Skryne U16 girls got their 2012 League campaign off to a winning start when they edged past their De Rangers opponents on Wednesday evening 28th March in Father McManus Park. A number of these girls were part of the Ladies team who demolished their Bective opponents on the previous Sunday at the same venue but Dee Rangers were expected to be a much sterner test. That is exactly what we got with this game going right down to the wire. Mick Ryan from Dunsany was the referee for this encounter and he got the game underway shortly after 7.30pm.
The game was just three minutes old when Skryne half forward Lizzie Morlande had the ball in the back of the opponents net to get the Tara girls off the mark. This was added to within a minute when Niamh O’Brien came running through from mid field to split the uprights which pushed her side further ahead. Dee Rangers were pressing hard at this stage in an attempt to get off the mark but the home side were defiant in their defence of their goal area. The 7th minute saw the visitors come close to scoring but golkeeper Vanessa Carolan frustrated their attempt at goal when she pulled off a first class save on her goalline. The next five minutes saw both sides guilty of some errant shooting with Dee Rangers hitting two wides and the home side putting three wide of the uprights. Dee Rangers finally got off the mark in the 13th minute when they struck for their first score which came in the form of a point to eat slightly into the Skryne lead.
Order was soon restored when Megan O’Brien Skryne half forward found the traget with a well taken point followed minutes later with a point from fellow half forward and namesake Eimear O’Brien to stretch hers sides lead on the 16th minute. Skryne were now dominating proceedings in a floodlight McManus Park but unfortunately their dominance was not converted into scores. The midfield pairing of Catriona Keoghan and Niamh O’Brien had an iron grip on proceedings in that sector of the pitch and were the springboard for most of the Skryne attacks. The next ten minutes saw the home side chalk up six wides on the trot before Dee rangers made a rare incursion into the Skryne goalmouth area. Their attempt at goal was again frustrated by the custodian of the Skryne goal Vanessa Carolan when she made another spectacular goal line stop to deny the opponents cause. Sarah Halpin in the corner forward position struck the last score of the half when she added a point to the Skryne first half tally on the 29th minute. Match referee Mick Ryan brought the first half to close minutes later leaving the scores at the break:
Skryne 1 – 4. Dee Rangers 0 – 1
The game so far was played in ideal conditions with little or no breeze to assist either side and that is how it continued during the second half. The sides exchanged points within two minutes of the resumption to leave the Skryne lead as it was at the break. Dee Rangers came out determined to make an impression as they pressed hard on the Skryne rearguard. Their attempts bore fruit on the 3rd minute in the form of a goal to put a dent in the home sides lead. The Tara girls were not going to be panicked by a resurgent Dee Rangers when they launched a number of attacks on the visitor’s goal. Unfortunately they struck two wides before Lizzie Morelande had a point from play on the 8th minute followed almost immediately by points from Megan and Eimear O’Brien to steady the Skryne ship. Dee Rangers were determined to keep the pressure on the dominant Skryne side when they added two points from play on the 13th and 14th minutes to leave the scores at this stage, Skryne 1 – 8. Dee Rangers 1 – 3 a five point advantage for the Tara girls. The home side rear guard were putting in a very strong performance denying their opponents any chance at the goal they so badly needed. Aoife Swan, Deridre Kennedy and Karen Russell stood up fortress like to the opponent raiders with Aishling Kellegher, Niamh Monaghan and Cody Swan in the half back line assisting the Skryne cause. The home side now had the bit between their teeth when Megan O’Brien added to her tally when she had a well taken point from play on the 22nd minute. This was followed a minute later with a point from play coming from the boot of Eimear O’Brien to push Skryne closer to the finish line. Dee Rangers were determined to still make a game of it when they had a well taken point from play on the 26th minute to keep them in touch. The Skryne management team of Jackie Wade and Liam Kellegher were urging their side on for the final minutes of the game. They must have been frustrated when they saw their side hit three wides in as many minutes before De Rangers struck for their second goal of the evening on the 29th minute. This was to prove too little too late as Mick Ryan sounded the final whistle a minute later to leave the scores at the death:
Skryne 1 – 10. Dee Rangers 2 – 4
This was a good solid performance by the Skryne girls and from mid way through the opening half were in command of the game. Given this was their first game of the season this performance was all the more impressive and they would be expected to press on from here. The goal form Dee Rangers at the death added drama to the occasion and made for a nail biting finish. The one area of concern was the tally of wides but this probably was due to the lack of competitive action more than anything else. This is an area I am sure that Jackie and Liam will address in training but I am confident they will be happy with the overall performance.
Team: Vanessa Carolan; Aoife Swan, Deidre Kennedy, Karen Russell; Aisling Kellegher, Niamh Monaghan, Cody Swan; Catriona Keoghan, Niamh O’Brien{0-1}; Eimear O’Brien{0-3}, Lizzie Morlande{1-1}, Megan O’Brien{0-4}; Sarah Halpin{0-1}, Rosin Brennan, S. Lennon. Subs: Emma Rathborne, Katie Whyte, Rachael Irwin.
