SFC Grp A, Round 3. Seneschalstown 2-15 Skryne 2-11

Seneschalstown 2-15 Skryne 2-11

Fairyhouse Steel Meath GAA Senior Football Championship Group A, Round 3

Skryne looked odds on to snatch victory in this Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship third round fixture as they came from five points down to draw level as the game entered injury time. With their tails up Skryne were marauding downfield in search of a winning score as Seneschalstown staggered against the ropes. However Seneschalstown intercepted a Skryne pass and the ball was kicked long to Cathal Finnegan who turned brilliantly and sent the ball past the onrushing Ian Gillett, a power punch that sent Skryne tumbling to the canvas. Skryne’s tormentor in chief finished things off with a pointed free which left no way back for the Skryne men.

Skryne came into this game with two wins under their belt, knowing a third win would all but assure them of a quarter final place. The opening half was uninspiring with scores hard to come by for both sides. Ian Gillett was called into action as early as the third minute when he saved well from Dylan Keating. Ian Davis put Skryne ahead with a point on six minutes. He almost got Skryne’s first goal a minute later but his shot cannoned off the post. Seneschalstown levelled matters before Skryne again were denied by the woodwork when a bullet of a shot from Darragh Campion hit the underside of the crossbar and almost crossed the line before bouncing back out where Paddy O’Rourke was on hand to fist over. Seneschalstown took control for the remainder of the half tacking on five points without a response until the 29th minute when Paddy O’Rourke pointed a free for Skryne to leave three between the sides. Mark Battersby was then hauled to the ground in the Seneschalstown penalty area giving the ref an easy decision when pointing to the spot. O’Rourke made no mistake with the penalty as he drew Skryne level on the stroke of half time. Seneschalstown 0-6, Skryne 1-3.

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Seneschalstown took to the field in determined mood as the second half resumed and Ian Gillett was again called into action when he superbly tipped over from a Joe Sheridan piledriver. Bryan Clarke stretched Seneschalstown’s lead with a fine long range free. Paddy O’Rourke pulled one back for Skryne before Mark Battersby bagged Skryne’s second goal on the 38th minute to send them into the lead by two points. Seeneschalstown hit an immediate response when Brian Sheridan wriggled away from the Skryne defence and fired past Gillett. Mark Batts pulled one back for Skryne, but Seneschalstown hit five points in a row to put them in what seemed like an unassailable lead. Skryne had other ideas as they staged a spirited fightback with Paddy O’Rourke(0-2), Colm Doherty, Ciarán Lenehan, Daragh Campion and Mark Battersby all finding the target with only a single response from Seneschalstown as Skryne drew level. It was then that Finnegan rose to break Skryne hearts. Final Score: Seneschalstown 2-15, Skryne 2-11.

Skryne: Ian Gillett; Robbie Clarke, Mark Harrington, Niall Lenehan; Darren Fox, Stephen O’Brien, David Carroll; Harry Rooney, David McGoldrick; Conor O’Brien, Darragh Campion(0-1), Ian Davis(0-1); Jason Reddy, Patrick O’Rourke(1-5, 1 pen, 2fs), Mark Battersby(1-2)

Subs: Patrick Fox, Ciaran Lenehan(0-1), Eoin Smyth, Eoghan Greene, Colm Doherty(0-1)

Seneschalstown: David Lyons; Conor Cowley, John Smith, Brian Maguire; Adam Carey, Cathal Hickey(0-1), Ronan Conneely; Niall Hickey, Stephen Finnegan(0-1); Alan Mulvany(0-1), Joe Sheridan(0-1), Bryan Clarke(0-4,3fs, 1 ’45’); Dylan Keating, Brian Sheridan(1-2, 1f), Cathal Finnegan(1-5, 3fs)

Subs: Simon Rooney, Joe Moore, Niall McCabe, James Meade