Skryne 1 – 10,
Donaghmore Ashbourne 0 – 7.
Playing with a much depleted team Skryne took both points in the A league match played against Donaghmore Ashbourne in their home pitch in Skryne on Wednesday. The weather on the evening could only be described as glorious and with the pitch in excellent order neither side could have any complaint about the conditions. Donaghmore Ashbourne got the best start in this match and reeled off four points in the first four minutes. Two of these scores were particularly excellent efforts and the East Meath side looked to have the Tara men in deep trouble at this early stage. However, while Skryne went on to record a goal and ten points, Donaghmore Ashbourne only troubled the scorekeeper on three more occasions none of which was a major.
After the initial onslaught, Ian Davis eventually got Skryne of the mark with a point from a free with six minutes gone. He added another on ten minutes before Paddy Fox posted a third a minute later after one of his trademark incisive runs from deep in his own half. Donaghmore Ashbourne stretched their lead again on the nineteenth minute and with twenty two minutes gone Aidan Tuite, with a goal at his mercy, took Skryne’s fourth point. This left Skryne just one point in arrears at the break, on a score line of Donaghmore Ashbourne 0 – 5, Skryne 0 – 4.
Within ten seconds of the throw in for the second half, Alan Carty had the game level. In reply, Donaghmore Ashbourne surged up field and created an overlap for a good goal chance. However the persistence of full back Thomas McKeown, giving a man of the match display, broke up the move and after winning the ball made a long clearance, which found full forward full forward Ciaran Lenehan who put Skryne ahead for the first time in the game. Donaghmore Ashbourne bounced back immediately to level the match again with thirty two minutes gone. However, Skryne were now playing with newfound confidence. Their full back line of Niall Lenehan, Thomas McKeown and Declan Morley were mopping up any ball which came into their domain and with Paddy Fox, Mark Jordan and Donie Ryan making telling runs from the half back line Skryne’s forwards were now getting the lion’s share of possession up front. Eventually this told when Mark Battersby was pulled down for a penalty which was expertly scored by Ian Davis.
Skryne went on to score four more points against a solitary point for Donaghmore Ashbourne. The visitors had some late chances for goals but failed to beat the vigilant Felim O’Rourke in the Skryne goals. The full time score-line was, Skryne 1 – 10, Donaghmore Ashbourne 0 – 7.
Skryne: F. O’Rourke, N, Lenehan, T. McKeown, D. Morley, P. Fox(1), M. Jordan, D. Ryan, A. Tuite(1), D. McGoldrick(1), B. Davis, M. Battersby, S. O’Brien, I. Davis (1 – 5), C. Lenehan (1), A. Carty (1)
Referee P Nelis (Kilmainham)
Joseph O’ Brien
Skryne PRO
