Paddy O'Rourke inspires Skryne to victory against O'Mahonys
Skryne recorded a fine 3-13 to 2-13 SFC victory against Navan O'Mahonys at Simonstown tonight.
Paddy O'Rourke was the stand-out player for the Skryne men although it was fine team effort.
After a sluggish start Skryne took control and forged into a 1-10 to 2-5 interval lead.
The Navan men started smartly and claimed early goals from Oisin O'Brien and Stephen Bray as they established a 2-2 to 0-2 first-quarter advantage.
O'Brien (free) and Cathal Smyth added the points while struggling Skryne got on the scoreboard through Mark Battersby and a Paddy O'Rourke free.
PADDY O'ROURKE'S PENALTY GOAL
At that stage Skryne got a grip on the game and O'Rourke added a further four points and a vital goal in the 29th minute when he fielded a high ball and finished superbly.
Darragh Campion (two), Ciaran Lenehan and Niall Morley added the points while O'Mahonys got going again through well-taken points by Dylan Regan, Stephen Bray and Shane Gillespie.
O'Mahonys were also denied a third goal in that opening half when Ian Gillett got a finger to an Oisin O'Brien effort – it was enough to divert it on to the post.
O'Mahonys were back on terms early in the second-half with points from Duggie Dillon, Gary O'Brien and substitute David Bray with his first touch.
Niall Morley's point for Skryne left it level at 2-8 to 1-11, but O'Mahonys forged ahead through another Dillon point and one from Oisin O'Brien.
Then Skryne hit two goals in a minute towards the end of the third-quarter – Paddy O'Rourke convcerted a penalty and then made the opening for an Ian Davis goal and a 3-11 to 2-10 lead.
It was a match-winning advantage and although O'Mahonys made a valiant effort in the closing stages they wasted too many chances and could find no way back.