Skryne Ladies continued on with their Div 3 League campaign when they took to the field against Simonstown Gaels on Friday evening 8th April at Father Mc Manus Park the Skryne home ground. Skryne got off to an ideal start when full forward Michelle Whelan found the back of the opposition net in the 1st minute of the game. This score came about from a well worked move starting in the Skryne half back line. Anita O’Sullivan was next on the scoreboard for the home side when she put the ball between the Simonstown uprights to register another score.
This left Skryne in front by 1 – 1 just five minutes into game. Simonstown awoke from their slumber a minute later when they registered a point from play to narrow the gap slightly. They were on the scoreboard again when they converted a free kick to leave two points between the sides at the midway stage of the half. Skryne were back on the scoreboard again with another point from play coming from the boot of Anita O’Sullivan to register Skryne’s and Anita’s second point of the evening. Skryne midfielders Aisling Bowans and half forward Saoirse McGrath were at this stage putting in a Trojan effort and were responsible for settting up a number of the Skryne attacks on the opposition goalmouth. Simonstown now hit a purple patch and hit five points from play without reply to finish out the half on a scoreline: Simonstown Gaels: 0 – 7, Skryne: 1 – 2.
The second half started under lights and the visitors were on the scoreboard within two minutes when they registered a point from play. After this, scores proved hard to come by and we had to wait a further ten minutes before the next score was registered. This score came in favour of the home side when half forward Saoirse McGrath took a well worked and executed point from play on her left foot. Kayleigh Farrell took Skryne’s next score which came from a free kick to register another point for the home side. This now left the minimum between the sides in Simonstown favour halfway through this half. Skryne were now putting in a huge effort with their goalie Rosin Gryson putting in a solid effort between the posts. Their back line was as solid as a fortress with Rachael Whelan and Sophie Halpin frustrating opposition raids on their goalmouth. The game was now definitely in the melting pot and was anybody’s game with just ten minutes remaining . Coleen Jordan who was just back from injury drew the sides level in the closing stages when she registered her first point of the evening coming about as a result of a free kick.
It is often said goals win matches and this was certainly true on this occasion. The home side were guilty of a lapse of concentration and conceded two goals from play in the space of a few minutes to put the game beyond reach. This had to be extremely frustrating for the Skryne ladies who had put in major effort throughout the evening only to see the game snatched away from them in the dying minutes. At the final whistle the scores were left at: Simonstown Gaels: 2 – 8, Skryne: 1 – 5.
This was a good performance from the home side with the outcome of the game in doubt right up to the end. Skryne were without the services of a number of very talented and experienced players which surely had an impact on the outcome.
However, this team can pick themselves up and look forward to the rest of their league and upcoming championship campaigns with confidence in the knowledge they will be a formidable opposition for any team they meet.
Team – Rosin Gryson; Amy Cunningham, Rachael Whelan, Niamh Lynch; Una Morley, Laura Bowans, Sophie Halpin; Aisling Bowans, Aoife Murphy; Kayleigh Farrell { 0 – 1}, Coleen Jordan { 0 – 1}, Saoirse McGrath { 0 – 1}, Catriona Keoghan, Michelle Whelan {1 – 0}, Anita O’Sullivan { 0 – 2}. Subs – Melanie Kirwan for Kayleigh Farrell, Eimear Clarke for Catriona Keoghan.
