O’Rourke scores last gasp winner for Skryne

THEY don’t own the copyright on sporting drama in Meath but they might want to consider a visit to the patents office after a county football final that brought down the curtain on a memorable season.

Paddy O’Rourke’s winning score came from the last kick of the game and was a brilliantly struck ‘45 from a man associated with guarding the sticks for the county rather than splitting them with his club.

With the clock deep into injury-time, Joe Sheridan – yes, him again – was reprimanded by referee Brendan Darby for failing to give the kicker sufficient room and the ball was duly brought forward ten yards.

Cue howls of outrage from the stands and roars of protest from the Seneschalstown players before Darby realised the illegality of his punishment and reverted to the original spot.

It didn’t matter. O’Rourke struck the ball sweetly and was already wheeling away to the terraces in celebration by the time the white flag was raised and Darby had time to blow the last whistle.

Scorers for Skryne: I Davis (0-8 (0-4 frees); P O’Rourke 0-7 (0-4 frees, 0-1 45’); K Mulvaney 0-2; C Lenehan 0-1; J Hegarty 0-1; B Byrne 0-1; M Battersby 0-1.

Scorers for Seneschalstown: B Sheridan 1-5 (0-4 frees); J Sheridan 2-1; S Finnegan 1-1; C Quinn 0-1.

Referee: B Darby (Ballinabrackey).