Skryne’s ambitions it the Senior Football Championship for 2014 came to an end at the hands of old rivals Navan O’Mahony’s in Páirc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon. By the time the eleventh minute had elapsed this match was effectively over as the Navan men had a commanding lead over Skryne when they were ahead by a goal and seven points to no score. In fact it took until the sixteenth minute before Donie Ryan registered Skryne’s first score. This was immediately cancelled out by the Navan men who posted a further two before half time to leave the score at the break Navan O’Mahony’s 1 – 7; Skryne 0 – 2. Skryne’s other score came from Mark Battersby.
On the resumption the Navan side resumed where they left off with another minor on thirty three minutes. Paddy O’Rourke and Brian Davis scored a point each on thirty four and thirty five minutes which was followed by another point from O’Mahony’s. Mark Battersby and Brian Davis gave Skryne further hope with two more minors on thirty seven and thirty eight minutes bringing the score to Navan O’Mahony’s 1 – 12, Skryne 0 – 6. However disaster then struck for the Tara men on thirty nine minutes when they conceded another goal. Just a minute later, Ciaran Lenehan, who by now had moved outfield from his starting position at full back, carried the ball well before unleashing an unstoppable shot which beat the Navan custodian and settle in the corner of the net. However celebrations were short lived as O’Mahony’s again found the Skryne net on forty four minutes.
At this stage Skryne might have been struggling but in that great traditional spirit that they have, they refused to throw in the towel. Paddy O’Rourke, Mark Jordan and Conor O’Brien each posted points between the forty fifth and fiftieth minute. O’Mahony’s scored two more before the end intersected by another point from O’Rourke. With four minutes of normal time left to play Skryne were awarded a penalty which O’Rourke dually dispatched to the net. Ciaran Lenehan finished the scoring with another point to leave just two goals of a difference at the end. Skryne did have a number of further goal chances but were unable to capitalise on them. Final score Navan O’Mahony’s 3 – 14: Skryne 2 – 11.
Skryne F. O’ Rourke, N. Lenehan, C. Lenehan(1), D. Morley, P. Fox, M. Battersby, S O’Brian(1), A. Tuite, H. Rooney (1), D McGoldrick(1), B. Davis(1-1), D. Ryan (1), C.O’Brien(1), P. O’Rourke (6. 1-45), M Battersby
Subs: M. Mulvany for Morley (12), R. McCabe for O’Brien(H/T), M Harrington for Ryan (41), J Morley for McGoldrick (41)
Referee: David Gough, Slane
