Skryne U10’s year was coming to an end for 2012 unfortunately. The batteries need to be recharged for the winter months and we are already planning ahead for 2013. But there was one more thing that we had to do. The decision as mad as it may sound was to play a final match at home at Fr Manus Park. The match was going to be a game between the U10’s and the “Overs”, the Overs being the parents of the kids, and boy what a match it was going to be.
The game was scheduled for Saturday 27th of October. It was a little chilly but a beautiful day. It was perfect for the game. We played a full size pitch with 20mins per side. The game was scheduled to kick off at 3.00pm after the U8’s had their final training session. There was a panel of 17 U10’s available. Normally we have 26 but due to some kids with colds and unable to make it the numbers were smaller than normal. On the other side we had 12 adults. We had Senan Mc Grath to do a video of the match with Noreen Swan carrying out the commentary. Also Hugh Mc Nelis who has done a great job as being the under-age pro who took some time out of his busy schedule to take some photos. We cannot thanks these people enough for making the final day a momentous one for the U10’s of 2012.
The match got under way with Pat Hawes as referee. The ball was thrown between Shane Smyth
& Niall Finnerty for the U10’s, and Dervla Clarke & Triona Grendon for the overs. The overs won the throw up (no surprise there), and Triona moved the ball to Declan Smyth who went on the attack for the first score. Declan then lost possession and Niall Finnerty went on a surging attack and was fouled by Declan. The young lads were really up for this match and the Overs may not have got any sleep with the excitement. The ball stayed a lot in the Overs defensive line as the U10’s attacked in waves. Alex Grendon sent a high ball in and Tony Morland who was the Overs goalie caught the ball and straight away the Overs again went on the attack. The ball was passed to Dervla Clarke who sent it onto Cormac Grendon. A long ball was driven to Darragh Swan and Declan Smyth and James Reddy linked up. Declan Smyth sent a ball into Darragh Swan and Owen Smyth who was helping the U10’s in goal saved it for the first 45 of the game. Dervla took a quick 45 to Cormac who was unable to hold the ball and the U10s went on the attack again. A 50 / 50 ball went to David Keogh who let a roar out to try and put the U10’s off this did not work. The U10’s were like greyhounds out of the traps while the overs were not as quick. There was 4 mins gone and Alex O Reilly hit the cross bar for the U10’s. Out of the 4 mins played 75% of the play was in the Overs defence. The ball came back out and Niall Finnerty for the U10’s scored his first point after 4 mins of play. A quick kick out was taken and David Keogh gave a pass and Alex Bartley caught it and went on the attack. Niall Morland linked up well with Shane Smyth and the U10’s put their first wide of the game. After 5 mins the overs kicked the ball out and yet again lost possession. Alex Grendon linked up with Niall Finnerty who scored a second point of the game. The overs were in trouble. The score board after 6 mins read Skryne Overs 0-0 Skryne U10’s 0-2. Tony Morland kicked the ball out to Martin Curran and he linked up well with Dervla Clarke who unfortunately took one solo too many and lost possession. The U10’s were on the attack again. The ball went to Alex Grendon who flicked it up and lost it again to regain possession Martin Curran for the overs gave a blatant push to Alex Grendon and should have got a yellow card. But with one of the overs (Pat Hawes) refereeing the game that wasn’t going to happen.
Alex Grendon took a quick free to Shane Smyth who tried to link up Niall Finnerty but Martin Curran was back to cover up. The overs went on the attack and looked dangerous. A pass was sent to Donal Reilly who kicked it long but Gary Browne covered the defensive line well as he has always done throughout the year. The ball was kicked to Billy Reilly who linked up with Nathan Chawke and gave a good pass in. It was now end to end stuff and with 9 Mins gone the overs were yet to score. Dervla who was playing well for the overs gave a ball into Declan Smyth who was clear on goal but Owen pulled off a great save and came charging out with the ball. It was going to be really hard for the overs to score. The ball was back up in the defensive line. David Keogh who must have thought enough is enough got the ball and was like a bullet coming out of a shot gun and ran down the field with the ball like Husain Bolt. He made a quick pass to Dervla who laid it off to Declan and David who was running that quick and couldn’t stop was awaiting a pass back from Declan but was unable to keep it. Scott Armstrong was quick to pick up the ball and made a quick dash towards Dervla but just lost it. Dervla was 35 mtrs out and took a shot for a point and scored the Overs first score with 8mins on the clock. The quick kick out was taken to Alex Curran who sent a long ball up to Alex Grendon and onto Niall Morland. The game was moving that quick even Senan the camera man found it hard to keep up with the speed of the U10’s. The Forward for the U 10’s were playing well with Jack
Swan, Kian Reddy Alex O Reilly, Alex Bartley, Alex Curran and Billy Reilly all playing well. A high ball kicked by Cormac Grendon into Daragh Swan was caught by Owen on the goal line. The ball came back out and the Overs had moved it up a gear. Dervla was sweeping up everything in midfield and linked well with Triona Grendon. Once again the overs were very sloppy with their play and lost possession. Gary Browne again took possession gave the ball to Niall Morland who was playing well and sent it onto Billy Reilly. Tony Morland then fouled Killian Cullen who was doing well linking up with the U10’s. Killian took the free kick which Martin Curran saved on the line. The ball went to David Keogh who gave a long ball to Declan and this time he made no mistake and stuck it in the back of the net. There was 15 mins gone and the score was Skryne U10’s 0-2 Skryne overs 1-01. A quick ball was sent up to Aaron Clarke and he passed it to Billy Reilly. Aaron Clarke was pulling his marker Martin Curran out to the wing who found it tough. The ball came to Dervla who sent it to Cormac Grendon and from 30 yards looked for a point and put it just wide. This was to be the last kick of the game for the first half. The score was Skryne U10’s 0-2 Skryne Overs 1-1. There was a minimal lead for the overs but the truth be known the overs where played off the pitch and were looking really tired. I can’t repeat what the team talk was at half time but the Overs were all too busy trying to get their breath back. We could have done with some of Sean Boylans magic potion.
