Skryne met St. Colmcilles in Ashbourne on Saturday afternoon, in what proved to be a very exciting under 14 Feile final. Skryne got off to the perfect start when, from the throw in Eoin Smyth sent the ball straight to Jason Reddy and within 30 seconds Skryne had taken the lead. Skryne playing with the advantage of the wind and Jason Reddy in top form took control of the game. With Colmcilles under a lot of pressure Skryne’s Darren Fox and David Carroll each had a goal chance but both were well saved by Colmcilles keeper Andrew Beakey. When the half – time whistle blew Skryne had held Colmcilles scoreless. Colmcilles had a few chances but Skryne’s half-back line of Dara Campion, Michael Doherty and James Finnerty were in superb form and stopped Colmcilles every time. So at half-time, the score was Skryne 0-8, Colmcilles 0-0. Jason Reddy had scored 6 points and Darren Fox and Paddy Carpenter had one each also.
The second half began with Colmcilles getting on the score board straight away with a pointed free from James Conlon. Conlon then passed into Jack Bohan who got a goal reducing Skryne’s lead to four within five minutes. Reddy increased Skryne’s lead back to five after a pin point pass from Frank Carty. But from Beakey’s kick-out Colmcilles moved up the field and Gerard McDowell got the sea-siders second goal. Skryne’s lead was now down to two and game on. Colmcilles two main men of Conlon and Brodrick were after coming into the game since half-time but Skryne were not going to go out without a fight. Dean Reddy after having little to do in the first half began to take control of all high balls that were coming his way. Darren Fox (captain) with a great catch passed to Colm McLoughlin who easily pointed. But a point each from Conlon and James McAlearney reduced Skryne’s lead to one point again and with 5 minutes remaining and Colmcilles pressing forward Skryne broke from midfield with Eoin Smyth finding Reddy and Reddy returning to Smyth who surged through and placed the ball in the back of the Colmcilles net to the relief of the large Skryne following and securing a memorable win for the Tara lads. Reddy went on to point a free in injury time increasing his tally to nine points. When the final whistle blew the score board read Skryne 1:12, Colmcilles 2:4.
This was an example of a true team performance from the Tara lads from Fiachra Finnegan in Goals and superb defending from Colm Craigie, Robbie Clarke, D Reddy, M Doherty, James Finnerty and Darragh Campion. The two hard working mid-fielders of Eoin Smyth and Cian Twomey who worked relentlessly up and down the field through- out the whole game. The forward unit of F.Carty, D. Fox, P.Carpenter, D. Carroll, C. McLoughlin and J. Reddy and to the willing substitutes of A. Moore, C. Doherty, P. Finnerty, T. Carpenter and T. Kelly who all contributed to a very memorable and historic win. This was the first time in Skryne’s long football history to qualify for the all Ireland Feile. Congratulations to all the lads above, as well as the team mentors James Reddy and Declan Smyth. The inter-county Feile which kicks off at host club Shamrocks near Tullamore on 22nd June, with games throughout the weekend until the Div1 finals in Portlaoise on Sunday 24th June.
The panel on the day was:
Fiachra Finnegan, Colm Craigie, Robbie Clarke, Dean Reddy, Michael Doherty, James Finnerty, Darragh Campion, Eoin Smyth(1-0) Cian Twomey, Frank Carty, Darren Fox(0-1), Paddy Carpenter(0-1), David Carroll, Colm McLoughlin(0-1), Jason Reddy(0-9), A. Moore, C. Doherty, P. Finnerty, T. Carpenter and T. Kelly
