Skryne 4-13 Nobber 0-12

Skryne faced Intermediate champions Nobber in round 3 of the Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship in Seneschalstown today knowing that a win would be enough to guarantee another year at Senior level. Nobber pulled off the surprise of the championship when beating Simonstown Gaels in the last round and with Jordan Morris and Séan Meade in flying form, Skryne were not taking the North Meath men for granted.

Skryne started off quickly and had 2 points on the board inside the first 2 minutes, with Mark Battersby converting a mark and Niall Finnerty pointing from the right hand side. Dangerman Jordan Morris got Nobber off the mark with a free before hoisting over a second to draw Nobber level for the one and only time in the game. Ian Davis was the main freetaker for Skryne today and when Niall Finnerty was pulled down, Davis stepped up to slot the free over. Indeed Ian Davis is relishing his new role as midfield partner to Harry Rooney and the big man had a fine performance today with his second point following quickly after the first, this time a strike with the outside of his boot from distance on the right hand side. Séan Meade hit his first score of the game in reply to narrow the deficit. A darting run from Darragh Campion was brought to an abrupt halt when he was fouled 30 yards from goal. Ian Davis stepped up again and swung over the free. Jordan Morris almost poached a goal for Nobber when he got on the end of a lofted pass into the Skryne box. His marker Robbie Clarke managed to smother the ball and scramble it away to safety just as it looked destined to hit the back of the Skryne net. The impressive Niall Finnerty who had his marker chasing shadows all day, hit his second point of the game just before the game broke for the first water break with Skryne leading by 0-06 to 0-03.

The game resumed with a Nobber kickout which was fielded superbly by Harry Rooney who raced forward and slotted the ball over the bar. Séan Meade kept Nobber in touch with another point from play. But 2 more pointed frees from Ian Davis saw Skryne open a gap. Another Ian Davis free resulted in the first Skryne goal. Davis had a long range kick from the right hand side. His kick was tailing off to the left of the posts when a Nobber defender jumped up and knocked it back down into play. Conor O’Brien pounced on the loose ball and slid a shot low to the left of the keeper into the net. Paddy Carpenter added a point as Skryne turned the screw. Skryne’s second goal came when Niall Finnerty broke through on goal. His shot was parried by the Nobber goalkeeper. Paddy Carpenter followed up on the rebound which was also rebuffed by a Nobber defender on the goal-line. Darragh Campion was quickest to the react and sidefooted home to leave 12 points between the sides as half time approached. A Jordan Morris free on the stroke of half time was the last action of the half. Half-time score: Skryne 2-10 Nobber 0-05.

Nobber opened the scoring in the second half with Karl Casserly sending over a point inside the first minute. However any hopes of a comeback were well and truly snuffed out 5 minutes into the half when a brilliant Skryne move which started off with Conor O’Brien fetching a kickout from Ian Gillette. OB moved the ball to Shane Smyth and he centred to Ian Davis who had made a run from midfield into the Nobber penalty area. Davis was dragged down as he was about to take a shot and referee Padraig Coyle had little option but to award a penalty to Skryne. Niall Finnerty stepped up to take the penalty and sent the keeper the wrong way as he slid the ball into the left bottom corner of the net. Nobber’s Alan Farrell and Séan Meade added points for Nobber who continued to fight on. But Niall Finnerty and Conor O’Brien with a point each ensured that Skryne kept the scoreboard ticking over before the second water break.

Jordan Morris who didn’t miss too many chances throughout, pointed a free for Nobber. Skryne then hit their fourth goal when 4 Skryne forwards found themselves advancing on 2 Nobber defenders. Shane Smyth centred to the unmarked Padraig Finnerty who made no mistake when he fired past Dary Hutchinson. The game was well and truly up for Nobber. Jordan Morris did add a further three points for Nobber accounting for seven of Nobber’s total haul, while Niall Finnerty added a pointed free to finish off Skryne’s scoring. 

Skryne’s work ethic and team spirit ensured that they always looked in complete control of this game. They had 13 wides and against a stronger team may have rued those missed chances but they fully deserved to retain their senior status and with some of the younger players showing great potential, next year could be an exciting year for Skryne.

Skryne: Ian Gillett; Niall Lenehan, Robbie Clarke, Andrew Moore; Eoin Smyth, Ciarán Lenehan, Stephen O’Brien; Harry Rooney (0-1), Ian Davis (0-5, 4fs); Conor O’Brien (1-1), Darragh Campion (1-0), Paddy Carpenter (0-1); Niall Finnerty (1-4, 1p, 1f ), Mark Battersby (0-1, 1m), Shane Smyth.

Subs used: James Hegarty, Padraig Finnerty (1-0), Tommy Carpenter, Eoghan Greene

Nobber: Dary Hutchinson; Cathal Cassidy, Eanna Fagan, Brian Meade; Paul Meade, Barry Cassidy, Seamus Fagan; Thomas Murtagh, Alan Farrell(0-1); Ryan Hughes, Séan Meade (0-3, 1f), Niall Farrell; Karl Casserly (0-1), Jordan Morris (0-7, 4fs), Brendan Heffernan.

Subs used: Aidan Shields, Jack Condra, Dean Halpin, Dale Larkin, Barry Bradley

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