Skryne test is passed with flying colours IN DULEEK
LAST year’s semi-finalists Skryne were on the receiving end of a hammering following an emphatic last-quarter display by a never-saydie St Patrick’s in Group C of the SFC at Duleek last Friday evening.
It was a turnabout of extraordinary proportions as the Stamullen men bounced back from a sixpoint second-half deficit to win pulling up. Skryne led 1-7 to 0-4 after a looping effort from Brian Davis ended up in the St Patrick’s net four minutes into the second half and the Tara men were still four clear and seemingly headed for victory following a Darragh Campion point on 49 minutes.
However, their resolute opponents had other ideas and from there to the finish St Patrick’s tagged on 2-7 without reply, leaving them nine clear at the final whistle for a dramatic and convincing victory.
The winners’ last two scores were goals, both scored in added time by Shane Landy and substitute Aaron Kenna.
St Patrick’s produced a masterful display in that final quarter and Skryne had no response to the hunger and passion shown by the eventual winners as they gradually worked themselves back into contention before finishing with a flourish.
Before the start a minute’s silence was observed as a mark of respect to a former St Patrick’s stalwart Peter Russell who passed away earlier in the week. Peter was father of St Patrick’s manager Niall and former player Kieron and there seemed to be a determination among the squad that his memory would be marked with a victory.
Skryne led 0-7 to 0-4 at halftime but should have been much further ahead at that stage. They controlled the game for much of the half after racing into a five-point lead within nine minutes of the start. That lead should have been greater, but Mark Battersby had a goal attempt brilliantly blocked by Adam Byrne on four minutes and the full forward was denied again later in the half by St Patrick’s keeper Robert Cluskey.
The Skryne men also hit eight wides in the half.
Brian Davis, Darragh Campion (two), Battersby and Paddy Fox were all on target for Skryne in the early stages before Niall Mooney eventually got the east Meath outfit off the mark on 13 minutes.
St Patrick’s were on the back foot for most of the half, but a brace of points from Landy kept them in contention.
Skryne tightened their grip with that goal from Davis, but St Patrick’s seemed to benefit from a number of positional switches, with Darren Hagan, Niall Mooney and Neil O’Flaherty all moving out around midfield.
It created space inside for Landy and Diarmuid Quinn, both of whom picked off some fine points.
Three Mooney points and another from Quinn left it level 0-13 to 1-10 by the 55th minute.
St Patrick’s took the lead for the first time two minutes later when Landy converted a free following a foul on John Curtis. Quinn then hit his fifth point of the hour and O’Flaherty left three between the sides on the 60-minute mark.
The game was in the first minute of added time when Landy netted from a Michael McNulty pass after Skryne had lost possession in the middle of the field. The comeback was complete when substitute Kenna raced onto a pass from Mooney and found the net in the last action of the match.
ST PATRICK’S: Robert Cluskey; Michael McNulty, David McQuillan, Adam Byrne; Alan Vickers 0-1, Shane Dowling, David Stafford; Barry Mooney, John Curtis; Diarmuid Quinn 0-5, Darren Hagan, Donal Landy; Shane Landy 1-4 (0-1f), Niall Mooney 0-4 (0-1f), Neil O’Flaherty 0-2. Sub: Aaron Kenna 1-0 for D Landy (49). SKRYNE: Ian Gillette; Eoghan Greene, Mark Harrington, Mark Johnson; Paddy Carpenter, Ciaran Lenehan, Adam O’Sullivan; Aidan Tuite, Paddy O’Rourke 0-1; Eoin Smyth, Brian Davis 1-3, Darragh Campion 0-4 (2f); Paddy Fox 0-1, Mark Battersby 0-1, Jason Fox. Sub: Des McAvinney for Gillette (38). REF: Gerry McGivney (Simonstown)