Skryne U14’s got their season under way for 2016 in the grp A Div 1 Feile in Dunganny on the 6th of February. The U14’s were hoping to continue the season as they had left it in 2016 with an unbeaten run of Seven Games.
The Feile was done in two groups in Div 1 with Skryne against Trim, Dunshaughlin & Summerhill.
In the opposite group was St Pats, St Colmcilles. Donaghmore / Ashbourne & Ratoath. Two teams from each group would qualify for the Semi Final On Sunday 7th. The games were 15mins aside.
Skryne played Trim first who they beat at U12’s in the Final in the Spring league and Summer League.
This was the lads first ever game at 2016. Conditions were extremely windy and it was not the warmest of days.
Skryne got off to a blistering start with Niall Finnerty scoring two goals and Billy Reilly and Alex Grendon notching up a point a piece and there was 11 mins gone. Skryne’s team defence was exceptional with some great defending and the Midfield and Forward line were punishing Trim with every attack. It took Trim 13mins to register their first point. The half time whistle blew with Skryne playing with the wind going in with a comfortable Lead.
Half time
Skryne 3-02
Trim 0-1
Alex Grendon got the second half with a perfect start and registered the first goal of the second half. Trim put it up to Skryne by testing the strong defensive line. On 17 Minutes Trim register their first goal and then went on attack after attack. Trim tails were up and they went on to register a further 3 Points. In true Skryne spirit the lads finished strong with John O Regan & Niall Finnerty scoring the last two points of the game with Skryne winning their first game.
Skryne 3-04
Trim 1-04
The next game was against Dunshaughlin with a 11-45am throw in. Skryne were playing with the aid of the breeze and with Six minutes gone Dunshaughlin registered their first score that was a goal. Niall Moreland got the first score of the game on eight minutes. It was a game that Skryne went on the attack but only for it to be broken down. This was a half that Skryne found it hard to hold possession. Playing with the aid of the breeze Skryne were just kicking the ball too long and it was carried over the end line on a few occasions. Niall Finnerty went on the attack and registered the second point from a free to put only one point in it with ten minutes gone. In fact Niall was to register the next five points. Just before half time Niall with Shane Smyth worked the ball up well to register the Final score of the first half. Skryne had a tough second half to play.
Skryne 0-3
Dunshauglin 1-0
Dunshaughlin registered the first point of the Second half. A ball that worked from the Defence line of Gary Browne through to David Rathbourne saw a perfect pass to Finnerty who registered the next score on 17mins. Skryne were really making it hard for the Neighbours to score as the defenders worked hard. Truth be told Skryne second half against the breeze was fantastic from all the players. Skryne took the lead on the 25th minute and were in full control. Skryne just needed that next score to put them two points ahead but were unlucky when Mossy O Brien scored a point but Skryne were given a free against them. Dunshauglin went on the attack again and were awarded a free on the 20mtr line and slotted it over the bar. The entertaining game finished in a draw.
Final Score
Skryne 0-6
Dunshaughlin 1-3
Skryne played Summerhill in the last game. Skryne once again set off with intentions and Finnerty registered the first point with 1min gone. On 2mins Shane registered his Point from a beautiful kick from the right hand side of the 20mtr line. Summerhill went on the attack and registered 1-01 with 6 mins gone. Again the defence were playing really well with Oisin Keogh and Jack Swan closing the Summerhill side down which made Summerhill making poor kicking decisions. On Seven minutes Niall Moreland registered a goal from a lovely pass from Mossy. Skryne went on attack after attack with John O Regan scoring from play and Alex Grendon and Shane Smyth hitting the back of the net with two fine goals. Just before half time Summerhill registered their second goal.
Half time score
Skryne 3-04
Summerhill 2-01
Skryne were to play with the aid of a strong wind and Summerhill wouldn’t register a score for the second half. Grendon was the first to score in the second half with another point. Smyth was next to register his next score as Nathan Chawke gave a lovely inside ball in. Niall brother John Finnerty had a fantastic game in defence and laid a lovely ball into the on rushing Smyth and gave it to Grendon to score another point. Scott Armstrong who was moved to corner forward pulled off some fine scores with 26mins gone. Scott turned his man took a lovely receiving pass from Sean Keogh and left the keeper no chance as he left the ball into the back of the net. One Minute later Armstrong was to nearly replay the same move when a long ball from Sean Keogh went to Grendon who gave a ball onto Armstrong who hit a rocket of a shot into the top of the net. Armstrong once again got a ball from Billy Reilly and set up Armstrong with a point. Smyth finished off the game with a well taken point.
