Skryne U16 girls got their Div 3 League campaign off to a winning start when they took on Summerhill under lights in Father Mc Manus Park on Wednesday 14th April. To say the Skryne girls went on a scoring rampage is to put it mildly and this game was over as a contest from mid way through the opening half. The scoring feast started for Skryne when Margaret Fox found the back of the Summerhill net just two minutes into the half. Within minutes Saoirse Mc Grath added a second goal for the home side and this was followed by Catriona Keoghan who rattled the back of the opposition net on the 6th minute. It was obvious Summerhill were now rattled and things did not get any better when the Skryne girls added a further three points without reply between the 7th and 11th minutes of the half These scores coming from Margret Fox, Catriona Keoghan and Lizzie Mooreland respectively. Young Mooreland was back on the scoreboard again a minute later when she put one past the Summerhill goalkeeper. Skryne were ahead on a scoreline 4 – 3 to 0 – 0, on the 13th minute the half. The scoring rampage continued when Catriona Keoghan split the opposition uprights scoring a point from play followed by Saoirse McGrath who converted a free kick to chalk up another point for the home side.
The Skryne girls were now playing top class football displaying a maturity and composure way beyond their years. The fact a number of this team also line out for the Skryne senior ladies team certainly showed. However, it was Megan O’Brien an U14 member of the squad who claimed the next point for the home side much to the delight of the home supporters. Catriona Keoghan then claimed a hat trick when she bagged two more goals on the 20th and 22nd minutes. In between these scores Summerhill claimed their first score of the evening on the 20th minute when they converted a point from play. This was cancelled out when Sophie Halpin came on a dashing run from the Skryne half back line to get into the scoring action when she claimed her first point of the evening. The final scores of the half were executed by Katriona Keoghan and Eimear Clarke who registered a point each to leave the scores at the break: Skryne 6 – 9, Summerhill 0 – 1.
Skryne started the second half with a little wayward shooting when they registered four wides in as many minutes. Any thoughts Summerhill might have entertained about a comeback were soon dashed when Lizzie Mooreland scored her second goal of the evening. Lizzie lined out for the Skryne U14 side just prior to this game but was showing no ill effects from this. Eimear Clarke the Skryne midfielder had now caught the scoring bug when she took two points from play in the 5th and 6th minutes bringing her total thus far to three points. On and on the onslaught went when Skryne and Meath half forward Saoirse McGrath popped up for another point for the home side. Saoirse was playing her usual running game causing panic in the Summerhill rear guard and was responsible for setting up a number of Skryne scores. Eimear Clarke showed she had no intention of hanging up her scoring boots when she struck further points on the 12th and 14th minutes. In between this Margret Fox heralded her return to football when she bagged her second goal to drive a further nail firmly into the Summerhill coffin. The 16th minute saw Catriona Keoghan add to her ever growing tally of scores when she struck another point followed by a Sophie Halpin point that had moved up from the back line to get into the scoring action. There now appeared to be resurgence in the Summerhill attack when they netted a goal in the 17th minute. However, this was to prove short-lived as Skryne added two additional points in short succession coming from the boots of Megan O’Brien and Rachel Whelan. The Skryne rearguard were definitely not making life easy for the Summerhill attack with Aoife Swan, Deirdre Kennedy, Racheal Whelan, Sophie Halpin, Cody Swan and Niamh O’Brien out first to every ball coming their way. Chloe O’Sullivan custodian of the Skryne goalmouth contributed to the Skryne onslaught with the pin point accuracy of her kicks out as well as handling anything coming her way with great composure. We were now in the 23rd minute of the second half and the Skryne girls showed little intention of easing up despite their huge lead. Megan O’Brien the Skryne full forward went on a scoring rampage of her own when she struck 3 – 1 in the final minutes with Sophie Halpin adding on a goal of her own to leave the scores at the final whistle: Skryne 12 – 19, Summerhill 1 – 2.
This was a performance and a half by the Skryne youngsters who showed their intentions right from the very start. The hunger they displayed throughout the game was admirable and particularly so as they never eased up despite their huge lead. Their were a number of great individual performances but it was the team spirit on display which was most noteworthy. It is of little surprise to note many of this side were part of the U19 winning team that won out their divisional final in recent weeks. The contribution of the U14 members of the squad was particularly impressive and with this squad of players available at U16 level who knows what can be achieved. Team manager Margret Moore was well pleased not with just the outcome but also with the manner in which it was achieved. She was fulsome in her praise of her charges after the game.
Team – Chloe O’Sullivan; Cody Swan, Aoife Swan, Sophie Halpin { 1 – 2}; Rachael Whelan {0 – 1}, Deidre Kennedy, Niamh O’ Brien; Margret Fox { 2 – 1}, Eimear Clasrke; {0 – 5}; Catriona Keoghan { 3 – 4}, Saoirse McGrath { 1 – 2}, Lizzy Moreland { 2 – 1;} Megan O’Brien [3-3}.
