Meath SFC Final replay/Seneschalstown 0-15 Navan O'Mahony's 0-9:For the second successive year, favourites Navan O'Mahony's have failed to deliver the Meath title. At Páirc Tailteann yesterday Seneschalstown, who had gone so close in the drawn final two weeks earlier, completed the job in some style.
After hitting seven points in the initial encounter, Brian Clarke went two better when converting eight frees as well as putting over a 45.
O'Mahony's paid a heavy price for fouling so much in the scoring area, with Clarke getting on target from a variety of distances and angles. But it was far from a one-man display from Seneschalstown who had very willing workers all over the pitch and showed a bigger appetite for the battle.
On receiving the Keegan Cup winning captain Cormac Quinn revealed manager Damien Sheridan told them early in 2007 they would win the championship this year. "We didn't believe him then but we believe him now," said Quinn.
Seneschalstown were considered outsiders but they kept confounding those who predicted their exit. They were not flattered by the six-point winning margin with the close-marking tactics preventing O'Mahony's from getting into their rhythm.
The winning manager had three sons in action - Joe Sheridan hit a point in each half.
After racing into a 0-4 to 0-1 advantage, Seneschalstown led by 0-8 to 0-4 at the break and Damien Sheridan could have had a goal following a run from midfield but his finish went wide.
Although fielding six players who had figured on Colm Coyle's county side this year, O'Mahony's never looked like justifying their favourites' tag and two of that sextet, Stephen MacGabhann and Cormac McGuinness, were taken off.
Even though All Star Stephen Bray reduced the deficit to two points in the third quarter, Seneschalstown replied with scores each time their lead was threatened.
SENESCHALSTOWN: D Lyons; S Sheridan, A Collins, C Clarke; M Carey (0-2), C Quinn, C Gleeson; R Ruddy, D Sheridan (0-1); C Macken, A McCann, J Cowley; B Clarke (0-9, eight frees, one 45), J Sheridan (0-2), S Clarke (0-1, free). Subs: D Byrne for S Clarke (48 mins), B Sheridan for Cowley (56 mins), J Byrne for C Clarke (60 mins).
NAVAN O'MAHONY'S: K Lane; L Russell, K Reilly, I Matthews; P Quinn (0-1), R Hogan, N McKeigue; S MacGabhann, M Ward (0-2); G O'Brien (0-1), P Smyth (0-1), C McGuinness; D Bray (0-2, one free), B Regan, S Bray (0-2). Subs: N Dunne for MacGabhann (42 mins), D O'Toole for McGuinness (47 mins).
Referee: D Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels).
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