Kilmainhamwood 1 – 16; Skryne 0 – 6
Kilmainhamwood, who were relegated from the intermediate grade in 2010, were much too strong for a gallant Skryne side in Rathkenny on Monday. After twenty minutes of this game the score was Kilmainhamwood 3 pts to 2 for Skryne and it looked as if the game could go either way. Indeed for much of this period Skryne played the better football but posted too many wides against the strong breeze. Then everything went against the Skryne men. First they lost the very influential Ronan McCabe to injury, then a number of close calls went against them which led to scores and to cap it all Kilmainhamwood introduced Ray Madden who with his first touch of the ball found the Skryne net making the score K’Wood 1 – 8, Skryne 0 – 2. Stephen Kiernan tagged on another point before halftime.
After the break the Northmeath side continued to pile the agony onto the Skryne side, adding a further four points before Skryne got their third of the evening when Kevin Reilly was on target. Jamie Jordan, John Quinn and Conor O’ Brien scored three more while Russel and Magee completed the scoring for Kilmainhamwood leaving the final score Kilmainhamwood 1 – 16, Skryne 0 – 6.
The talking point at the end of this match was not the very emphatic win by Kilmainhamwood, who must now be favorits to be back in the Intermediate grade next year, but the lack of neutral linesmen. Skryne were particularly unhappy with at least four calls which went against them. While it is probably too much to expect the County Board to appoint linesmen for Junior matches, one would expect that the club hosting the match could provide two club members who would have a neutral view of the proceedings.
Teams :Skryne – Ian Gillet, Louis Gilsenan, Vinny Reilly, Mark Harrington, John Quinn (1), Ronan McCabe, Adam O’Sullivan, Gordon Geraghty, Kevin O’ Reilly (2), Brian Smyth, Des MacAvinny, Darren Carty, Conor Ryan, Jamie Jordan ( 2). Subs.
Niall Lenihan for McCabe, Conor O’Brien (1) for McAvinny, Des MvAvinny for Adam Sullivan.
Kilmainhamwood – Damien Russel, Emmet Clarke, Shane Russell, David Dolan, Ml. Sharkey, Sean Mulligan, Philip Moran, Aidan Crosbie, Padraig Barber, David Russell (4), Francis Owens(2), Stephen Kieran (5), Colm Gillcriest (1), Ray Magee (4), John Keogan. Subs. Ray Madden (1 – 0) for Gillcriest.
