Skryne 0-11 Blackhall Gaels 1-6 Skryne completed their programme in Group B of the Commons Hardware SFC with a narrow win over Blackhall Gaels at Dunshaughlin on Saturday evening. Liam Harnan's men were never headed and responded positively to the concession of the game's only goal and the subsequent red-carding of Vinny Reilly to secure their fourth win from as many starts in the campaign. When Sean Whelan cracked the ball to the Skryne net the sides were level for the only time, 1-5 to 0-8, with 48 minutes gone. A brief scuffle ensued and the Tara-men saw their number six dismissed by referee Brendan Darby. Blackhall Gaels - who came into this fixture on the back of wins over St Ultan's and Walterstown - were unable to make the most of their numerical advantage and dropped their first points of the campaign. A pointed Paddy Brady free in stoppage time at the end of the hour was their only subsequent score and it proved to be the final flag of the hour. In between Skryne posted three points on the spin with teenage substitute Brian Davis giving them a three-point cushion with an excellent effort from play. Skryne were quick off the mark and were 0-4 to 0-1 to the good after seven minutes. Playing towards the road goal they were also guilty of a lot of wastefulness. After a bright opening on an ideal evening for football, the scoring rate dropped in the second quarter and when Denis Beirne pointed in the 16th minute it proved to be Blackhall's last score of the half. Points from David Ryan - Skryne's most influential player in the opening half - and David McGoldrick were the only other scores before the break which was reached with the team in blue and white leading by 0-6 to 0-2. On the resumption, Tom Nolan's men set about erasing the deficit with Whelan pointing an early free. However, Skryne responded with scores from David McGoldrick and Ian Davis (free). That left it 0-8 to 0-3 before Blackhall's best spell. Paddy Brady sent over a free and then Tadhg Brosnan landed the score of the game, a magnificent effort from the left sideline. Then came Whelan's goal with Mark Mullally providing the assist following a fine fetch. Despite numerical advantage, Blackhall were unable to kick-on from there, but will secure the direct route to the quarter-final if they beat Dunboyne in their final group outing. Skryne - P. O'Rourke; D. Beaton, C. Lenehan, M. Jordan; M. Mulvaney, V. Reilly, B. Farrell; D. Ryan (0-1), D. McGoldrick (0-1); J. Hegarty (0-3, 2 fs), T. Giles, I. Davis (0-3, fs); B. Smyth (0-1), K. Mulvaney, B. Byrne (0-1). Subs - B. Davis (0-1) for Smyth (46), J. Quinn for Farrell (56). Blackhall Gaels - T. Dalton; D. O'Neill, G. Beirne, D. O'Brien; A. Nestor, D. Dalton, J. Kelly; P. O'Brien, M. Mullally; D. Beirne (0-1), S. Whelan (1-1, 0-1 f), C. McElligott; P. Brady (0-3, 2 fs), T. Brosnan (0-1), A. Brady. Subs - S. Nally for McElligott (45), J. Joyce for Kelly (60). Referee - B. Darby (Ballinabrackey). Tweet

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