Dunsany grind out a result

Dunsany started out on a well worn path at Seneschalstown on Sunday when they managed to grind out a first round JFC victory against local rivals Skryne. Skryne were stretched to muster 15, due mainly to injuries, while manager Eddie McCormack was stranded in Portugal due to the grounding of all flights over the past few days which left selector Pat McCabe in charge The Tara men dictated the early exchanges and were ahead by 0-4 to 0-2 at the end of the first-quarter with points from Kevin O'Reilly (two), Ciaran Finnerty and Brian Smyth. Mark Brennan and Eoin Marsh (free) kept Dunsany in touch although three wides didn't help their cause. Dunsany managed just one more point when Donie Clynch sent over from play which left them adrift by the minimum (0-3 to 0-4) at the interval. Skryne created a couple of third-quarter chances, but failed to convert them until O'Reilly split the posts again which motivated Dunsany into action and Brennan sent over at the other end. The introduction of Conor Brennan gave Dunsany a different dimension and along with Ger O'Neill and Alan Hogan, last year's finalists began to look more potent. Mark Brennan drew the sides level with 10 minutes remaining and they enjoyed plenty of possession subsequently with Stephen Clynch proving more influential at midfield. Dunsany had a let-off when Brian Davis raced through for a goal and was denied by the post, but they forged ahead from a well-taken O'Neill point. Hogan added another point and after Donie Clynch dropped two efforts short, Mark Brennan gave them a three-point cushion as they eased into the comfort zone. "We had to dig out that victory, but it was important that we won, sometimes championship football is about staying focused and we managed that," Dunsany manager Conor Boyle told the Meath Chronicle. "We're trying to develop a panel of players and that helped us today, we were able to change thaings, Conor Brennan made an impact and so did the other substitutes, that will be a big help to us for the rest of this group. "The first round against a team from a senior club, it wasn't easy, Skryne have good footballers, it was great for us to come through that," he added. Dunsany - N Flynn; P McGovern, P Kennedy, M Munnelly; P Burke, E Ferguson, R Donnelly; P O'Brien, S Clynch; B O'Donnell, S Stephens, D Clynch (0-1); B Gargan, E Marsh (0-1), M Brennan (0-5 four frees). Subs - A Hogan for Gargan 32 mins, A Irwin for Stephens 42m, C Brennan for O'Brien 43m, G O'Neill (0-1) for O'Donnell 49m. Skryne - K Burke; D Rogan, J Quinn, L Gilsenan; D Reilly, D Beeton,T Farnan; K O'Reilly (0-3); A O'Sullivan; C Finnerty (0-1), B Davis, C Byrne; C Carty, B Smyth (0-2), R Bennett. Referee - Pat Clarke (Seneschalstown)