Shocker for Skryne as Seneschalstown advance

Those who had written off Seneschalstown's chances of recapturing the Keegan Cup following their defeat by Donaghmore / Ashbourne in the qualifying phase will have to reassess their conclusions following this demolition of Skryne in the SFC quarter-final at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday. Seneschalstown were even more superior than the scoreline suggests as Skryne nabbed a bizarre goal and tagged on a few late points. Effectively the game was over inside 22 minutes as Seneschalstown produced one of the most devastating passages of football witnessed in Pairc Tailteann for a 2-9 to 0-1 lead. Impressive enough as Seneschalstown's early dominance was it was the excellence of every aspect of their play that left Skryne chasing shadows and being a long way second best in every sector of the field. The form from group B took a battering before Skryne fielded on Sunday with both Blackhall Gaels and Dunboyne hammered in the knock-out stages. Although Skryne had sailed through the group unbeaten, that form went out the window. Seneschalstown had only managed to scrape through to the last eight on scoring difference, but they took full advantage of their reprieve and handed Skryne a lesson that left the Tara men bitterly disappointed. Skryne's cause wasn't helped by an injury to David Ryan that forced the midfielder into the full-forward position before he was replaced after just 20 minutes. At that stage the game was already beyond Skryne as Seneschalstown, inspired by the Sheridan clan, excelled. The Sheridan brothers, Brian, Damien and Joe, along with cousin Gerry, were exceptional throughout and while Seneschalstown's game plan was simple Skryne had no response and were taken apart with ruthless efficiency and superb accuracy. The cries of "pressure, pressure" from Seneschalstown manager Damien Sheridan told what the winners performance was built on. They never gave Skryne an inch and closed them down superbly, forcing them into mistakes that generally led to Seneschalstown scores. Almost all of Seneschalstown's scores came from direct football that was inspired by outstanding work from Gerry Sheridan, Joe Cowley, Mark Carey, Stephen Sheridan, Stephen Finnegan and Ciaran Macken. Inside three minutes Seneschalstown had four attacks and two points. Ciaran Lenehan's foul on Brian Sheridan led to Shane Clarke opening the scoring before Brian Sheridan was wayward from a free and Joe Sheridan blasted a goal chance wide. Brian Sheridan did make it 0-2 to 0-0, but when Skryne replied from an Ian Davis free there was no indication that they would capitulate. Points from a Shane Clarke free and a Brian Clarke '45 stretched Seneschalstown's advantage while Skryne's Kevin Mulvaney blasted a difficult goal chance wide when he probably should have tapped over a point. Seneschalstown put the game out of reach in a devastating eight-minute period. It started when Brian Clarke easily got away from Dwayne Beeton to make it 0-5 to 0-1 before Finnegan put five between the teams. When Martin Mulvaney coughed up possession cheaply he was punished when Gary Conlon's clever pass found Brian Clarke who finished superbly to make it 1-6 to 0-1. Another Finnegan point was followed by a Carey goal. Finnegan and Shane Clarke added points before two points from Ian Davis either side of another Kevin Mulvaney effort that was well saved by David Lyons. Brian Sheridan's blistering drive that was tipped over by Paddy O'Rourke to leave Seneschalstown 2-10 to 0-3 ahead at the break. After the break Skryne were gifted a bizarre goal when Cowley tried to pass the ball along the ground to his goalkeeper, but his tame effort never made it and Kevin Mulvaney was handed a simple tap into for Skryne's only goal. Seneschalstown - D Lyons; P Carey, A Collins, G Sheridan; M Carey (1-0), J Cowley, S Sheridan; J Sheridan (0-2), D Sheridan; G Conlon, C Macken, S Finnegan (0-3); B Clarke (1-2, one '45'), B Sheridan (0-4, two frees), S Clarke (0-4, three frees). Subs - T Ledwidge for B Clarke 41 mins, J Byrne for Cowley 51m, C Gleeson for S Clarke 56m, C Duffy for Conlon 57m. Skryne - P O'Rourke; D Beaton, C Lenehan, M Jordan; M Mulvaney, A Carty, B Farrell; D McGoldrick (0-1), D Ryan; J Hegarty (0-1), T Giles (0-1), B Byrne; B Smyth, K Mulvaney (1-0), I Davis (0-5, four frees). Subs - A Tuite for Ryan 20 mins, J Quinn for Farrell 22m, C McManus (0-1) for M Mulvaney 37m, B Davis (0-1) for Smyth 39m, J Looby for Carty 54m. Referee - John Farrelly (Syddan).