A late long range point from Paddy O’Rourke sealed victory for Skryne against Donaghmore/Ashbourn in the A league Div 1 fixture in Skryne on Wednesday evening. While heavy showers had threatened this fixture early in the day, the evening turned out to be perfect for a game and both teams did not disappoint serving up a championship standard game. Both sets of backs controlled the game and consequently it was a comparatively low scoring affair particularly in the first half which saw Donaghmore Ashbourn take a two point lead into the break on a score line of 0 – 4 to Skryne’s 0 – 2. The game was 8 minutes old before the east Meath side opened the scoring and it was a further 6 minutes before David McGoldrick found the range and equalized for the Tara men. Donaghmore/Ashbourn had further points on 17, 21 and in the first minute of injury time giving them a lead of 0 – 4 to 0 – 1. This last point from a sideline kick about 35 meters out. However, man of the match, Ian Davis posted a second for Skryne on 32 minutes just before the break.
Scores did not come any quicker in the second half and it was a further seven minutes before Davis got his second and Skryne’s third score. Then, just one minute later Trevor Giles fed Alan Carty with an inch perfect pass who found the in rushing Davis and he made no mistake as he fired to the net. Skryne were now in the lead for the first time in the match but Donaghmore/Ashbourn were not beaten yet and responded with two magnificent points to leave the scores tied with 46 minutes gone. On 50 minutes Skryne went ahead again with the score of the evening. A sideline kick was awarded to Skryne just beyond the 45 meters line which was taken by Davis. With Donaghmore Askbourn making sure that there was no free runners to give and easy pass to, Davis decided to go for the score and it went all the way between the posts. Donaghmore Ashbourn responded with the next two scores to take the lead once again. However it was Davis who once again tied the scores with 57 minutes on the stopwatch. Time was now running out and it looked that a share of the points was on the cards. For those present this would have been fair enough result. However, it was Skryne who came out on top with that late long range point from Paddy O’Rourke and they took a valuable two points in this A league match. This was a very competitive match and both teams gave it their all. While it was a low scoring affair, with both sets of backs in no mood to concede easy scores, some of the scores taken by both sides were top drawer. The match ended Skryne 1 – 6; Donaghmore 0 – 8
Skryne: F. O’Rourke, T. McKeown, M. Mulvany, D Morley, J. Looby, C Lenehan, A. O’Sullivan, A Tuite, D. McGoldrick (1), K O’Reilly, T. Giles, I. Davis (1 – 4), A. Carty, P. O’Rourke (1), M. Battersby.
Referee Richard Morris (Blackhall Gaels)
