Tempers flare as Skryne handle aggressive tactics

Tempers boiled over in the closing stages of Saturday evening's SFC quarter-final at Pairc Tailteann as Donaghmore/Ashbourne were dumped out by an impressive Skryne side. Both clubs will probably face sanctions following the disgraceful scenes that prompted stewards to patrol the sideline for the concluding minutes of a quarter-final that had produced some excellent football and worthy winners. The unpleasantness started when Skryne reacted to a late challenge on James Hegarty. That resulted in a melee around the Skryne dugout between players and mentors from both sides. Moments later, after encroaching onto the field to remonstrate with referee Joey Curley, Donaghmore/Ashbourne manager Andy McEntee (below) was confronted by Skryne's 'Maor Uisce' Cyril Carty. As the situation deteriorated, others, from both sides, also weighed in. Curley dismissed McEntee and a second Donaghmore/Ashbourne official along with Carty who promptly jumped over the gate from the dugout into the stand. When play resumed, Skryne's Paddy O'Rourke kicked the final score to underline a superb individual performance from the Meath goalkeeper and a brilliant overall team display from Liam Harnan's side. Paddy O'Rourke was a handful throughout. Colm O Mealoid couldn't cope with the half-forward and after receiving a yellow card and a further stern lecture from Curley he was replaced after 26 minutes by Rory O'Connor who instantly received a yellow card for 'introducing' himself to the Meath net minder. Indiscipline was a major problem for Donaghmore/Ashbourne. On several occasions they were penalised for 'third-man' tackles and on a number of occasions they had frees against them brought forward for dissent. Not only was Paddy O'Rourke a huge physical threat from his half-forward position, but he also showed his clinical finishing ability. It was his 43rd minute goal that effectively sealed the game in Skryne's favour. After appearing to find a solution to the problem posed by Paddy O'Rourke by deploying Bryan Menton on him when he moved to full-forward for the second-half, Donaghmore/Ashbourne looked like plotting a way back into the game, but then Skryne delivered the knock-out punch. Just 12 minutes into the second-half and with Paddy O'Rourke seemingly contained, Ciaran Lenehan launched a long ball goalwards. Menton lost his bearings and Paddy O'Rourke finished to the bottom left corner to boost Skryne to a 2-8 to 1-6 lead. That goal knocked the stuffing out of Donaghmore/Ashbourne. Try as they might they couldn't get close enough and their frustrations boiled over. Skryne were fully deserving of their win and place in the last four against Dunboyne or Walterstown. They got off to a blistering start when Paddy O'Rourke's shot was blocked by Eoin Reilly, but Kevin Mulvaney slotted the rebound to the net. Boosted by that, and a mercurial display from Trevor Giles, Skryne looked more than capable of withstanding everything Donaghmore/Ashbourne could muster. Lenehan was also magnificent throughout and with Mark Battersby causing problems it was Skryne's evening. After Mulvaney's third minute goal Skryne added points from Brian Davis and Ian Davis (free) to open up a 1-2 to 0-0 lead. It took Donaghmore/Ashbourne until the 12th minute before they finally broke down the Skryne rearguard with a David Morgan goal after a brilliant pass from Andrew Tormey. Paddy O'Rourke responded with a booming point from 42 metres and when he kicked a 13-metre free two minutes later Skryne's advantage was 1-4 to 1-0. Morgan pointed easily before Skryne should have had a penalty when Mulvaney was clearly fouled by Sean Curran. Spurred on by that lost opportunity Skryne added further points from Davis (free), Hegarty and Paddy O'Rourke (free) before Ian Dowd responded with a point to leave Donaghmore/Ashbourne trailing by 1-2 to 1-7 at the break. After the resumption and following a minor re-shuffle, McEntee's men looked like getting on top when points from the impressive Ciaran Ellis, Niall Farrell and Tormey narrowed the deficit to 1-5 to 1-7. Paddy O'Rourke settled Skryne's nerves with a 35-metre free after substitute Patrick Fox was fouled. Donaghmore/Ashbourne were denied a goal when Felim O'Rourke saved well from Morgan. Tormey pointed a free, but the issue was put beyond doubt when Paddy O'Rourke netted. The remainder was scrappy. Ellis added his second point to narrow the gap to 1-7 to 2-8, but that was as close as Donaghmore/Ashbourne could get as a brace of pointed frees from Paddy O'Rourke and a Fox point ended their scoring amidst disgraceful scenes that are sure to have further repercussions. Skryne - F O'Rourke; A Curry, D Beaton, V O'Reilly; J Looby, C Lenehan, J Hegarty (0-1); D McGoldrick, I Davis (0-2 frees); P O'Rourke (1-6, five frees), T Giles, B Davis (0-1); K Mulvaney (1-0), A Carty, M Battersby. Subs - P Fox (0-1) for Mulvaney half-time, A Tuite for Carty 46 mins, J Quinn for Looby 49m. Donaghmore/Ashbourne - P Durkan; M Roche, C McGill, S Curran; C Ellis (0-2), C O Mealoid, T Kelly; B Menton, E Reilly; E Riordan, N Farrell (0-2), K Lanigan; D Morgan (1-1), I Dowd (0-1), A Tormey (0-2, one free). Subs - R O'Connor for O Mealoid 26 mins, R Maguire for Riordan 46m. Referee - Joey Curley (Moynalty).