This year under the astute tutelage of Mick O’Dowd and his coaching team of Conor Scully, Aidan Tuite, Ciarán O’Dwyer, Strength and Conditioning Coach Aaron McNally and Vinny O’Reilly the Skryne Senior Team reached their first Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football championship semi-final since 2016. While Skryne fell just short against an experienced and ruthless Wolfe Tones team yesterday, the lads can be immensely proud of what they have achieved this year.
Last year is remembered as the year that Skryne held onto their Senior status by the skin of their teeth with Padraig Finnerty bagging a late goal to see the Boys in Blue hold on for the victory against Moynalvey in the Relegation Final to ensure an 87th consecutive year of championship football for the Taramen. However, there was evidence of the talent that lay in this team. Lest not forget the first halves of the Ballinabrackey and Moynalvey games in last year’s championship where Skryne dominated.
The arrival of Micko has brought a calmness and togetherness to the squad, a die for each other mentality, a pride in the blue jersey that is central to the Skryne ethos. Micko preaches the Skryne way and he has instilled that vision in the lads. Each member of the panel and extended panel is as important a cog in the Skryne machine as the other.
This belief saw them overpower last year’s championship runners-up Ratoath in the opening round of the championship in Ashbourne. A powerful first half performance saw Skryne overturn possession time after time and punish their opponents with swift counter-attacks that saw them lead by four points at the interval. Ratoath hit a purple patch in the third quarter and drew level. However, Skryne didn’t panic and poached a goal and a point to lead by four points. Despite two late points from Ratoath, Skryne held on for a two point victory.
Round 2 showed Skryne’s battling qualities. This was not a classic performance from the boys in blue and Rathkenny proved to be a hard nut to crack. It took a late injury time 45 for Skryne to rescue a draw and grind out the result.
Skryne needed a win in Round 3 against Trim in Dunsany to secure safe passage through to the quarter-final. Trim threw everything at Skryne in the opening half, but Skryne’s defence repelled the attacks restricting Trim to just five points while they counter attacked and picked off scores at the other end to lead by 0-06 to 0-05 at half-time. An electric second-half attacking performance saw Skryne outscore Trim by 1-10 to 1-03 to romp to an eight point victory.
The quarter-final saw Skryne make their first trip to Pairc Tailteann where buoyed by the vocal Skryne crowd, they again produced an excellent slick counter-attacking display which saw them lead by thirteen points in the 55th minute on a scoreline of 3-11 to 0-07 before they conceded two late goals and a point to leave the result somewhat flattering for the Cilles.
Then there was the semi-final, a game that could have been responsible for an upsurge in coronary related illnesses such was the drama! Skryne made a flying start to this game and dominated the opening quarter leading 0-05 to 0-01 at the end of the quarter, but Tones fought back to level matters as the sides departed the Pairc Tailteann pitch at half-time. Skryne again cranked up the pressure and moved two points clear following the resumption. However, Tones showed a ruthless streak when Skryne were temporarily reduced to 14 men following a black card. They loaded their forward line and hit 2-02 without a reply from Skryne to lead 2-08 to 0-08 with just 11 minutes remaining. It looked like Skryne’s goose was cooked. However, the lads showed extraordinary determination to reel the Tones in point by point only to draw level with a superb injury point free from Darragh Campion to level matters and send the game to injury. At that point it was Skryne who looked the most likely to win. Skryne continued to push forward in the first half of extra-time out-scoring the Tones by 0-03 to 0-01 to lead by 0-17 to 2-09 at the break. It was looking good for Skryne with only one half of 10 minutes remaining to secure a berth in the final. However, Tones have proven time and time again that they shouldn’t be written off. A point plus a Kyle Moran goal put them three ahead with seconds remaining, before Skryne looked to have scored a goal to level matters after Neil Burke dropped an inviting ball into the Wolfe Tones square and it was punched to the net much to the delight of the raucous Skryne support. But then it was heartbreak as the officials called a square ball and the goal was disallowed. The ball was kicked out of play by the Tones who thought the game was over, but there was still time and Skryne launched another ball into the Tones penalty area in search of a goal. This time the Tones won possession and launched a counter attack. Skryne had nobody minding house at the back as they had committed everything forward. Sean Penny raced the length of the pitch before rifling the ball past Ian Gillett to finally put the result beyond doubt.
The lads were devastated, but they can hold their heads high. This is a young squad of players who have shown so much quality this year. The foundation is strong and there is huge optimisim ahead of next year. For the time being, the lads will take stock and will reflect on a really successful year.
Tomorrow evening, they will turn out to support the other members of the squad who will be fighting to retain their Division 1 status in the Premier Football Championship. It is this team spirit that has been behind their success.
In the words of the inspirational young American poet Mattie Stepanek “Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.”
Well done lads from all the proud Skryne supporters!
Senior squad vs Wolfe Tones: Ian Gillett, Stephen O’Brien, Michael Doherty, Jack Swan, Shane Smyth, James Reeves, John O Regan, James Finnerty, Harry Rooney, Padraig Finnerty, Niall Finnerty, John Finnerty, Conor O Brien, Darragh Campion, Billy Smyth, Cian Donohoe, Ciaran Lenehan, Oisin Keogh, Conor Donohoe, Neil Burke, Patrick Fox, Mark Battersby, Niall Lenehan, Paddy Carpenter, Mark Swan, Ciaran Quinn, Charlie Swan, Darragh O Dowd, Niall Morland, Andrew Canavan, Daniel Fitzpatrick, Tom Lenehan.
