Donamore/Askbourn 3 – 11
Skryne 1 – 8
Needing a win after their surprise defeat last week to St. Patrick’s Donaghmore Ashbourn took the points in style in this Senior Football Championship match in Ratoath on Saturday evening. The match, which started late as no referee turned up, seemed to be heading for a draw with 55 minutes gone and the sides on 1- 7 each when things went badly wrong for the Skryne men. A point put Don/Ash ahead, then with Skryne missing a chance to equalise the ball was cleared out of defence and with a brilliant sweeping movement the ball was swiftly moved downfield before being blasted to the back of the net with three minutes normal time left to play. Taking inspiration from this the East Meath side posted a further three points without reply. Four minutes additional time was played when Mark Battersby replied with a point for Skryne. However from the kick-out once more the crowd were treated to another sweeping movement the length of the pitch which resulted in another goal.
For much of this match Skryne were playing catch-up. They only led briefly at the start of the match when Kevin Reilly won a great ball out on the left wing and beat a number of backs before slotting over with two minutes gone. A number of Skryne players had chances to push further ahead however the game was level at 0-1 apiece after six minutes. A minute later Don/Ash were ahead for the first time in the match and were never led after that. With twenty minutes on the clock they posted their first goal. Conor O’Brien got a point back for Skryne immediately and Paddy O’Rourke further reduced the arrears a minute later. A point for Don/Ash made the score 1 – 3 to 0 – 3, but points from Paddy Fox and Paddy O’Rourke left only the minimum in it. However two further points for Don/Ash saw them go in at half time a goal up at 1 – 5 to 0 – 5.
Joseph O’Brien
Skryne PRO
Don/Ash increased this lead on 33 minutes but Ian Davis pulled one back for Skryne. Then on 36 minutes Kevin Mulvany drove home a loose ball to tie up the scores at 1 – 6 each. Over the next twenty minutes both sides scored a point each but Skryne had most of the available chances including one from Kevin Mulvany which struck the crossbar. However it was not to be their day and Donaghmore picked up the two points they needed to stay in this year’s championship.
Skryne: F. O’ Rourke, N Lehehan, M. Mulvany, D. Brennan, P. Fox(1) , C. Lenehan, R. McCabe, D McGoldrick, H. Rooney, P.O’Rourke (2), M Battersby(1), I. Davis (1), C. O’Brien(1) , K. Mulvany (1-0), K. Reilly (2)
