Skryne bow out of U19 League on score difference
Skryne 3-14, Wolfe Tones 3-14
Coolrite U-19 Football League – Division 2, Group B – Round 3
Round 3 of the U19 League was do or die for both of these teams. Skryne and Wolfe Tones had secured opening round victories over Walterstown. The margin of victory in the Walterstown games was to prove crucial at the end of this bout as it was score difference from the Walterstown games that would decide who advanced to the u19 Division 2 final to face Group A winners Trim and Wolfe Tones who had a bigger margin of victory over Walterstown were to snatch that coveted Final place after fighting back to level the game in Fr. McManus Park this evening.
Skryne got off to a blistering start in this game with Billy Smyth lofting over a two pointer followed quickly by a DJ O’Reilly goal to see Skryne race into a five point lead with barely 3 minutes on the clock. Wolfe Tones pulled two points back, but a rampant Skryne hit another goal- courtesy of DJ O’Reilly and five more points from Billy Smyth(2, 1 free), Zach Larmer, Tom Lenehan and O’Reilly – in the first quarter to lead by eleven points midway through the first half.
To the credit of Wolfe Tones, they fought back in the second quarter hitting one goal and seven points to just two points from Skryne. Indeed Skryne had goal keeper James Murphy to thank for ensuring the Tones were restricted to just a single goal in this period. After such a strong opening quarter Skryne lead by just three points at the break. Half-time: Skryne 2-09, Wolfe Tones 1-09.
Tones got out of the traps quickest in the second half and had added a goal and a point inside the first 2 minutes of the half to edge ahead for the first time in the game. Skryne settled into their stride and began to dominate again hitting four points and a Billy Smyth goal without a reply from the Tones to lead by six points at the midway point of the half.
However, in a mirror image of the opening half, Skryne lost their way and allowed the Tones back into the game. Tones began their comeback when they found the back of the net for the third time with 8 minutes remaining to reduce the deficit to just three points. A Billy Smyth point looked to have steadied the ship, but Tones kept chipping away at the lead and hit four points without reply in the final 4 minutes to draw level. Tones knew that they had the better score difference and played a very effective possession game in the final few minutes of the match to deny Skryne the chance to plunder a winning score. The final whistle brought the curtain down on a disappointing night for the lads.
Best of luck to the Tones in the final.
Skryne: James Murphy; Lucas Walsh, Luke Hanly, Max Corry; Cian McCarthy, Conor Reuter, Martin Wall; Cormac Pentony, Tom Lenehan(0-2); Daire Govern, Billy Smyth (1-9, 1 2p, 4f), Zach Larmer(0-1); Conor McManus, Liam Donohoe, DJ O’Reilly (2-2)
Subs used: Killian O’Dwyer, James Harrington, Ulick McDonnell, Finn Naughton, Johnny Swan, Niall Smyth, Conor Giles, Liam Fay, Conor Canavan.
Fancy a flutter!! Why not play Skryne GFC’s online BLOTTO. Jackpots of up to €10,000. Click here to play.
