The ability of Wolfe Tones to get goals coupled with Skryne’s difficulty in the same department was the main difference between these two teams in the first round of this years senior championship. The game had an early throw-in at Páirc Táilteann on Sunday and playing into a strong wind in the first half Skryne looked to have the better of their opponents in the first twenty minutes or so. Non-the-less they still fell behind by four points to one in this period. Paddy O’Rourke scored from a 45 on eight minutes while Cian Ward (3) and Alan Calaghan scored for the Oristown side. With twenty five minutes on the clock the game saw its first goal. A Tones attack was broken up but the ball was retrieved close to the corner. Skryne thought they should have had a free for over holding, however the ball was neatly flicked by Cillian O’Brien to Eanna Harrington who scored from close in. Skryne lost their full backCiaran Lenehan in this attack and this had a huge bearing on the remainder of the game. While they scored two more points before the break , Cian Ward put over another to make the half time score Skryne 0 – 3, Wolfe Tones 1 – 5.
Skryne however were not out of it yet and in the first six minutes of the second period they scored three points from Ian Davis (2) and Brian Davis to make it a two point game. However, with forty minutes on the clock a long ball into the Tones full forward line saw Fiachra Ward with a one-on-one with Thomas McKeown and he found the back of the net. Brian Davis posted a point for Skryne but this was quickly cancelled out by Cian Ward and then not to be outdone by his younger brother Ward put another ball in the Skryne net leaving the score at Skryne 0 – 7 Wolfe Tones 3 – 6. Skryne posted three more points from Ian Davis, Kevin Mulvany and Mark Battersby, but Ciaran McLoughlin and Eanna Harrington also scored for the opposition to leave the final score at Skryne 0 – 10 Wolfe Tones 3 – 8.
Skryne: I.Gillett, N. Lenehan, C. Lenehan, D, Morley, D. McGoldrick, T, McKeown, S. O’ Brien, A. Tuite, H. Rooney (1), P. Fox, P. O’Rourke (2, 45 &F), I. Davis (2, 1f)), K. Mulvany (1), B. Davis (2), M. Battersby(2). Subs : R. McCabe for Lenehan (25)
Wolfe Tones – D. Nolan; A. McKeown, S. Sheppard (0-1), D. Coleman; N. O’Reilly, S. Glynn, M. Coleman; S. Sheppard, A. Callaghan (1); C. O’Brien, C. Ward (1-4, 0-3fs), E. Harrington (1-0); C. McLoughlin (1), F. Ward (1-1), B. O Fionnagain. Sub: P. Byrne for O’Brien (37).
