A League Division 3a – Round 4. Skryne 1-11 Carnaross 0-14

A game of two halves would best describe this evening’s A League Division 3a game between Skryne and Carnaross.

In the first quarter of the game, Carnaross were rampant , reeling off ten points without a reply from Skryne. They added another two points in the second quarter to reach a first half tally of twelve points. Frank Carty finally got Skryne off the mark on the 17th minute with a point from play. Neil Burke added a free before Oisín Keogh added Skryne’s third point with two minutes remaining in the half. Carnaross had a healthy nine point lead and looked odds on to leave Skryne on the back of a comfortable victory. Half-time: Skryne 0-3, Carnaross 0-12

Skryne did some serious soul searching at half time and returned to the pitch a different team. The introduction of the experienced Stephen O’Brien who went on to have a man of the match performance was a factor, but it was the added desire and never give up attitude from the Skryne men that was to turn this game around on the resumption. James Reddy asked his team to keep Carnaross scoreless for the first few minutes of the half and to work their way back into the game. Skryne certainly delivered on this request, keeping the Carnaross men scoreless until the 28th minute of the half. They did this by closing down the space and fighting for every ball with the Skryne men forcing Carnaross to take snapshots rather than measured scores and also turning over possession time and time again in a fantastic display of dogged, determined defending. Meanwhile at the other end, Skryne went about their task of reducing the deficit with Neil Burke (2 points) and Oisín Keogh adding three points for Skryne inside the first five minutes of the half to trim the Carnaross lead back to a manageble six points. Further points from Burke(a free), Kian Reddy and another from Oisín Keogh saw Skryne cut the deficit to just three points at the midway point of the half and suddenly it was game on. However, Skryne hit a bit of a lull and didn’t hit the target again until the 25th minute of the half when Neil Burke pointed another free. Carnaross finally opened their second half scoring on the 28th minute to halt Skryne’s momentum, but Stephen O’Brien’s run and shot brought Skryne within two points of the Carnaross men. From the kickout, Aidan Tuite plucked the ball out of the sky and laid off to Stephen O’Brien who found Kris Kinsella making a run from deep into the Carnaross penalty area. Kris hit a low shot into the bottom left of the Carnaross net to put Skryne ahead by a single point with time almost up.

Carnaross broke forward and narrowly missed hitting an equalising point. The kickout was won by Carnaross who looked to move the ball forward quickly. The Skryne defence were adjudged to have fouled a Carnaross attacker 30 yards from the goal directly in front of the posts. While there was a lot of pressure on the kick, the freetaker kept his cool and slotted over to level the game. Referee Liam O’Brien blew the full-time whistle and the teams had to settle for a share of the spoils in what was a very entertaining game of football.

Skryne – Cian Donohoe; Scott Armstrong, Andrew Moore, Kristoffer Kinsella(1-0); Frank Carty(0-1), Tommy Carpenter, Jack Swan; David McGoldrick., Jack O’Donnell; Paddy Carpenter, Neil Burke (0-5, 3fs) Niall Morland; Mark Swan, Oisín Keogh(0-3), Craig Nolan.

Subs used – Stephen O’Brien(0-1), Kian Reddy(0-1), Aidan Tuite.

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