Skryne lined out against Gael Comlcilles in the U19 league on Thursday evening 4th October and came away with a hard won draw in the Skryne home ground, Father McManus Park. The game was played in mostly dry conditions with the odd shower or two making an appearance throughout the game.
Match referee Mick Ryan from Dunsany got the game underway under lights at 8pm with Gael Colmcilles playing with wind advantage in the opening half.
The Gaels launched the first attack on the Skryne goal area in the 3rd minute but saw their attempt go right of the upright following on from the close attention of half back Deidre Kennedy. This was followed almost immediately with another missed opportunity from the visitors due in no small part to the resolute defending from the Tara rearguard.
The 5th minute saw the first score of the evening coming from the boot of Skryne half forward Cody Swan when she split the uprights following on good work from Ruth Moore and Saoirse McGrath in the full forward line.
The Tara side sent their next three attempts wide of the uprights before the ever busy Melanie Kirwan found the back of the net for Skryne when she was set up by Ruth Moore on the 8th minute to open up a gap between the sides at this early stage.
Gael Colmcilles were pressing hard to keep in touch and this they did when they found the back of the Skryne net on the 9th minute to leave just a point between the sides and the game well and truly on. The visitors were now playing with a renewed sense of purpose and they again found the Tara side net on the 10th minute to put them ahead for the first time in the game.
It was apparent at this early stage in the game we were in for a close encounter with little between the sides and the game likely to go down to the wire.
The Tara side missed their next attempt at a point before full forward Ruth Moore had the ball in the net, however, the whistle had been blown for a foul on Ruth and the goal did not stand. The free taken by Ruth More saw the ball sail between the uprights leaving just a point between the sides at the mid way stage of the half.
Skryne were now enjoying a slight period of dominance at this stage and this was borne out when half forward Melanie Kirwan struck her second goal of the half following on from a pass from team mate Megan O’Brien to put her side two points to the good on the 15th minute.
The Tara midfield pairing, Catriona Keoghan and Niamh O’Brien were getting through some good work in that sector and a foul on Niamh resulted in a free kick for the home side which Ruth Moore duly converted to stretch the Skryne lead on the 16th minute.
The Gaels got back into the action on the 20th minute but saw their next two attempts miss the target due to dogged defending from Ashling Kelleher and Orla Craigie in the Skryne back line. The visitors found the target on the 22nd minute when they struck an excellent point from play to claw back the lead slightly.
The visitors were determined to close the gap before the end of the half; however, they saw their next attempt dramatically saved on the line by custodian of the Skryne goal Roisin Gryson to deny Colmcilles on the 25th minute.
The game was now end to end stuff and next we saw a dramatic goal from the home side. This came from the boot of Catriona Koeghan who ran all the way through from centre field to rattle the Gaels net on the 26th minute laying down the challenge to the visiting side.
The Gaels responded to the challenge when they struck a point from play in the 28th minute, followed with a well taken goal on the 30th minute to leave the scores at the break:
Skryne 3 – 3. Gael Colmcilles 3 – 2.
The second half got underway with Skryne playing with wind advantage; however, the Gaels drew first blood when they had the ball in the home sides net to put them ahead for the second time in the game.
This lead was to prove short lived when Skryne corner forward Eimear O’Brien sent a high ball into the Gaels goal mouth which appeared to deceive the opposition goalkeeper. The ball found its way into the back of her net putting the Tara side back in front on the 32nd minute.
The response from the Gaels was almost immediate when they rattled the Skryne net to restore their lead on the 33rd minute.
The drama continued to unfold in front of our eyes when we saw the Tara side denied in the 35th minute when the ball was cleared off the line twice before they were awarded a free kick. Ruth Moore stepped up to take the free which she duly converted to leave the minimum between the sides on the 35th minute.
This was now a game of real twists and turns and the next twist came about on the 38th minute when the Gaels again found the back of the Tara side net to put four points between the sides. It has to be side the home side were guilty of some poor defending with some of the goals more at home on a soccer ground with the ball dribbled along the ground into the net.
The Gaels were back on the scoreboard with a pointed free kick on the 40th minute to which Skryne responded with two pointed free kicks on the 40th and 41st minutes coming from the boot of Ruth Moore to eat into their opponent’s lead.
The Tara side were continuing to press hard and this pressure bore fruit when Catriona Koeghan took an excellent point from play on the 42nd minute to leave two points between the sides and the game still there for the taking.
The game was now going at a frantic pace with hard battles fought throughout the pitch and both sides determined to gain the edge. The Tara side now enjoying a purple patch saw corner forward Eimear O’Brien collect a ball from Eimear Clarke and made no mistake when she hit the target to bag her second goal to send the home side back in front by the minimum on the 45th minute.
The rock steady full forward Ruth Moore added on another point for the home side a minute later this time from play to leave her side two points to the good.
The Tara side now sensed they had the momentum on their side and continued to press hard on the Gaels half. However, they spurned the opportunity to stretch their lead when the next three attempts went wide of the uprights.
Gael Colmcilles missed an opportunity of their own on the 50th minute, however the 51st minute saw another goal for the visitors followed a minute later by a further goal much to the dismay of the home support and opening up a four point gap in favour of the visiting side.
Skryne were now under pressure in the dying minutes and we saw them respond to that pressure in fine style when corner forward Saoirse McGrath set up Eimear Clarke who finished in fine style to the Gaels net on the 55th minute to again leave a point between the sides in favour of the Kell’s side.
The game was now there for the taking and the 56th minute saw the Tara side awarded a close range free kick following on from a foul on Ruth Moore. Ruth stepped up to take the free kick and sent a pile driver into the back of the opponents net to send her side in front by two points almost at the death.
It is said in another sporting code “it aint over till the fat lady sings” and this proved the case on this evening when the Gaels struck points from play on the 57th and 58th minutes to take a share of the spoils after an epic encounter.
Skryne Team – Roisin Gryson; Aoife Swan, Ashling Kelleher, Sophie Rooney; Deidre Kennedy, Orla Gragie, Megan O’Brien; Catriona Keoghan{1 – 1}, Niamh O’Brien; Cody Swan{ 0- 1}, Melanie Kirwan{2 – 0}, Eimear Clarke{1 – 0}; Eimear O’Brien{2 – 0}, Ruth Moore{1 – 6}, Saoirse McGrath. Subs – Karen Russell for Deidre Kenedy {Injury}.
