4-goal Moores condemn Skryne to third PFC defeat
Donaghmore/Ashbourne 4-09 Skryne 0-08
Meath Cleaning Supplies Premier Football Championship Division 1, Group B – Round 3.
The scoreline at the end of this game was quite flattering for the men from Donaghmore/Ashbourne as this match was a much more even contest than the scoreline suggests. The second Donaghmore/Ashbourne goal killed off the Skryne challenge and two more injury-time goals put a gloss on the scoreboard for the Moores.
In an entertaining first half, it was Skryne who drew first blood inside the opening minute when wing half-back Dermot Brennan attacked forward and struck the first point of the game. Donaghmore/Ashbourne replied with two points from Sam Benville and Killian Hogan before Niall Morland levelled matters for Skryne with super long range point from the right-hand side. Neil Burke tapped over a free midway through the half after John Morley won the ball superbly in front of Donaghmore/Ashbourne full-back Rodney Jones who was forced to foul him in front of the goals. Morley was causing all sorts of problems in the first half and again won possession in the full-forward line before drawing another foul. He pointed this free himself. Skryne looked to be in control of the game, but then Donaghmore/Ashbourne attacked down the left-hand channel before the ball was squared across to Sam Benville who had found some space on the edge of the square. He blasted the ball past Cian Donohoe for their opening goal. Neil Burke levelled matters again with a pointed free after Seán Cassidy was fouled. Killian Hogan edged the Moores ahead again and this lead turned into two points when Darragh Gleeson hit an injury-time point on the stroke of half-time. Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-04, Skryne 0-5.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne started the brighter in the second half and Darragh Gleeson bagged his second point with four minutes on the clock. Five minutes later, Skryne had an excellent goal chance when John Morley advanced on the Donaghmore/Ashbourne goal. He looked to have been fouled on 2 occasions during the move, but the referee allowed play to continue. Morley shifted the ball to Jason Reddy who saw his shot on goal ricochet off the post and away to safety. Donaghmore/Ashbourne counter-attacked up the pitch and a ball into full forward Sam Benville fell kindly and he shot to the back of the net. This was a sucker punch for Skryne who looked certain to draw level but instead saw their opponents increase their lead to six points. John Morley added another free for Skryne, but Killian Hogan replied with a point from play as the game entered the final quarter and Skryne’s challenge began to fade. Darragh Gleeson hit a mammoth free from the right-hand side from the 40 and this was quickly followed by another point from Donaghmore/Ashbourne. Neil Burke and Niall Morland reduced the deficit to six points with eight minutes to go. Gleeson hit another free for Donaghmore/Ashbourne with three minutes remaining. Skryne were pushing everything forward in search of goals, but as the game entered injury time they were caught twice on the counter by Donaghmore/Ashbourne who made the most of their chances scoring two goals to put the icing on the cake as the final whistle sounded. Donaghmore/Ashbourne 4-09, Skryne 0-08.
Skryne now face into a relegation playoff against Ratoath and will hope to secure Division 1 status for next year.
Skryne – Cian Donohoe; Jack Swan, Timmy Lennon, David Rathborne; Dermot Brennan(0-1), David McGoldrick, Ronan McCabe; Niall Morland(0-2), Colm Craigie; Kian Reddy, Neil Burke(0-3,2fs), Jack O’Donnell; Mark Swan, John Morley(0-2, 2fs), Jason Reddy
Subs used – Seán Cassidy, Scott Armstrong, Jason Fox, Niall Lenehan, Darren Fox
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