Sheridan’s family fortunes key to Seneschalstown title hopes

IT’S A measure of the impact one family has had on the club that Seneschalstown has gained the affectionate moniker Sheridanstown.

Playing family fortunes on county final day is admittedly nothing new in Meath. When Dunshaughlin claimed the Keegan Cup for three seasons from 2000 no less than six Kealy brothers were integral to the successes.

The difference with Seneschalstown is that the Sheridan clan have a man on the line too in manager Damien senior.

Three of his sons, Joe, Brian and Damien Jnr shore up midfield and attack while two cousins, Gerry and Stephen, are defensive stalwarts.

So far the family have one county title to their name from 2007.

The prospect of adding a second this season looked slim after championship group stage losses to St Pat’s and Donaghmore/Ashbourne coupled with a draw with Simonstown. But after sneaking through to the quarter-finals on scoring difference they re-ignited their season with a quarter-final demolition of Skryne before narrowly overcoming Summerhill.

It’s been a patchy campaign and if they’re to overcome 2006 champions Wolfe Tones in tomorrow’s final the impact of the collective family unit will never be as crucial.

“We kept our heads down all along and just scraped through to the quarter-final,” said Damien Sheridan Junior, the club’s midfielder.

“We were lucky to come through the group stage on scoring difference. But there’s a good spirit and belief and the panel has been pushing each other on. But none of what happened up to this point matters on the day. When the whistle blows it’s all about on the day. We’ve got to be able to produce it on the day.”

It remains to be seen how the semi-final debacle between Tones and holders Navan O’Mahony’s will impact on proceedings. The final was meant to be played last weekend but had to be postponed due to an anticipated objection — which never materialised — from O’Mahony’s following their semi-final replay defeat.

Manager Damien Sheridan senior is of the opinion that Tones, powered by the scoring threat of Meath’s Cian Ward, are final favourites despite the fatiguing semi-final battle.

“In my book Wolfe Tones will have to be favourites because of the way they are playing,” he said.

“Cathal Ó Bric has them flying fit and raring to go, they are going to be very tough.

“They build on a solid defence and on hard work. With players like Cian Ward they are capable of capitalising on any mistake. They have a great balance with size in the right place, hard grafters and flair in all the right areas. They have a great mix.”

The mistake Tones could easily make, however, is to think Seneschalstown are a one family band. Brian Clarke, the hero of their last county success hit 1-2 in the quarter-final win over Skryne and nailed the winner from a ‘45 in the semi-final against Summerhill.

“They have some great players in Brian Clarke, the three Sheridan brothers, Mark Carey and Joe Cowley,” praised Tones manager Ó Bric. “They have lads all over the field that will hurt you.”

* Meath SFC final: Seneschalstown v Wolfe Tones, Páirc Tailteann, 3pm.