Seamus Connolly Catering A League. Division 1A – Round 2. Skryne 2-12, St. Peter’s, Dunboyne 1-15

Dunboyne nick a share of the spoils with a pointed free with the last kick of the ball in an exciting game in Skryne.

This Round 2 match was originally scheduled to be played in mid-March but was canceled due to the poor weather. The weather was perfect tonight and both teams produced some entertaining football in a close competitive game.

Skryne set off at a blistering pace, plundering two goals in the first 5 minutes to leave Dunboyne reeling. The first came after Harry Rooney rose highest to catch a kick out from Ciarán Lenehan who lined out in goals for Skryne. Rooney, Shane Smyth and Paddy Fox exchanged passes before the latter delivered a ball into Oisín Keogh in the full-forward line. Keogh used his muscle to work his way into the penalty area from the right-hand side before hitting a low shot to the bottom right corner of the net. Dunboyne’s midfielder slotted over a point before Skryne struck again. Skryne had been penalised for taking too long to kick the ball out after the Dunboyne score. Referee Patrick Coyle threw the ball up. Harry Rooney won the throw-up and moved the ball to John Finnerty. Finnerty sent a delicious ball into Ian Davis in the full forward line. Davis burst past his man before blasting an unstoppable shot to the roof of the Dunboyne net. Dunboyne popped over a free to register their second score of the game. The sides exchanged scores with Andrew Canavan and Ian Davis (a free) adding to Skryne’s tally while Dunboyne added two of their own to leave the score Skryne 2-02, St. Peters, Dunboyne 0-4 at the midway point of the half.

The second quarter was all Dunboyne who hit 1-5 without a reply from Skryne, the goal coming from Donal Lenihan who initially lofted a ball across the small square to the in-rushing Cathal Lacey. Ciarán Lenehan managed to fist the ball away, but after a brief skirmish in the Skryne penalty area, Lenihan got hold of the ball again and fired it to the back of the Skryne net. Ian Davis stopped the rot with 3 minutes remaining in the half when he pointed a free for Skryne to leave just a goal between the sides at the break. Half-time: Skryne 2-03, St. Peter’s, Dunboyne 1-09.

Mark Battersby came on for Skryne in the second half and with his first play, won a free for Skryne, which Ian Davis sent over. Dunboyne added two from play, but Davis was on target a further three times with two frees and one from play from the left of the ‘D’ as Skryne began to reel Dunboyne in. John Finnerty and Shane Smyth were next to add their names to the scoresheet as Skryne took the lead 11 minutes into the half. Dunboyne were denied twice in quick succession by Ciarán Lenehan in the Skryne goals midway through the half. He parried the first shot onto the post before scooping up the rebound and clearing his lines. The second was a vicious shot from a tight angle on the right-hand side of the small square, which Lenny stood firm and blocked away. Two more frees for each team, Skryne’s coming from the reliable boot of that man Ian Davis saw Skryne continue to hold a slender 1-point advantage as the game moved into the last 5 minutes. Dunboyne leveled matters with just 3 minutes remaining. But Ian Davis landed a monstrous kick from a 45 to edge Skryne ahead again a minute into injury time. However, Dunboyne won possession deep in their own territory. They moved the ball forward quickly and won a free in front of the Skryne goal. Donal Lenihan slotted the free over to equalise and Patrick Coyle immediately blew the full-time whistle to see the game end in dead-lock. Skryne 2-12, St. Peter’s, Dunboyne 1-15.

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