Positive start for Simonstown earns valuable brace of points

Sean Tobin put in a big shift for Simonstown Gaels as they opened their SFC campaign on a winning note at the expense of Skryne at Páirc Táilteann on Sunday. The Navan men were worthy winners and the fact that they made much more economic use of possession was reflected in the scoreline although Skryne also lost Paddy Fox to injury close to the interval. The Gaels had to survive a late scare when a deep Trevor Giles cross caused consternation in the Simonstown goalmouth, but the danger was cleared and Tobin countered with the insurance point. It could have been different early on as Seamus Kenny was probably fortunate to escape with a ninth minute yellow card following an off-the-ball exchange that left Skryne's James Hegarty needing some attention, but first-time senior referee Patrick Neilis opted for a caution after consulting with his linesman. Skryne started well and Kevin O'Reilly gave them the lead while a well-taken Mark Battersby point from play drew the sides level in the 15th minute. Simonstown generally dictated in between those scores, but both Mark McCabe and Niall McMahon fluffed goal chances as Skryne's Felim O'Rourke produced excellent saves. McCabe pointed from play in the 10th minute for the Gaels and Tobin converted a free soon after as the Navan side stayed in touch due mainly to Skryne's inability to hit the target. The Tara side tallied six wides in the first 20 minutes and that had increased to 10 by the end of the opening half that included four minutes of added time. The total wide count for Skryne was 14. Simonstown made the most of that Skryne weakness with some legitmate tough tackles augmented by points from Wayne McCarthy and Stephen Moran and an overdue goal from Shane Barry. The goal chance was created by a surging Tobin run, but his shot was blocked by Skryne substitute James Looby. The ball fell into the path of the in-rushing Barry who finished well. Skryne managed an Ian Davis pointed free in the 34th minute which left them facing into a 0-3 to 1-4 interval deficit. The sides traded early second-half frees with Davis for Skryne and McCarthy for the Navan men on the mark. Hegarty left only a goal in it when he opened the tally from play 12 minutes into the second-half, but points from Tobin (free) and Barry eased Simonstown into a 1-7 to 0-5 advantage with 10 minutes remaining. Then Barry set up Tobin for another point, but a brace of Davis frees kept the game alive before Paddy O'Rourke's point from play left only a goal in it. Simonstown survived that late scare and Tobin rounded off an excellent hour when he settled the issue with that late point. Simonstown Gaels - R Duffy; S McGivney, I O'Rourke, S O'Reilly; C Kenny, J Lyons, N McMahon; D Gaffney, S Tobin (0-3 one free); M McCabe (0-1 free), S Kenny, S Barry (1-1); P McKeever, W McCarthy (0-2 one free), S Moran (0-2). Subs - P Meade for McCabe and H Traynor for Moran both 59 mins. Skryne - F O'Rourke; T McKeown, M Mulvaney, D Morley; P Fox, C Lenehan, J Hegarty (0-1); D Ryan, D McGoldrick; K O'Reilly (0-1), T Giles, I Davis (0-4 frees); K Mulvaney, P O'Rourke (0-1), M Battersby (0-1). Sub - J Looby for Fox 25 mins. Referee - Patrick Neilis (Kilmainham).