Skryne lose out to Ratoath.
Ratoath 1-15 Skryne 1-08
A League Division 2 – Final
The A League Division 2 Final played in blustery conditions in Pairc Tailteann yesterday Sunday 1st October turned out to be a disappointing end to the season for Skryne.
With promotion already secured for both these clubs the bonus was having silverware to show for their efforts at the end of a League season which began last February with the same two clubs in opposition in the first round. So Skryne’s season began and finished against Ratoath. Unfortunately for the Blues the result of both games was the same – victory for Ratoath.
Skryne started this game once again with three enforced changes from the printed official programme – missing were Dermot Brennan (away) and both Robbie Clarke and Colm Craigie out injured. Then the injury jinx for 2017 continued when Ronan McCabe’s first start of the season ended almost before it began when he was forced to retire with a leg injury seven minutes into the game.
Once again, as happened in practically every game this year, Skryne began well and despite playing against a ‘gale’ were on top for all but the last eight minutes of the first half. They went in at half time just four points behind 0-12 to 1-5 having led by 1-4 to 0-2 at one stage of this opening period.
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The second half was disappointing from Skryne’s perspective as they added only 3 more points with the aid of the strong breeze. When you consider that they scored 1-5 against the wind while Ratoath scored just 1-3 when they faced it, you realise the size of the Blues collapse in the second half.
Skryne had the deficit down to 2 points with ten minutes to go when they kicked two poor wides in their attempts to level the scores. Ratoath on the other hand, from the kickout from one of those wides went straight up the field and scored their goal which effectively won the match. So instead of being level, Skryne found themselves five points behind. Just to compound the issue Eoin Smyth was rather unfortunate to receive a contentious ‘red’ card at this point while Ratoaths Ciaran O’Fearriagh who retaliated got off Scot free. Ratoath coasted from there to the end of the game.
Eamon Wallace very unsportingly kicked the ball off the tee when Felim O’Rourke was about to take a kick out after the Ratoath goal. He received a yellow card but most people were of the opinion that it merited a black one.
But none of these issues were the reason Skryne lost the game. Their problems arose from the fact that only one forward scored for the entire game – Patrick O’Rourke hitting the target with 6 points and man of the match Paddy Carpenter adding 1-2 from wing back.
Those statistics will not win any game never mind a League Final.
Skryne – Felim O’Rourke. Timmy Lennon, Eoghan Greene, Declan Morley. Paddy Carpenter (1-2), Donie Ryan, Adam O’Sullivan. Aidan Tuite, Ciaran Lenehan. Eoin Smyth, Patrick O’Rourke (0-6), Paddy Fox. Ronan McCabe, Mark Battersby, Brian Davis.
Subs used – Jason Fox, Frank Carty, Neil Burke, David Carroll
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