Skryne 2 – 11
Duleek Bellewstown 0 – 14
Needing a win, after their loss to Wolfe Tones two weeks ago, Skryne got this year’s Senior Championship back on track with a win over neighbours Duleek Bellewstown, in Stamullen on Saturday night. However with twenty eight minutes on the clock such an outcome looked very unlikely as Duleek led by nine points to two after they dominated the first half completely. Two late points before half-time gave them a belief in themselves and coupled with whatever words of wisdom were imparted by manager Gordon Geraghty in the dressing room at the break, they were a different team in the second half.
Duleek got the first score of the game after only thirty seconds with a point from play and added a second with two minutes on the clock. Six minutes had elapsed before Skryne troubled the score board keeper when Ian Davis sent over a long range free. Duleek Bellewstown replied with two more points on the tenth and eleventh minute. Paddy O’Rourke got Skryne’s second on twelve minutes but in the next ten minutes Duleek Bellewstown scored five points on the trot to leave the score after twenty two minutes Skryne 0 – 2; Duleek Bellewstown 0 – 9. However, as mentioned already, two late scores from Ian Davis and Paddy O’Rourke (45) reduced the deficit to a five point margin before the half time break.
After the break, O’Rourke was again on target with a minute of the second half gone, but this was countered immediately with a point for Duleek Bellewstown. With thirty three minutes on the clock the game came to life, from a Skryne point of view, when wing back Paddy Fox got the ball deep in his own half, and made a surging run through the opposition’s defence. He passed the ball to Battersby and received a good return pass before blasting the ball past the helpless Ricky Nolan in the Duleek Bellewstown goals. This left just two points of a deficit which Paddy O’Rourke reduced further on thirty five minutes. Duleek Bellewstown were not about to give up just yet and four points to a single score from Ian Davis restored their four point advantage by the forty second minute.
Skryne however were beginning to dominate the exchanges particularly at midfield where Harry Rooney was in complete command. In defence their backs, particularly Declan Morley and Stephen O’Brien were getting the better of their opponents. A switch in positions saw Ciaran Lenehan move to wing back and this was paying dividends. Aidan Tuite pulled one back with forty four minutes on the clock and substitute Ronan McCabe made it a two point game two minutes later. O’Rourke reduced the deficit to the minimum with ten minutes left to play. Two minutes later after good work from the Skryne forwards, McCabe ran on to a pass and scored Skryne’s second goal. In the closing stages Skryne should have had a third goal but a miss-timed pass saw the ball drift harmlessly wide. Duleek Bellewstown surged forward in the final minute in a valiant effort to rescue the game and were unfortunate when a long range effort hit the underside of the bar only to be cleared by corner back Niall Lenehan. From this clearance the ball was worked up-field and with time up Mark Battersby got the insurance point. Full time score Skryne 2 – 11; Duleek Bellewstown 0 – 14.
This win puts all teams in the group on two points except Oldcastle who play Wolfe Tones later today.
Skryne: I. Gillette, N. Lenehan, C. Lenehan, D. Morley, P. Fox (1 – 0), T. McKeown, S. O’Brien, A. Tuite(1), H. Rooney, C. O’Brien, K. Mulvany, B. Davis, I. Davis (3, 1f), P. O’Rourke( 5, 45), M. Battersby (1). Subs M. Jordan for Mulvany (29min), R. McCabe (1 – 1) for I. Davis (47 min), D. McGoldrick for O’Brien (47 min), D. Ryan for McGoldrick (55 min)
