MFL Champions for the second year in a row!
Oldcastle 3-14 Seneschalstown 2-10 (After extra time)
Oldcastle were crowned Minor Football League Division 3 Champions after defeating Seneschalstown in Pairc Tailteann this evening (25 May 2016). The sides were level at 2-9 each at FT resulting in extra time.
The Oldcastle lads needed every second of ordinary time to send the game into extra time, however no one was going to deny the North Meath men a 3rd minor title in just under a year.
Jason Scully opened the scoring with a well taken point and this was followed by a Kyle Kavanagh effort. Oldcastle looked the hungrier in the early stages and a long ball into the square was meet by Ronan Taggart’s fist and he was unlucky that the ball went over the bar instead of in the back of the net. Seneschalstown were on the hunt for scores to stay in touch and they were rewarded when they finished to the net past Oldcastle’s Jack McDonnell Fox. Jason Scully converted a free before Kyle Kavanagh made himself available for a short free and turned onto his favoured left boot to sent the ball over the bar. Keith Connell was covering every inch of the park and despite been named at full back he roamed forward on a number of occasions as Seneschalstown opted to deploy and extra man back in front on Scully. As the first half came to an end Seneschalstown hit a purple patch and added 1-4 to the score board while at the same time keeping Oldcastle scoreless.
H/T: Seneschalstown 2-5 Oldcastle 0-6
The half time talk from mentors Lorcan Fox, Paddy Gilsenan and John Caffrey had the required affect with Ronan Taggart winning the throw in and bursting forward and finished to the net. Cillian Connell who was a half time substitute won the ball on the right hand side of the goals. He played a cheeky ball across the box which was meet by his brother Keith who finished to the net. It was game now as the score board was showing 2-6 apiece. Seneschalstown were not to be out done and hit back with 3 points against a single Oldcastle score from Captain Steven Lawless. The light was now fading and it looked like Oldcastle’s hopes were also disappearing as the clock ticked down. Jason Scully converted a free to give some hope. With time up Oldcastle were awarded a free. The Seneschalstown defenders were trying to distract Jason Scully however this only resulted in Ref Stephen O’Hare moving the ball forward. Scully settled himself and converted to the leave the score 2-9 each at full time.
At that stage Oldcastle would have been happy to be still in the contest and would not have minded if a replay was called. As everyone in the stand looked to the sky to see how dark and if extra time could be played the announcement came that extra time would be played at 7 minutes a half. As the coaches gave the last minute instructions, another announcement was made to confirm extra time would 10 minutes each way.
Oldcastle knew that they had used up all their luck and that a big effort was needed. With 2 minutes gone sub. James P Caffrey used his strength to win the ball and finished to the net. Robert Smith and Jason Scully added points to leave the score Oldcastle 3-11 Seneschalstown 2-9 as the side turned around after 10 minutes. Stephen Lawless was starting to lead by example and was very composed on the ball and was well supported by Oran O’Reilly and Keith Connell who seemed to be popping up all over the field to support his team mates. Oldcastle were now full of confidence and were keep ball as Seneschalstown seemed to have run out of steam and struggled to get procession. When ref. Stephen O’Hare blew the full time whistle it signalled the start of wild celebrations as Oldcastle collected an amazing 3rd minor title in 11 months.
Minor County Board Chairman, John Kavangah, presented the cup to captain Stephen Lawless.
Oldcastle: Jack McDonnell Fox, Mossy Flood, Keith Connell (1-01), Conor Hetherton, Stephen Milmoe, Stephen Lawless (0-1), Lee Healy, Oran O’Reillly, Ronan Taggart (1-01), Dylan Garrigan, Robert Smith (0-1), Colin Hawdon, Kyle Kavanagh (0-2), Jason Scully (0-8), James R Caffrey
Subs: Eoin McCluskey, Cillian Connell, Josh Halpin, Ciaran Smith, James P Caffrey (1-0), Charlie Lynch, Louis Colleran, Karl Gibney
Back Row (L. to R.): Charlie Lynch, James P Caffrey, Ronan Taggart, Robbie Smith, Eoin McCluskey, Karl Gibney, Jack McDonnell fox, Oran O’Reilly, Lee Healy, Stephen Milmoe, James R Caffrey, Cillian Connell, Louis Colleran
Front Row (L. to R.): Conor Hetherton, Dylan Garrigan, Mossy Flood, Colin Hawdon, Stephen Lawless, Jason Scully, Keith Connell, Kyle Kavanagh, John Halpin, Ciaran Smith
www.hoganstand.com/meath Report below
Oldcastle 3-14 Seneschalstown 2-10
Oldcastle needed extra time to see off a stern Seneschalstown challenge to claim the LMFM sponsored Meath Minor Football League Division 3 title at Pairc Tailteann (25 May 2016).
These two teams met in the earlier rounds of the league and Oldcastle recorded a very comfortable win.
The North Meath club settled quickly and raced in to a 0-3 to 0-0 lead with points from Jason Scully, Kyle Kavanagh and Ronan Taggart. Cathal Finnegan brought Seneschalstown right back into proceedings with a well executed goal. His brother Eoin then pushed them ahead with a pointed free.
Oldcastle hit back and fresh from his exploits with the Meath minors last Saturday, Jason Scully hit two quick fire points. Kavanagh added his second and Oldcastle were 0-6 to 1-1 in front with ten minutes remaining.
Seneschalstown dominated the remainder of the half and stunned Oldcastle with 1-4 without reply. The Finnegan’s Eoin (2), Cathal (1) and Mark Horrigan accounted for the points while centre forward Dylan Keating got their second goal on the stroke of half time. Seneschalstown went in at the break 2-6 to 0-6 in front.
It did not take Oldcastle to long to get back in to the game. From the throw in Taggart had the ball in the Seneschalstown net. Five minutes later Keith Connell got in for their second goal and the siders were level after 7 minutes, Seneschalstown 2-6 Oldcastle 2-6.
Eoin Finnegan and the very impressive Alan Mulvany increased Seneschalstown’s lead. Stephen Lawless and Keating traded points and with four minutes left on the clock, it looked like revenge was on the cards for the Yellow Furze men.
Oldcastle were not done. Jason Scully stepped up to the plate and sent over two points to send the game in to extra time, Oldcastle 2-9 Seneschalstown 2-9.
It was all Oldcastle when extra time eventually got under. Substitute James P.Caffrey netted after two minutes and points from Robert Smith and Scully (2) put them 3-11 to 2-9 up at the end of the first 10. The winners outscored a tired Seneschalstown 0-3 to 0-1 in the second half to seal a fine win.
After the game John Kavanagh, Meath Minor Board Chairperson along with Brendan Cummins LMFM presented the MFL Division 3 Cup to Oldcastle captain Stephen Lawless.
Oldcastle scorers: Jason Scully 0-9, Keith Connell and Ronan Taggart 1-1 each, James P Caffrey 1-0, Kyle Kavanagh 0-2, Stephen Lawless 0-1
Seneschalstown scorers: Cathal Finnegan 1-2, Eoin Finnegan 0-4, Dylan Keating 1-1, Alan Mulvaney and Mark Hourigan 0-1 each
Referee: Stephen O’Hare