Skryne U19 girls took to the field against Gael Colmcilles’, the Kells side, in the opening game of the 2011 Championship on Wednesday evening 12th October. This game was played under lights in Father McManus Park in what was a very calm and mild October evening. Skryne are, of course, the definding champions, so hopes were high in getting their campaign off to a winning start. Unfortunately, the home side suffered a defeat at the hands of their opponents in what proved to be a thrilling encounter right up to the final whistle.
The game opened up when the visitor’s struck a point from play within the 1st minute. However, this was more than cancelled out a minute later when Skryne centre forward Ruth Moore struck a goal for the home side. Skryne stretched their lead minutes later
when midfielder Emma Fitzpatrick found the target to claim a point. The 9th minute saw Gael Colmcille’s take the game to level scores when they rattled the back of the Skryne net. The game was now going at a lightning pace with exchanges throughout the field hotly contested. Colmcille’s were back on the scoreboard again on the 10th minute to put them one point ahead. The 14th minute saw Saoirse McGrath Skryne half forward take a point on her left foot and the opposition responded almost immediately when they split the uprights to restore their lead. Saoirse put the home side back in front a minute later when a well worked move saw her round the opposition goalkeeper and place the ball into the back of the net..
Sjkryne were now operating at full throttle when corner forward Melanie Kirwan put another goal past the opposition keeper to put the blue’s into a commanding lead. Emma Fitzpatrick added a further point to the home side tally when she
took a well worked point. The opposition were now under severe pressure, however, they responded to the Skryne onslaught
with a goal on the 19th minute to narrow the gap. Melanie Kirwan responded with a point from play for Skryne but Colmcille’s added a further goal within a minute. The opposition now had the bit between their teeth when they launched attack after attack on the Skryne goalmouth. It has to be said the home side were now living dangerously and were a bit fortunate when Colmcille’s hit five wides in as many minutes. They finally hit the target on the 28th minute when they found the back of the Skryne net. The scoring was closed in the opening half when Skryne half forward Saoirse McGrath hit a point to leave the scores at the break:
Skryne 3 – 5. Gael Colmcilles 4 – 3.
The second half started with Skryne attempting to claw back a one point deficit and this they did when Kayleigh Farrell had a well taken point from play. Colmcille’s responded almost immediately to restore their one point margin. Kayleigh was up again for Skryne when she successfully converted a free kick to register a further point for the home side. This was followed by a Saoirse Mc Grath point from play and another Kayleigh Farrell point from a free kick. This free kick came about when Megan O’Brien,
Skryne corner forward was hauled down by the Colmcilles goalie in what looked to be a penalty, however, the referee awarded a 14 yard free kick. Colmcille’s were back on the scoreboard within a minute with a well struck point from
play. Next up was Skryne corner forward Eimear Clarke who found the opposition net with a well taken goal at the mid
way stage of the second half. This left the scores: Skryne 4 – 9. Colmcilles 4 – 5.
Kayleigh added on another point for Skryne from a free kick to which Colmcille’s responded with a point of their own. The opposition dominated the next ten minutes of the game when they hit 4 – 4 without reply when the home side lost their shape and
composure. Skryne to their credit did not buckle and responded with two goals oming from Catriona Keoghan and Eimear Clarke in the closing minutes. Colmcille’s hit the last score of the game in the form of a point to leave the scores ate the final whistle:
Skryne 6 – 10. Gael Colmcilles 8 – 10
Team: Rosin Gryson; Orla Cragie , Deidre Kennedy,
Rachael Hanley; Aoife O’Brien, Rachael
Whelan, Anita O’Sullivan; Emma Fitzpatrick[0 – 2}, Catriona Keoghan{1-
0}; Saoirse McGrath[1 – 3}, Ruth Moore[1 – 0], Kayleigh Farrell[0 – 4]; Eimear
Clarke[2- 0], Melanie Kirwan[[1 – 1],
Megan O’Brien. Subs; Margaret Fox for Rachael Whelan, Ruth Murphy for Saoirse
McGrath {injury}.
