A League Division 3a – Round 5. Skryne 1-14 Gaeil Colmcille 4-08

Despite a good performance from the Skrynemen, the concession of four goals was to prove costly and ultimately was the winning of the game for Gaeil Colmcille.

Skryne hit the ground running when referee Stephen Cregan threw the ball in, in yesterday evening’s A League Division 3A, Round 5 game with Mark Swan opening the scoring with a point inside the opening minute. Neil Burke added a pointed free. With only four minutes on the clock Stephen O’Brien made a run forward from midfield and dispatched the ball into the top left corner of the Gaeil Colmcille net. Craig Nolan added Skryne’s third point and Skryne looked to be cruising. However, Gaeil Colmcille, who had been struggling to get out of their own half in the early stages of the game won possession in the Skryne half and launched an attack which culminated in Alex Williams striking a shot which hit the underside of the crossbar before rattling the back of the Skryne net. This began a pattern which continued throughout the game. Each time Skryne looked like they were gaining control of the game, Gaeil Colmcille hit a goal which brought them right back into the game. Barry Farrelly and Zak Griffin added two points for the Kellsmen leaving only the minimum between the sides. Aidan Tuite and Neil Burke pushed the lead back out to three and then Gaeil Colmcille struck again, this time it was Barry Farrelly who found the back of the Skryne net to draw Gaeil Colmcille level. Neil Burke hit two points on the trot for Skryne, the first a free, the second a delicious shot with the outside of his boot from wide on the right hand side. A point each from Barry Farrelly and Stephen O’ Brien ensured the gap remained at two points as the half time whistle sounded. Skryne 1-08, Gaeil Colmcille 2-03.

Neil Burke extended Skryne’s lead with a point inside the opening minute of the half.. Barry Farrelly replied with a pointed free. Gaeil Colmcille were reduced to 14 men with around 20 minutes still to play. The odds looked to be stacked in Skryne’s favour. However, it was Kells who responded best to the sending off, hitting a third goal when Gary Arkins rifled a shot to the Skryne net to see them take the lead for the first time in the game.  Skryne didn’t panic and Timmy Lennon shot over to level matters again. A Neil Burke free saw Skryne edge ahead again, but then came goal number four from Fionn Smith who was rewarded for making an excellent run forward from his wing back position to get on the end of a Gary Arkins pass and palmed the ball to the net. Neil Burke and Jack O’Donnell hit two points for Skryne to level the game again. Barry Farrelly and Mark Harrington added a point each, but it was Gaeil Colmcille who finished the strongest hitting three points without a reply to earn a hard fought victory over the boys in blue.

Skryne – Seán Clarke; Scott Armstrong, Andrew Moore, Kristoffer Kinsella; Frank Carty, Tommy Carpenter, Jack Swan; Stephen O’Brien(1-1), Jack O’Donnell(0-1); Paddy Carpenter, Neil Burke(0-7, 5fs), Niall Morland; Mark Swan(0-1), Aidan Tuite(0-1), Craig Nolan(0-1).

Subs used – Timmy Lennon(0-1), Mark Harrington(0-1), Billy Reilly.

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