Skryne weather a third quarter storm to secure victory over Simonstown
Skryne 2-09 Simonstown Gaels 1-08
Premier Football Championship. Division 5 – Round 5.
Skryne have come a long way since the opening round of this Championship when they were roundly beaten by Ballinabrackey. Since that bleak trip all the way to the Offaly border, Skryne have maintained an unbeaten run of three wins and one draw to put themselves right back in contention in this division.
The latest instalment; round 5 in Skryne saw the third team face Simonstown. A low scoring first quarter saw Skryne nick only a single point with Seán Cassidy tapping over in front of goals to open Skryne’s account. Simonstown had managed only two points of their own to edge ahead at the first water break. Skryne 0-1, Simonstown Gaels 0-2.
The game improved in the second quarter. Jason Fox added a second point for Skryne to level the game. Simonstown then hit a fine goal when their right half forward broke through the Skryne defence and hit powerful shot past the advancing Skryne keeper James Keane. Jason Fox and Aidan Gill added two more points for Skryne leaving only the minimum between the sides. On the stroke of half time, Allan Carty hit a long range shot which dipped into the Simonstown penalty area. Alex Grendon stuck a fist up in the air and punched the ball to the back of the Simonstown net to send Skryne into a half-time lead of Skryne 1-04, Simonstown Gaels 1-02.
[metaslider id=18622]
Skryne started the second half as they had finished the first, with a goal, this time from Felim O Rourke who got hold of the ball to the right hand side of the Simonstown area. He held off the challenge of the Simonstown full back before blasting an unstoppable shot past the Simonstown keeper. He followed this up with a point from play a minute later. Skryne now had a six point cushion, but the men from Simonstown were not going to lie down. A hat-trick of points saw them eat into the deficit. A Felim O’Rourke pointed free briefly stopped the onslaught, but three more unanswered points left only two between the sides at the second half water break. Skryne 2-06, Simonstown Gaels 1-07.
Simonstown were back within a single point after they opened the scoring in the fourth quarter, but the Skryne defence held firm from then on. Meanwhile at the other end Skryne racked up a hat-trick of points themselves as they put the game to bed with Jason Fox, Niall Morley and Felim O’Rourke firing over to ensure victory for Skryne. Skryne 2-09, Simonstown Gaels 1-08.
Skryne: James Keane; Shane McEnroy, Paul McGoldrick, Paddy O’Leary; Ciarán Finnerty, Ronan McCabe, Colm McLoughlin; Alex Grendon (1-0), Mark Harrington; Jason Fox (0-3), Allan Carty, Seán Cassidy (0-1); Aidan Gill (0-1), Felim O’Rourke (1-3, 1f), Bryan Clarke.
Subs Used: Niall Morley (0-1), Alan Tuite, Bryan Smyth, Oisín Coyle
–
