SFC Group A: Gaeil Colmcille snatch deserved draw with Skryne

Seamus Mattimoe's stoppage time pointed free earned Gaeil Colmcille a draw with Skryne in this hoganstand.comSFC Group A clash at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday.

Skryne ................ 2-8
Gaeil Colmcille ...... 1-11

There was a riveting conclusion to this round four fixture that was a scoring joust between Skryne's Paddy O'Rourke and Mattimoe.

Gaeil Colmcille made most of the running but almost had victory whipped off their plate.

The county goalkeeper finished with 1-6 while Mattimoe managed 0-7. O'Rourke's 60th minute goal, a low left-footed close range effort, gave Skryne the lead for the first time since the ninth minute.

Gaeil Colmcille shaded the second-half, played in increasingly damp conditions, and found one last gasp to deservedly earn a free that Mattimoe landed at the town goal.

Gaeil Colmcille had the breeze behind them for the second-half as they went in search of their second win of the campaign.

Skryne still hold second spot in the group and face Ballinlough in the final round.

Seanie Curran created the opening for Mattimoe to increase Lar Wall's side's lead. Skryne ended a 28-minute scoring blank with an O'Rourke free. Conor O'Brien added a fine score before their top marksman leveled matters, 1-5 each, in the 41st minute.

Scores were tied six times over the hour,four times in the second-half. Two excellent Mattimoe efforts edged Gaeil Colmcille 1-9 to 1-7 clear by the 50th minute. They led by the same margin once more when Martin Barrett pointed a 56th minute free from out on the left.

Fine blocks by Barry Tormay and Keith Reilly prevented Skryne making further inroads on the narrow deficit until O'Rourke's late strike.

Gaeil Colmcille were in more need of a win but still have a lot to play for when they face Blackhall Gaels in the final round.

Wind-assisted Skryne took charge in the opening minutes, but Gaeil Colmcille grabbed the opening score in the fifth minute when Fionn Reilly fisted to the net at  the old swimming poole end with assistance from Fionn Reilly and Seanie Curran.

From the restart Skryne moved swiftly upfield with Bryan Davis finishing emphatically to the net. The Tara-men maintained momentum with two fine Paddy O'Rourke points to leave it 1-2 to 1-0 after nine minutes.

The Kells-men responded with a trio of points. Two Martin Barrett efforts (one free) tied the scores for the second time before Seamus Mattimoe (free) put Gaeil Colmcille back in front.

Remarkably, wind-assisted Skryne didn't add to their first-half tally after the ninth minute. However, they saw scoring efforts come back off the wood work on a number of occasions with Paddy O'Rourke particularly unfortunate in this regard. His 14th minute free  rebounded off the top of the crossbar and he was wide with the subsequent 45.

Mattimoe doubled Gaeil Colmcille's lead with a 28th minute free to steer Gaeil Colmcille towards a 1-4 to 1-2 interval advantage.

Skryne - Felim O'Rourke; Declan Morley, Mark Harrington, Niall Lenehan; Tomas McKeown, Ciaran Lenehan, Adam O'Sullivan; Aidan Tuite, Harry Rooney; Bryan Davis (1-0), Conor O'Brien (0-2), Paddy Fox; Mark Jordan, Paddy O'Rourke (1-6, 3fs), Mark Battersby. Subs - Stephen O'Brien for Tuite (ht), Daragh Campion for Fox (ht),

Gaeil Colmcille - Justin Carry Lynch; Barry Tormay, Robbie Flanagan, Liam Ferguson; Paul Tormay, Chris Riordan, James Reilly; Michael Foley, Keith Reilly; Seamus Mattimoe (0-7,3fs), Seanie Curran, Barry Smith; Oisin Reilly, Martin Barrett (0-4 4fs), Fionn Reilly (1-0). Subs -  Johnny Quigley for Riordan (26), Cormac Ferguson for Smith (bs 28-30), Cormac Keegan for Foley (ht), Cormac Ferguson for Smith (bs 38-41), Cormac Ferguson for Flanagan (56).

Referee - Gerry McGivney (Simonstown)

Tweet

Most Read Stories