Silky Skryne stride on to quarter-finals

It was every bit as easy as the scoreline suggests for Skryne as they marched impressively into the SFC quarter-finals as group winners following their comfortable 1-16 to 1-8 win over Trim at Dunsany this afternoon.

With Trim needing a win and a draw good enough for Skryne to advance the tie was finely poised eight minutes into the second-half when James Murray drew Paul Clarke's side level, 0-8 each.

However, Ciaran Caulfield's wonder goal in the 59th minute aside, Trim failed to score again as Skryne used the breeze that was at their backs to ease clear with Niall Finnerty excelling.

Both sides were hit by late withdrawals as Conor Quigley and Jack McGowan were absent for Trim, while Harry Rooney took no part for Skryne, but it was the Tara men who coped better as Trim had no response to Mick O'Dowd's sides incessant press and swift counter-attacks.

Trim really should have made more of the wind when it was in their favour in the opening half, but they hit four wides in the opening six minutes and it was Skryne who opened the scoring with Conor O'Brien on target.

Aaron Lynch finally found the range for Trim in the ninth minute and with Rob Bourke impressing Daire Lynch and Aaron Lynch added further points to give the Reds a 0-3 to 0-1 lead.

Darragh Campion keep Skryne ticking over with a brace of frees, one either side of a similar score for Aaron Lynch, but when Aaron Lynch added another free to make it 0-5 to 0-3 Trim threatened to pull clear.

That threat was minimal as Skryne regrouped brilliantly. Their hassling and harrying of their opponents was admirable and while much of the opening half was very stop-start because of niggling fouls it was Skryne who looked the more dangerous.

Pointed frees Campion and Niall Finnerty drew Skryne level, 0-5 each, by the 28th minute and it could have been even better for the Blues had Campion not hit the post from point blank range.

John Finnerty did ensure Skryne led at the break, 0-6 to 0-5, with the last kick of the half when he reacted quickest to a free that fell short.

It took the outstanding Shane Smyth just 15 seconds to extend Skryne's lead after the resumption and when Padraig Finnerty made it 0-8 to 0-5 a minute later there was a sense of inevitability about the outcome.

Trim did rally briefly and between the 35th and 39th minutes Aaron Lynch and Murray kicked two superb scores, while Lynch also added a free to restore parity.

That was as good as it got for Trim. Shane Smyth edged Skryne ahead in the 41st minute and they never looked back as Trim ran out of steam and ideas.

Substitute Billy Smyth marked his introduction with a fine score and Campion went close to finding the net, but was denied by Paul Munnelly.

Niall Finnerty converted a free to ensure a three-point cushion for Skryne, 0-11 to 0-8, at the three-quarters stage and they continued to press hard.

Niall Finnerty (free) and Shane Smyth again made it 0-14 to 0-8 and in the 57th minute Oisin Keogh gathered a long ball and went round Munnelly before scuffing his shot to the net to put nine points between the sides.

Caulfield's thunder-strike did illuminate Trim's poor performance, but it couldn't prevent the inevitable as Skryne saw out the win with the excellent Niall Finnerty capping a fine display with the last two points as Skryne go marching on.

Skryne - Ian Gillett; Stephen O'Brien, Michael Doherty, Jack Swan; Shane Smyth (0-3), Conor Donohoe, Patrick Fox; John O'Regan, James Reeves; Daniel Fitzpatrick, Darragh Campion (0-3 frees), Conor O'Brien (0-1); John Finnerty (0-1), Niall Finnerty (0-6 three frees), Padraig Finnerty (0-1). Subs - Ciaran Lenehan for Fox half-time, Billy Smyth (0-1) for Donohoe 37m, Oisin Keogh (1-0) for P Finnerty 53m, Neil Burke for C O'Brien 56m, Niall Lenehan for Fitzpatrick 60m.

Trim - Paul Munnelly; Conor McGinley, Brian Bolger, Eoghan Ryan; David Murtagh, Declan Dowling, Eoin Sweeney; Rob Bourke, Sean Fitzgerald; James Murray (0-1), Ciaran Caulfield (1-0), Daire Lynch (0-1); Kyle Ennis, Tom Carmody, Aaron Lynch (0-6 three frees). Subs - David Lernihan for Carmody 41m, Padraig Walsh for Dowling 50m.

Referee - Joseph Curran (St Michael's).