Skryne 4 – 9; Clann na nGael 2 – 16
In a match played in perfect condition in Skryne on Sunday afternoon Skryne were narrowly beaten by Clann na nGael in this B league Div 4 match. Skryne playing without a number of regulars were first out of the starting blocks when Alan Carty slotted over after four minutes. This was quickly cancelled out by former All-Ireland winning captain Graham Geraghty when he posted his first of many for the game. Skryne posted three more minors from Conor Keogh, Felim O’Rourke and Paddy Doherty before Brian Smyth gave them a commanding lead with a goal to leave the scores at Skryne 1 – 4, Clan 0 – 2 after fifteen minutes. However instead of pushing on they let the Athboy men back into the game and they posted a goal and three points without reply over a five minute spell. However, Jamie Jordan got Skryne back on course with another goal after twenty two minutes and Alan Carty added a point to widen the margin to a goal. However Clann na nGael added three further points to a single one from Skryne to leave the half time score at Skryne 2 – 6, Clann na Ngael 1 – 7.
Clann na Ngael started the second half the better and added a further five points before Alan Carty got the Skryne men back on the scoreboard with a point after forty five minutes. Clan then struck for their second goal. Substitute Sean Cassidy then reduced the difference with ten minutes left to play and when on fifty one minutes Conor Keogh slotted home a goal after a good pass from Johnny Quinn, Skryne were only a point in arrears. Skryne then went in pursuit of a win and the two substitutions Sean Cassidy and Niall Morley, who had been introduced late into the game, combined to chalk up a fourth goal with Morley getting the final touch. However the Athboy men had not come to Skryne to go home empty handed and posted three more points to a single point from Keogh to leave the final score at Skryne 4 – 9; Clann na nGael 2 – 16.
Skryne : A. Doyle, S. McEnroy, D. McAvinney, P. Murphy, T. Lennon, D. Lynch, A. Carty (3), K. O’Rourke, P. Doherty (1), D. Mulvey, J. Quinn, J. Jordan (1-0), C. Keogh (1-2), B. Smyth (1-0)), F. O’Rourke (2). Subs: K. Reilly for D. Mulvey (H/T), D. Rogan for Doherty (41min), S.Cassidy (1) for O’Rourke (49min), N. Morley (1-0) for Quinn (53).
Joseph O’ Brien
