Seamus Connolly Catering A League. Division 1A – Round 4. Skryne 1-09, Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-11

Despite a good second half from Skryne, mistakes and unnecessary frees were to catch up with them when Donaghmore/Ashbourne poached a goal with only three minutes remaining in the game to snatch a victory over the Taramen.

In a relatively close first half, Skryne found themselves five points down at half-time due to the concession of numerous frees in scoreable positions and with Donaghmore/Ashbourne’s free takers in top form, this was to prove costly as they converted seven frees in the opening half along with just two from play.

Skryne opened the brighter with Mark Battersby hitting a double inside the opening two minutes. Donaghmore/Ashbourne converted the first of their frees in the third minute before Padraig Finnerty hit a fine log-range point from wide on the right-hand side. Donaghmore/Ashbourne added two more before Ian Davis fired over Skryne’s fourth point in the 13th minute, their last score of the half. Donaghmore/Ashbourne levelled matters midway through the half. The second quarter saw the mistakes take over for Skryne. The concession of 5 scoreable frees, each converted by Donaghmore/Ashbourne, coupled with a succession of Skryne wides saw the Moores retire to the dressing room at half-time with a commanding lead. Half-time: Skryne 0-04, Donaghmore/Ashbourne 0-09.

Skryne looked like a different team in the second half. The introduction of talisman Ciarán Lenehan was a factor as Skryne immediately set about reducing the deficit and they were rewarded quickly after good work from Ciarán Quinn, who was making his debut for the Skryne Seniors, won possession and laid it off to the aforementioned Lenny who picked out James Reeves in the Donaghmore/Ashbourne penalty area. Reeves made no mistake when he drove his shot into the roof of the net. A hat-trick of points for Mark Battersby saw Skryne take the lead. A Ciarán Lenehan long-distance shot at goal looked to be dropping short but it bounced up and over the bar to extend Skryne’s lead to two points. This lead increased to three as the game approached the midpoint of the half when Batts tapped over a free, which was to be Skryne’s last score of the game. Skryne’s defence were in mean form in the second half and Donaghmore/Ashbourne were finding it much harder to find scores. Indeed it was the 18th minute of the half before they registered their first score, a point from yet another free. They added another pointed free with six remaining to reduce the deficit to just a single. Their centre-back had a chance to level matters on the 26th minute but his shot was off target. He made up for this a minute later as Skryne bungled the kick out and conceded a free which was quickly taken to the number 6 who had found space in the left corner. He advanced on the Skryne goal before hitting a powerful shot low to the left-hand corner of the Skryne net to give Donaghmore/Ashbourne the lead. Skryne pushed forward in search of a goal but the Donaghmore/Ashbourne defence held firm and secured the two-point victory.

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