Skryne were left reeling the “Blues” from some missed opportunities in the first half. The game was played at Father Mc Manus Park on Sunday 2nd with a throw in of 11.30am. Again another cross wind was blowing and it was slippy under foot but it was certainly a great day for a game with a low sun shining down in Skryne.
Coralstown Kinnegad arrived in Skryne with 15 players and Skryne had 17 players. The man in the middle was that of Martin Dawson who most certainly doesn’t need a sat nav to get to Skryne. The midfield duo of Robert Gallagher and Josh Grendon won the throw in and launched Skryne first attack. A well worked ball to Billy Smith saw him register the first score on three minutes. Skryne won the kick out the Corasltown / Kinnegad kick out with Tom Lenihan gathering the ball. Lenihan went at the defensive line and with Skryne playing into the car park end he was brought down. Kieron Fox stepped up to take the free and just put it wide. Skryne’s tails were up and had dominated the first 10mins. Kinnegad launched their own attack and needed a score badly. A Skryne player brought down a Kinnegad player as were awarded a free 35 mtrs out. Coralstown Kinnegad scored their first of the game 11 mins in. Immediately Skryne went on the attack with a kick out from Matthew Ryan to Ciaran Quinn a well passed ball to Tom Lenihan saw him brought down in the box for a penalty. Andrew Canavan took the penalty to slot it into the top right hand corner. Skryne were back in control!!! Coralstown Kinnegad launched another attack and the well worked defence of Darragh O Dowd & Co forced the player wide and into taking a snap shot for a score that drifted wide. The defence line was having a fantastic game. The game was end to end and Skryne should have been further ahead but with two wides these would come back to haunt them. It was definitely all Skryne as Josh Grendon registered his first point of 2020 with 20 mins gone. Coralstown / Kinnegad were struggling to get the ball past midfield and this was all down to the fantastic work rate of the Skryne team. Grendon should have had a goal but for him to take his eye off the ball and the keeper was out to take the ball from the attack of Skryne. 28 Mins in Kieron Fox registered the next score right. Cillian manning, Darragh O Dowd, Ben Armstrong, James Reeves and Ben Mooney were fantastic in defence and broke down every attack. Ciaran Quinn gave an expedition in diving blocks. Coralstown launched their second point of the 1st half and Martin Dawson blew the half time whistle.
Half time Score
Skryne 1-04
Coralstown / Kinnegad 0-2
The second half got underway and Skryne left it too late to get going. After having at least 75% of the play it was definitely a game of two halves. Skryne let Coralstown take control of the game as they launched their first attack to just put the ball wide. Corralstown Kinnegad launched another attack and scored a goal for and it was obvious they wanted to take control. It was a long ball in that dipped over Matthews head. A minute later Corralstown scored another goal and a team that was playing really well in the first half never came out of the traps at all. Skryne were struggling to get out of defence as Coralstown went onto register there another point. Skryne were panicking when there was really no need to as they were only two points behind. After playing so well in the first half things were not happening as they would have liked. Corralstown Kinnegad launched a high ball in and a superb punch of the ball from Ryan in goals saw the ball break down to an opposing player who took a shot on goal for Ryans quick reaction and dive to the right hand side to push the ball out for a 45. Skryne got some composure and a well worked ball saw Smyth brought down to earn a free 20mtrs out. Smyth registered a score from his free 14mins in. The game was played end to end with Skryne behind by a single point. Corralstown certainly owned the second half but were not giving in. Skryne launched another attack and a ball from Quinn that looked to have gone just too far for Smyth to get his foot on it to slot it past the keeper. Skryne were now up by two points. Skryne seemed to be getting a hold of this game when Robert Gallagher who played really well for the entire game went for a score on the outside of the right foot to hit the top of the post and the ball was inches wide. Corralstown Kinnegad needed a goal to take the lead and that they just did. A kick out from the keeper saw the ball go wide and a long ball into the Coralstown Kinnegad player saw an attack on the Skryne goals. A shot that credit where credit is due went into the top corner. Coralstown were now a point ahead and Skryne launched their own attack with time nearly up. Skryne ran at the attack only for them to take three touches and the referee to blow the final whistle. Skryne lost the game down to some errors but with the first of the games for the season should look at a lot of positives to be taken from the game and specially that of the first half. The team really jelled well in the first half with some great attacks and fantastic defensive work. It was a game that Skryne should have been further ahead at half time and something the lads will work and learn on. Hard luck to the players and management who’s next game is away to Edenderry on the 22nd of February.
Skryne Team:
Management : Johnny Quinn, Des Manning, Nigel Fox
Players : Andrew Canavan, Zach Lamar, Killian Manning, Darragh O Dowd, James Reeves, Robert Gallagher, Stpehen Corry, Josh Grendon, Kieron Fox, Cian Mc Carthy, Ben Armstrong, Charlie Swan, Ciaran Quinn, Matthew Ryan, Tom Lenihan, Billy Smyth, Conor Mc Manus, Ben Armstrong.
Final score
Skryne 2-05
Coralstown Kinnegad 3-3
