points. When Brian Sheridan pointed on 24 minutes it left it 0-7 to 0-5, but Dunboyne hit the last four points of the half from Robbie McCarthy (two), David McEntee and Stuart Lowndes.
Seneschalstown had no answer to Dunboyne’s excellent start to the second half, but they showed enough spirit to suggest they won’t be involved in the relegation battle.
DUNBOYNE: Cian Flynn; Sean Ryan, Seamus Lavin, Jack Scannell; Conor Doran, Gavin McCoy 0-1, Liam Byrne 0-1; Shane McEntee 0-1, Niall Jones 0-1; Cathal Lacey 0-2, David McEntee 0-2, Stuart Lowndes 0-2; Robbie McCarthy 0-6, Michael Dunne, Donal Lenihan 0-4fs. Subs: Shane Comaskey 0-1 for Lowndes (42), Craig Lowndes for Dunne (49), Michael Murphy for Scannell (53).
SENESCHALSTOWN: David Gordon; Mark Fox, Andrew Collins, Brian Maguire; Niall McCabe, Joe Cowley, Niall Groome; Sean Noonan, Stephen Finnegan; Robert Wogan, Brian Sheridan 1-5 (1-3fs), Niall Lyons; Cathal Finnegan 0-5 (2fs), Joe Sheridan 0-1, Dylan Doyle. Subs: Alan Mulvaney 0-1 for Lyons (h-t), Dylan Keating for Groome (BC 40), James Meade for Cowley (42).