The second half got under way and the U10’s started as they finished. It was like a tidal wave beating against the rocks. The Overs where under real pressure. Wave after wave attack came in and Niall Morland kicked a high ball in and Tony was off his line. Only for the clever thinking of Martin Curran there could have been another goal. Michael Reilly sent the ball out to Darragh Swan and the quick thinking of Sam Hawes stopped the attack of the overs. Young Sam Hawes is another one who has had a great season in defence with the U10’s. Niall Morland put on some pressure and sent the ball down to the forwards. Dave Keogh fouled young Niall Finnerty and David received the first yellow card from Cormac Grendon. There was a scramble in the box for the ball and Mick O Reilly got it away. The ball was sent up to James Reddy who linked up well with Pat Hawes and the pass went to David Keogh who scored the next point for the overs after 6 mins of the first half. After 23 Mins both Donal Reilly, James Reddy started to play well and gave the overs a good lift that was required. I think a lift to Swans pub for the overs may have been a better option. The overs where really struggling to score and I can’t emphasize enough on struggling. The U10’s were making the overs dizzy with their quick passing and Niall Morland now in midfield with Tony Morland. Martin Curran had switched to goals.
Martin came out of the goals and gave one of the U10’s a push in the back and the ref sent him to the sin bin for two mins. The look of relief on Martins face showed that he was tired and perhaps needed a break. This was at 23 mins gone. Alex O Reilly took a quick free to Shane Smyth who sent it to Kian Reddy. Declan Smyth who was in goals and was unable to hold it and Jack Swan was the first to react and score a goal for the U10’s. The overs where now on the back foot. The score was now Skryne U10’s 2-03 Skryne Overs 1-03. The ball was kicked to David Keogh who picked up Alex Bartley and ran with the ball. The ref allowed the play to continue as after all he was an over himself. The ball went to Pat Hawes who sent it to James Reddy who put the ball just to the left of the upright. The shooting boots where not on today. Triona Grendon was now the ref. The overs were now in the U10’s defence a lot and with 5 Mins left of the game it was 1-03 to 1-03. Pat Hawes got the ball and looked for a score and put it wide. Sean Mc Govern was playing well with Nathan Chawke very strong in defence. Shane Smyth who covered every blade of grass was working really hard as he has done throughout the year. The overs took a quick free out that went to Shane Smyth onto his brother Owen who was giving a helping hand to the U10’s. The ball was passed to Alex O Reilly and it was like the parting of the Red Sea. The overs defence opened up (I think it was down to tiredness and Alex O Reilly buried the ball into the back of the net. Skryne Overs went on the attack again. The ball went upto Daragh Swan who went for goal. This was disallowed as the Skryne overs had thrown the ball. Once again the ball went to the U10’s defence Sam Hawes sent it out onto Jason Reddy
onto Alex Bartley back to Jason who nearly put David Keogh and Pat Hawes through the net. The ball was sent long but it was too little too late as the U10’s had beaten the overs 3-03 to 1-03. The Skryne under 10’s really rubbed it in when they started singing “We are the champions”. The overs couldn’t complain as the better team won. It was a great day out and it makes you realise how good of a team that the U10’s are. We would like to thank the parents for all there help throughout the year. Along with Hugh Mc Nelis for the great photographs and giving up his time. Also Senan Mc Grath for doing the video along with Noreen swan for the great commentary.
Final score;
Skryne U10’s 3-03
Skryne Overs 1-03
Dual of the match : Daragh Swan against Sam Hawes & Niall Moreland.
The Skryne Overs : Darragh Swan, Tony Morland, Declan Smyth, James Reddy, Donal Reilly, Cormac Grendon, David Keogh, Martin Curran, Triona Grendon, Michael O Reilly, Pat Hawes, Dervla Clarke
Skryne U10’s : In no particular order Jack Swan, Niall Moreland, Shane Smyth, Owen Smyth (U14), Kian Reddy, Jason Reddy (U14), Billy Reilly, Alex Grendon, Alex Curran, Alex O Reilly, Killian Cullen, Sam Hawes, Aaron Clarke, Sean Mc Govern, Nathan Chawke, Scott Armstrong, Niall Finnerty, Alex Bartley, Gary Browne, Conor Mc Loughlin.
U10’s missing from the photo; Sean Keogh, Oisin Keogh, David Rathbourne, Aaron Murray, Paddy Wright, Killian Cahill, Oisin Mc Connell.
Thanks again and see you all next year !!!
Cormac & David.
You can watch a video slideshow from the game at http://youtu.be/heh4lflPyww .
