JMB Sportsfield Services Feis Cup, Group D - Round 3. Wolfe Tones 1-15 Skryne 1-07

Wolfe Tones 1-15 Skryne 1-07

Wolfe Tones produced a strong display against Skryne in Gibbstown to ease to victory in the final group game which was to some extent a ‘dead rubber’ as Summerhill would finish as group winners regardless of the outcome of this game.

Niall Finnerty opened the scoring with a point inside the opening minute of the game. However, Tones hit the next four points in a row as Skryne went 22 minutes without recording a score. Niall Finnerty added Skryne’s second point from a free after brother Padraig was fouled. Two more points from the Tones extended their lead to five points with less than a minute remaining in the half. An eventful end to the half saw Skryne poach a goal when the full-forward line pressurised the Wolfe Tones full-back into kicking a crossfield ball towards his goalkeeper. Andrew Canavan reacted quicker and stole in and secured possession ahead of the goalkeeper before squaring the ball to Niall Finnerty whose right-footed shot dipped into the back of the Wolfe Tones net. A Mark Battersby free levelled matters 2 minutes into injury time. Tones edged ahead again when they attacked forward and were stopped in their tracks by Ciarán Lenehan who fell victim to a black card. Joe Smith made no mistake with the free and Tones left the pitch with a half-time lead of Wolfe Tones 0-07, Skryne 1-03.

Tones started the second half in blistering fashion scoring 1-03 inside the opening eight minutes with SaranO’Fionnagain and Oisín Martin hitting the points before Aaron Tolan received the ball in the Skryne square, turned and fired a bullet of a shot into the top corner of the Skryne net. Mark Battersby did point a free for Skryne. Pointed frees from Niall Finnerty and Caolán Ward saw Tones lead by seven points midway through the half. Two more points from goal-scorer Aaron Tolan extended Tones lead to nine points before two Niall Finnerty frees reduced the deficit to seven. Wolfe Tones full-back Shane Glynn fired over with the last kick of the game to give Tones a comfortable victory. Full-time: Wolfe Tones 1-15, Skryne 1-07.

With Meath Senior Darragh Campion and the Meath U20 contingent all absent today along with a number of other members of the first team squad, Skryne took the opportunity to give a number of young players a run in the team today with Robert Gallagher, James Reeves, Andrew Canavan and David Rathbourne all starting while Niall Morland, Ciarán Fox and Mark Swan also made appearances in the second half.

Skryne young guns: Ciarán Fox, James Reeves, Andrew Canavan, Robert Gallagher and David Rathborne

Skryne: Cian Donohoe; Niall Lenehan, Andrew Moore, Frank Carty; David Rathborne, Patrick Fox, James Reeves; Ciarán Lenehan, Robert Gallagher; Padraig Finnerty, Harry Rooney, Andrew Canavan; Mark Battersby, Niall Finnerty, Neil Burke.

Subs Used: Niall Morland, Mark Swan, Craig Nolan, Ciarán Fox