Skryne 2-08 Dunshaughlin 0-10
U21 Football Championship, Semi-final
Skryne reached the under 21 final for the first time since 2006 when they defeated Dunshaughlin in an excellent game despite the conditions. The game was moved from Duleek to Martry due to the fact that Duleek was unplayable as were most pitches in the county as a result of the incessant rainfall over the last week.
The underfoot conditions were heavy and slippy for the midday throw-in with some parts of the pitch just about passing referee Liam O’Briens pre match inspection. Allowing for this both teams served up some very entertaining football with Dunshaughlin starting well, scoring the first 2 points of the game. Skryne replied with 2 Neal Burke points and another from Stephen O’Brien who was arguably Skryne’s man-of-the-match. With half time approaching the Black and Ambers had a 5 points to 3 lead which they fully deserved on their performance up to that stage. But then came the two decisive scores of the game as the Blues scored two goals in as many minutes. The first of these was the score of the game and would be deserving to be the winning score of any match. It started from the Skryne fullback line with Darragh Campion being involved all the way up the field until his final pass ended with a simple tap in goal for Conor O’Brien. The second followed very quickly with Paddy Doherty fisting a high centre to the net leaving the Halftime score – Skryne 2-3 Dunshaughlin 0-5.
Skryne had the benefit of the slight breeze in the second half and started brightly but found scores hard to cone by as the pitch proved difficult for both sides. The Blues went seven points clear at one stage of this half but Dunshaughlin to their credit brought it back to a three point game with just five minutes remaining. Skrynes last two points came from their two substitutes Eoin Smyth and Jason Fox. As stated with just one score, three points, between the sides that last score from Jason brought relief to the hard pressed Skryne defence and their uneasy backroom team and small band of supporters.
A feature of the game was the fact that even in such difficult conditions only three points of the total 20 scores came from frees – two to Dunshaughlin and one to Skryne. With ten scores each this is surely a compliment to both teams which made for an entertaining and free flowing match.
Apart from the players already mentioned Skryne had good displays from Dean Reddy in goals, Niall Lenehan, Enda Byrne and Oisin Gryson in defence while Harry Rooney and Donie Ryan gave them a slight edge in midfield. Upfront, apart from the scorers already mentioned, Stephen Rathbourne brought fresh legs and stability to this area when introduced.
Skryne – Dean Reddy. Eoghan Greene, Niall Lenehan, Enda Byrne. Niall Morley, Oisin Gryson, Darragh Campion. Donie Ryan, Harry Rooney. Sean Cassidy, Neal Burke (0-3), Stephen O’Brien (0-2). John Morley, Conor O’Brien (1-1), Paddy Doherty (1-0).
Subs used – Jason Fox (0-1), Eoin Smyth (0-1), Stephen Rathbourne.
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