Skryne win relegation battle to stay in Division 1
Skryne 5-15 Seneschalstown 1-13
Premier Football Championship. Division 1 – Relegation Play-off Final.
This Relegation battle was played in bitter cold conditions in Skryne this Wednesday evening. It turned out to be a high scoring entertaining game for the small crowd who braved the cold to support their teams.
Skryne started the match in whirlwind fashion and scored 3 early goals which meant Seneschalstown were always playing catch-up with a mountain to climb. Goals from Jack O’Donnell, John Morley and George Fitzpatrick, who ended with a personal hat-trick, had the Blues well ahead at the first water break and went on to lead at half time by 3-7 to 0-6. This margin could have been much wider had Skryne taken advantage of Seneschalstown’s misfortune to lose a player to a black card on 24 minutes of this first half. But as sometimes happens the 14 men upped their game and outscored Skryne by 4 points to no score just before half time. At this point Skryne conceded four frees which were all converted into scores.
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In fact Seneschalstown began the second half as they finished the first and scored a goal and two points to reduce Skrynes one time lead of 12 points down to a manageable five point difference. Then Skryne’s marksmen got going again to tag on the match winning scores.
Some of the scores from both teams were a joy to watch and left some spectators wondering why these two teams ended in a Relegation playoff. Some of Skryne’s scores in particular caught the eye, with all the goals coming as a result of good combination play or one twos. The first goal came from Jack O’Donnell after Niall Moreland set him up, the second from John Morley sent in by Aidan Tuite, while George Fitzpatrick’s third goal was set up by Kris Kinsella.
All of Skryne’s panel used, played their part to keep the Blues in Division 1 of the Premier Championship for at least another season. Apart from those already mentioned Skryne had excellent performances from Jack Swan, Tommy Kelly and Timmy Lennon in defence, Ronan McCabe going forward, and the experience of Mark Harrington in midfield.
SKRYNE – Des McAvinney. Jack Swan (0-1), Andrew Whyte, Kris Kinsella. George Fitzpatrick (3-0), Timmy Lennon, Tommy Kelly. Aidan Tuite, Mark Harrington. Ronan McCabe (0-3), Niall Moreland (0-3) Jack O’Donnell (1-1). John Morley (1-5), James Hegarty, Jason Reddy.
Subs – Craig Nolan (0-2), Scott Armstrong, Paddy Wright, Billy Reilly and Sean Cassidy.
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