Bad night for the Blues
Seneschalstown 2-15 Skryne 0-15
Senior Football Championship. Group A, Round 2
Goals win games. This old saying was never more true than in this game in Pairc Tailteann this evening especially as the two conceded by Skryne came as a result of unforced errors (as the commentators might say of tennis matches).
Skryne began the match very well and raced into a five points to no score lead after ten minutes against a much more physical Seneschalstown team. But then the Yellow Furze men, who were allowed field with Damien Sheridan in midfield even though he got a straight red card in the previous round, came much more into the game. It was big Damien’s brother Joe who seemed to call all the shots and his encouragement and guile from midfield set up many scores for the winners. They scored a goal and four points to take the lead after 20 minutes but Skryne to their credit fought back and led at the break by 0-10 to 1-5. The Seneschalstown goal coming all the way from their goalie who had gathered a ball which dropped short and after two Skryne defenders went for the same ball it broke nicely for the corner forward to blast to the net. Four of Seneschalstown’s five first half points came from frees – two of which were of the ‘soft’ variety but ultimately it was Skryne’s ‘set piece play’ all over the field which led to their downfall. Free kicks were taken much too slowly and indecisively- and three scorable ones kicked wide.
The second Seneschalstown goal after half time put them back in front after Skryne had again began this half well with two Patrick O’Rourke points putting them four in front. Leading 0-13 to 1-6 when disaster struck again. The goal coming from a Skryne kick out which was gathered out on the wing by Seneschalstown and when kicked back in ended up in the net after a mix up in the Blues defence. It was a lead they held to the final whistle.
There were some excellent points taken by both sides- Skryne scored ten in the first half while Seneschalstown hit ten in the second. Mark Battersby had a great first half scoring five of those points for the Blues and it was baffling to see him having to roam outfield in the second period when the inside forwards were starved of possession.
In defence Stephen O’Brien had an excellent game for Skryne, particularly in the first half, and it was a shame to see him ‘black carded’ when yellow seemed more appropriate.
Skryne – Ian Gillett. Niall Lenehan, Mark Harrington, Mark Jordan. Declan Morley, Ciaran Lenehan, Stephen O’Brien. Aidan Tuite, Harry Rooney. Conor O’Brien (0-2), Paddy Fox, Brian Davis (0-3). Darragh Campion (0-1), Mark Battersby (0-6), Patrick O’Rourke (0-3).
Sub. – John Morley.
