Skryne Minors Romp Home To Claim Division 2 Title

Skryne minors produce a masterclass in football to win Division 2 title in Pairc Tailteann

Skryne 1-13 Simonstown 0-05

Minor Football League – Division 2

CHAMPIONS*******

Skryne arrived in sunny Pairc Tailteann yesterday evening to face a strong physical Simonstown Gaels team who had 3 Meath Minors in their ranks. A close game was expected, particularly as Simonstown had seen off the mighty Curraha/St. Vincents in the semi-final. However, Skryne looked hungry from the very first whistle and tore into the Simonstown players with dogged determination, overturning the ball on numerous occassions and dominating possession from early on. They had to wait until 5 minutes to record their first score from Jason Fox, who went on to bag 10 points for the victors including several frees which were won by the ever threatening Skryne attack and conceded by an at times in-disciplined Simonstown rearguard.

Play was delayed for almost 10 minutes during the first quarter of the game due to injuries to Jason Reddy who was stretchered off after he pulled up suddenly while launching another Skryne attack. Play had only briefly commenced following this stoppage when Skryne’s goal-keeper Dean Reddy received a heavy knock after he collided with a Simonstown player while attempting to clear a ball. Play was stopped again while Dean was treated by the Simonstown physio who very sportingly offered his services while Skryne’s own physio the great Lily Fox was attending to our first victim. Dean was fit enough to continue and Skryne’s momentum did not seem to be interrupted in any way by the stoppages as they surged ahead with determination, racking up another 4 points before Simonstown registered their only score of the half. Skryne left the field at half time with a 7 point lead, 0-08 to 0-01.

After last Sunday at Croker, nobody was prepared to write Simonstown off, particularly with County players Ben Hoey, Conor Nash and Brian Conlon in their ranks. Indeed Simonstown were quickest out of the traps in the second half when they slotted over 2 points to narrow the gap to 5 points after 2 minutes of the second half. A minute later, Skryne launched an attack upfield towards the hospital end and the ball was delivered to James Finnerty who embarked on a mazy run at the Simonstown defence. He was tackled on both sides and seem to lose possession of the ball. At this point James’s famous soccer skills came to the fore and he expertly dribbled the ball past the shocked Simonstown defence and slid a fine effort into the bottom right corner past the despairing dive of the Simonstown goalkeeper. Aston Villa will have been salivating at the sight of this fine finish. Skryne were now 1-08 to 0-03 ahead. Simonstown even at this early stage looked a beaten team. Skryne were relentless in their pursuit of this title with fine performances from each of the men in the famous blue shirts. Special mention must go to Jason Fox for his personal haul of 10 points along with his usual lively performance. Daragh Campion too seemed to cover every blade of grass. But this was not a performance about individuals. This was the ultimate team performance. Skryne were like a well oiled machine throughout displaying quickness in their movement and in their thought process. Simonstown simply could not match them. Simonstown did have a man sent off late on in the second half, while Skryne lost their inspirational full back Oisín Gryson to a black card but the result had been all but decided at this stage as Skryne tagged on another 5 points to Simonstown’s 2 before the end of the game and finished up with a scoreline of 1-13 to 0-05.

Simonstown will live to fight another day and will know that they faced a team who had made up their mind that this was to be their day and no team would have stopped them.

Huge credit to James Reddy and his management team. This team clearly would walk through walls for their Management. Their discipline is clear to be seen and they are a massive credit to the club.

Congratulations to the Skryne Minors on a truly superb performance. Hard luck to the lads from Simonstown. No doubt we will meet you again in future finals.

Skryne: Dean Reddy, Eoghan Green, Oisin Gryson, Barry Clarke, Paddy Carpenter, Robbie Clarke, Darragh Campion, Darren Fox Michaerl Doherty, James Finnerty 1-1, Eoin Smyth 0-2, Jason Fox 0-10, Jason Reddy, Andrew Moore, Frank Carty. Subs: Colm McLoughlin, David Carroll, Colm Doherty, Cian Twomey.

Simonstown: Darren Forde, Sean Conlon, Conor Hand, Dylan Staunton, Oisin Lavin Kelly, Aaron Geraghty, Shane Gallagher, Conor Nash 0-1, Brain Conlon, Mark Devlin, Shane McHugh 0-1, Frankie Cullen, Jack Murray, Ben Hoey 0-3, Dylan Gavin. Subs: Roghan Prior, Ben Tracey, Conor Ahern, David Ahern, Dillon Fitzgerald, Eoghan O’Neill.