Skryne 0 – 11
Blackhall Gaels 0 – 9
Skryne overcame Blackhall Gaels in the Seamus Connolly Catering Div 1 All County A League played on Monday evening in the Kilcloon pitch. Skryne started without many of their regulars. Ciaran Lenihan is still unable to play after the knock he received in Pairc Tailteann against Kildare which required overnight hospitalisation. The Mulvany Brothers are also carrying knocks while Ian Davis is currently in America. This gave a number of fringe players a start and they all played well on the evening. Trevor Giles had his first start for the Skrynemen and having him available must surely give manager Barney Rock much satifisfaction as he was very instrumental in this win. The game was played in a strong breeze on a very substandard pitch which limited the amount of freeflowing football that one might expect from these two sides. It’s difficult to understand the decision of Blackhall to play the match in Kilcloon when their first pitch in Batterstown was available. The decision ultimatley affected them more as it was the Skryne men who adjusted better to the poor conditions. The Gaels had the strong wind for the first half and they made good use of it as they raced into a 5 pts to nil advantage, four from frees, in the first quarter. Paddy O’ Rourke then pointed a free for Skryne but this was quickly cancelled out by Blackhall with a free at the other end. Just befor the half ended O’Rourke pointed his second to leave the score at half-time 6 pts to 2 in favour of the Blackhall men.
Within a minute of the resumption O’Rourke was on target with a 45, but once again this was cancelled out with a very well taken free against the wind to leave the score at 7 pts to 3. However, Blackhall did not score again for the next 15 minutes while Skryne had points from O’ Rourke, a free and a 45, as well as one from play. Mark Battersby and David McGoldrick also got in on the act. This put Skryne ahead for the first time in the game. Blackhall equalised again before O’Rourke restored the lead with ten minutes left to play. With six minutes remaining the teams were once again level on 9 pts each, but it was the Skryne men who finished stronger with two more pts from O’ Rourke who finished with a peronsan tally of nine. While O’Rourke was undoubtally man of the match others who played well on the night were Thomas McKeown, Trevor Giles and Mark Battersby.
Skryne: F.O’Rourke, D Morley, J. Looby, M. Jordan, T. McKeown, A. Carty, J Hegarty, A. Tuite, D McGoldrick, P. O’Rourke (9), T. Giles, P. Fox (1), R. McCabe, B Byrne, M Battersby (1), Subs -A O’Sullivan (54 Min), B. Farrell for J Hegarty (58min),
