Skryne too strong for Na Fianna
Skryne 0-17 Na Fianna 2-08
Feis Cup. Group B – Round 3
After a sobering defeat to Simonstown last time out, Skryne needed a good performance in Fr McManus Park to get things back on track. Skryne lined out without Ciarán Lenehan and Darragh Campion but welcomed back Tommy Carpenter who lined out at midfield alongside Harry Rooney.
Na Fianna opened the scoring with Daniel Queeney opening his account with a point from play. Conor O’Brien was first to etch his name on the scoresheet with Skryne’s opener. Two Paddy Fox points both with Harry Rooney assists sandwiched two Na Fianna points from Jamie Queeney and Ciarán McDonnell. Paddy Carpenter managed to shrug off the close attention of three Na Fianna defenders to convert a point from in front of the goals. Skryne were hit with a sucker punch on 14 mins when Jamie Queeney fielded a high ball in the square, turned on a dime and shot low past Des McAvinney. Luke Kelly added another just before the water break to leave a goal between the sides.
Skryne were quick to pull back two more points with Conor O’Brien firing over a fine point from the right hand side and then when Mark Battersby was caught with a high challenge around the neck, Padraig Finnerty stepped up to slot over the free. Stephen O’Brien superbly dispossessed a Na Fianna player in the half back line before moving the ball forward to Padraig Finnerty who was enjoying a good outing at centre forward. Finnerty slipped the ball to Mark Battersby who sidefooted over from a tight angle on the left hand side of the goal. Skryne had a great chance to extend their lead when a Bryan Davis pointed effort struck the posts and fell into the grateful hands of Conor O’Brien. OB was dragged to the ground as he took aim for the goal and the referee blew the whistle to award a penalty to Skryne. P Finnerty stepped up to take the penalty but was denied by a great save from the Na Fianna keeper who parried the ball back towards Finnerty. Finnerty was quick to react with a volley which was again repelled by the Na Fianna keeper Shane Geraghty. Bryan Davis hit a beauty from long rage to edge Skryne ahead, but Na Fianna equalised from a free after Jamie Queeney was fouled on the edge of the penalty area. Skryne rode their luck in first half injury time when Jamie Queeney broke in on the left hand side of the Skryne penalty area and struck a powerful shot which was superbly kept out by Des McAvinney. The rebound landed in the centre of the goalmouth and a scramble ensued with Skryne just about managing to clear their lines. Down the other end, Padraig Finnerty notched up his second point of the game to see Skryne lead at half time by 0-09 to 1-05.
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Timmy Lennon came on as a substitute at half time and immediately set about making his mark on the game. His first foray forward saw him win a free which was tapped over by Padraig Finnerty in the opening minute of the half. Bryan Davis then sent a delicious ball into Mark Battersby who was fouled and Finnerty again stepped up to slot over the free. Shane Smyth, another half time sub made a superb incisive run through the heart of the Na Fianna defence before laying off to Conor O’Brien who fisted over as Skryne took control of the game. Another fine slide-rule pass from Stephen O’Brien to Paddy Carpenter, who was impressive at full forward, saw Carpenter get his second point of the game as he shot over on the half turn. Na Fianna picked off their first point of the second half when Jack McNally slotted over. Carpenter was on hand again on the 13th minute when he caught a mark near the left hand side touchline. He saw the run of Stephen O’Brien who had managed to sneak up the pitch unmarked and into the Na Fianna penalty area. Carpenter hit a fine pass to O’Brien who found himself one on one with the keeper. He hit a deft shot with the outside of his boot past the advancing Shane Geraghty but agonisingly wide of the right hand side of the post. From the kickout Na Fianna worked the ball up the pitch. As they advanced on the Skryne rear-guard, the man in possession looked to have hopped the ball twice before passing it to Jamie Queeney on the left hand side. Queeney lobbed the ball into the small square where Owen McDonnell arrived to punch the ball to the back of the Skryne net. Despite Skryne’s dominance in the third quarter, they now found themselves just a single point ahead as the game paused for the water break.
Second half substitute Niall Finnerty got his name on the scoresheet with a free from the right hand side. Na Fianna added two more points from Jack McNally and Damien Downey to level matters on the 22nd minute. However, they were to be their last scores of the game and Skryne finished strongly with three points from play, one from Niall Finnerty and the other two from Mark Battersby who was in brilliant form all evening. Final score: Skryne 0-17, Na Fianna 2-08.
Skryne: Des McAvinney; Niall Lenehan, Robbie Clarke, Eoghan Greene; Stephen O’ Brien, David McGoldrick, Kristoffer Kinsella; Harry Rooney, Tommy Carpenter; Paddy Fox(0-2), Padraig Finnerty(0-4, 3fs), Conor O’Brien(0-3); Bryan Davis(0-1), Paddy Carpenter(0-2), Mark Battersby(0-3)
Subs used: Timmy Lennon, Shane Smyth, Niall Finnerty(0-2, 1f), Michael Doherty, Colm Doherty
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