Full time
Skryne 5-11
Summerhill 2-01
Skryne u14’s were now in the Semi Finals and would have to return on Sunday morning for a semi Final game against St Pats or Ratoath.
On Sunday morning Skryne had a 20mtr Kick off against Dunshaughlin as both teams had finished level on points. Skryne Five players picked for the point taking was Alex Grendon, Niall Finnerty, Shane Smyth, Sean Keogh & Niall Moreland. The Skryne lads were as cool and confident as ever and slotted over the Five points down the middle of the post. Skryne won the kick off and were to play St Pats of Stamullen in the Final.
Skryne were up against a tough opposition with the St Pats team as big as team that had entered in the Feile competition. Skryne U14’s are steeped with some fast moving footballers who have fantastic pace.
The Ball was thrown in at 11-15am on Sunday 7th. Conditions yet again were very poor with a blustery wind-chill. Skryne were playing against a stiff breeze. St Pats went on the attack and a ball that was scooped up by Billy Reilly in defence Skryne went on the attack as he gave O Regan a lovely ball onto Grendon who dropped it short. Pats went on the attack and scored the First point on 2 Mins. A kick from Skryne that bounced awkwardly saw the pats to register their first goal on 2 Mins. There was great defensive work from Jack Swan & Gary Browne who kept Pats at bay. But unfortunately on Seven Minutes Pats registered another score with Skryne yet to score. But with this team the never give up attitude is most certainly there. A high ball from Keogh in to Grendon saw him fisting the ball into the back of the net with 12 mins gone. A ball that was won in midfield saw the on rushing Smyth give a ball to Niall Finnerty who laid it to Grendon who scored another fine point. The half time whistle blew with Skryne still in it and only a goal behind.
Skryne 1-01
St Pats 2-01
The second half started like the first with Pats going on the attack and registering 1-01 in Two minutes. A goal that they scored that most certainly had lady luck on their side. Skryne were giving it their all in defence with David Rathbourne marking a giant of a player who was as tall as the managers. David showed some great strength in turning over possession on a couple of occasions. David had Killian Cahill alongside him with the trust worthy Billy Reilly on the left hand side. The half back line was strong throughout the tournament. In defence Gary Browne with Jack Swan & Oisin Keogh proving that they were not the easiest to get by and they stood strong and firm. On 19 Mins Niall Moreland registered another point to give a glimmer of hope to Skryne. The Skryne players proived that they were not there for the fun and the intentions proved that when Grendon send one hard and low into the Pats net. Pats were now worried as there was only goal in it again. Pats once again went on the attack and got a free from 13mtrs out but a ball that was miss kicked nestled into the back of the Skryne net with 21mins gone. With 25mins Pats went on the attack another high ball just went over the Skryne keepers head and another goal was to leave a bridge too far. Skryne finished the stronger of the two teams and Scott Armstrong and Niall Moreland both registered a point. Shane Smyth who always covers every bit of ground had a fantastic game with a high ball into Grendon who plucked it from the sky and drove it hard into the Pats net with 29mins gone. Unfortunately this was to be that last score of the game and St Pats had won by Four Points. Great credit has to go to Skryne who showed that they are one of the best teams in Meath. They did not let the club down or the parents. The players played the game in true Feile spirit and wished the St Pats team the best of luck in the Final.
Final Score
Skryne 3-04
St Pats 5-02
St Pats went on to play Dunshaughlin and Dunshaughlin won the final. Dunshaughlin will now represent Meath in the Feile in May in Limerick & Kerry. It showed that the Skryne U14’s team that was short some players due to injuries or colds are able to compete with the best. The lads have a short break till the 20th of February for the U14 Spring League.
Skryne Panel
Alex Curran, Jack Swan, Gary Browne, Oisin Keogh, Killian Cahill, John Finnerty, David Rathbourne, Billy Reilly, Alex Grendon, Shane Smtyh, John O Regan, Niall Moreland, Mossy O Brien, Niall Finnerty, Sean Keogh, Scott Armstrong, Cillian Cullen, Nathan Chawke,
Missing due to sickness or injury, Sam Hawes, Paddy Wright, Kian Reddy, Kristoffer Kinsella,
Managers & Mentors, Padraig Finnerty, Cormac Grendon, Martin Browne.
