Simonstown Gaels 1-08 Skryne 0-18

Skryne sported a new crisp white set of O'Neills jerseys as they entered the arena in Simonstown this evening to play the reigning county champions in Round 11 of the A League.

Skryne looked hungry from the start when straight from the throw-in Harry Rooney galloped down the field and tapped over the opening point of the game. This was the first of 8 first half points all from play from the clinical Skrynemen. At one point Skryne lead by  7 points to a solitary point from Simonstown with Paddy O'Rourke bagging four while Mark Battersby, Conor O'Brien and Ian Davis all got their names on the scoresheet as Skryne set a blistering pace. Simonstown did have an excellent chance of  a goal midway through the half when Mark Gardiner put Eanna Donoghue through on goal. Ian Gillett rushed off his line to narrow the angle. Donoghue shot but saw his effort hit the butt of the post and rebound away to safety. Simonstown narrowed the gap with 3 late points to improve the look on the scoreboard, but Skryne were well worth their lead in what was an impressive first half. Half-time score: Simonstown Gaels 0-04, Skryne 0-08

Skryne kicked off the second half with 3 early points to extend their lead. Paddy O'Rourke pounced on a poor kickout to register Skryne's first point of the half. He followed this up with his 6th point of the game before half time substitute Jason Reddy bagged a fine point to open his account. Donie Ryan turned defence into attack as he strode up the field and slotted over Skryne's 12th point, all from play. Paddy O'Rourke added 2 frees to open up an 11 point gap. Simonstown badly needed a slice of luck and this was to come in the shape of a soft penalty when a Skryne defender was adjudged to have fouled his opponent inside the penalty area when both appeared to be fighting for possession. Mark McCabe gave Ian Gillett no chance as he slotted the ball into the left corner. Skryne replied with an excellent point from Mark Battersby. Simonstown chalked up 4 points in a row to reduce the gap to 5 points. However Skryne didn't panic and never really looked in danger of losing this game. Late points from Paddy O' Rourke and Conor O'Brien put the icing on the cake capping a fine Skryne performance on the night. Full-time Simonstown Gaels 1-08, Skryne 0-18.

Skryne - Ian Gillett. Timmy Lennon, Stephen O'Brien, Declan Morley. Ciaran Lenehan, Donie Ryan, Ronan McCabe (0-1). David McGoldrick, Harry Rooney (0-1). Paddy Fox, Mark Battersby (0-2), Conor O'Brien (0-2). Aidan Tuite, Patrick O'Rourke (0-10, 4f), Ian Davis (0-1).

Subs used - Jason Reddy (0-1), Darren Fox, Niall Lenehan, Dermot Brennan, Frank Carty and Darragh Campion.

Simonstown Report

Simonstown 1-08 Skryne 0-18 

Simonstown played this Round 11 of the A League in Simonstown under dry but windy conditions. The Gaels began the game with the aid of the breeze. Skryne started with a point from the throw in from the impressive Harry Rooney. Skryne would score 8 points in the first half through Paddy O'Rourke, Mark Battersby, Conor O'Brien and Ian Davis. Simonstown struggled throughout the first half and registered their first point after 13 minutes through Shane Barry.  The Navan men had a super chance of a goal midway through the half when Mark Gardiner played a super through ball into Eanna Donoughue. Donoughue took his shot very early and it rebounded off the post. This would have been a crucial score and would have leveled the game after 16 minutes. Simonstown did manage to close the gap before the half time whistle through a point from Conor Sheridan and 2 Andy Keareny frees. The score before half time was Simonstown 0-4 Skryne 0-8.

Skryne began the second half very well and recorded 6 points in the opening 12 minutes. Paddy O'Rourke was proving to be a thorn in Simonstown side and he played an instrumental role in Skryne's second half early dominace. Donnie Ryan was also playing very well and he scored a point from the half back line. Skyrne found themeselve 11 points to the good and Simonstown looked dead and buried. Simonstown were handed a glimmer of hope when they were awrded a penalty in the 47th minute. Mark McCabe dispatched the penalty and the scoreline was nreduced to 8 points.

Simonstown chalked up 4 points in a row to reduce the gap to 5 points through 3 Andy Kearney points and a Micky Brennan point from distance. This proved to be too little too late and late points from Late points Paddy O' Rourke, who also registered 10 points in total, and Conor O'Brien ensured that Skryne were victorious. Full-time Simonstown Gaels 1-08, Skryne 0-18.

Simonstown: Robert Burlingham, Shane Gallagher, Stephen Moran, Niall McMahon, Brian McGrath, Brían Conlon, Níal Kane, Shane Barry (0-1), Roz O'Connor, Ben Hoey, Mark McCabe (1-0), Mark Gardiner, Eanna Donoughue, Conor Sheridan (0-1), Andy Kearney (0-5, 3 frees). Subs: Stephen O'Reilly for Shane Gallagher (injured), Mark Devlin for Ben Hoey, Micky Brennan (0-1) for roz O'Connor, James Heaney for Shane Barry, Colin Wickham for Eanna O'Donoughue, Ian O'Rourke for Niall Kane

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