JMB Sportsfield Services Feis Cup, Group D – Round 1. Skryne 0-12, Summerhill 2-10

Goals from Conor Frayne and Barry Dardis were enough to see Summerhill edge this first-round Feis Cup tie in perfect conditions in Fr. McManus Park. Skryne were missing a number of their regular starting line-up and so gave some of the younger players a run-out, with Cian Donohoe lining out in goals, while David Rathborne and James Reeves also started. Ben Armstrong, Conor Donohoe, and Andrew Canavan were introduced as subs in the second half making their debuts with the Senior team.

Summerhill were quickest out of the traps with 2 early points. However, Skryne’s lively full-forward line of John Morley, Niall Finnerty and Mark Battersby soon restored parity with Morley winning an excellent mark ahead of his marker while sliding on his knees before calmly splitting the posts. Niall Finnerty fired over a monstrous point from a narrow angle wide on the right-hand side to level the scores 10 minutes in. Another Summerhill point saw them edge ahead, but a hat-trick of Niall Finnerty points moved Skryne into pole position as the game entered the second quarter. Summerhill pegged Skryne back with a point on the 19th minute before Conor Frayne struck a goal to give Summerhill a 2 point lead. Barry Dardis who had an excellent outing chipped in with a 1-3 in the last 5 minutes of the half to give Summerhill a commanding 8-point lead at half-time. Skryne 0-5, Summerhill 2-7.

Skryne came out with renewed determination in the second half and with the ‘Freezer’ performing well in goals, Andy Moore winning battles against the dangerous Dardis and the rest of the Skryne defence, including Paddy Fox in a new centre-back role, keeping Summerhill at bay while the attack backed up by Rooney and Keogh at midfield began chipping away at the Summerhill lead. Mark Battersby opened the scoring in the first minute of the half with a pointed free. Niall Finnerty utilised the attacking mark when fetching a long pass from Oisín Keogh in front of the Summerhill goals and then converting a simple tap-over. A point from Summerhill 6 minutes into the half was their only score of the third quarter. Meanwhile, Skryne tacked on further points from Niall Finnerty, Neil Burke and the marauding Harry Rooney to see Summerhill’s lead cut to four points midway through the half. This lead was reduced further when Oisín Keogh, who had a superb second half fired over to leave just a goal between the sides. Then Niall Finnerty chipped in with another point and Skryne were looking favourites to reel in the men from South Meath. A goal was what Skryne needed but the Summerhill rearguard were holding firm. Barry Dardis eased the pressure on the visitors with a point, only their second of the half, with 7 minutes remaining. The teams introduced a number of subs at this stage and the game lost some of its momentum, with Skryne’s comeback faltering somewhat as Summerhill just held on, adding a pointed free in injury time to give them a four-point victory.

All in all, it was an entertaining opening game and Skryne will be happy with their second-half performance. With only three teams in the group, Skryne have a bye in Round 2 and will face Wolfe Tones in Round 3 in Kilberry on 19th February 2023.

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