Skryne U16’s were heading into the final after having a great run in the Div 1 Summer League. After going four games unbeaten they were due to play Trim in Seneschalstown on the 31st of August with a throw in of 7.30pm. Skryne had topped the group with Trim in second place.
Father Tully Park was the venue and the conditions had been changeable all day with light showers. By throw in time the conditions were ideal and the lads were really looking forward to the final.
Liam O Brien was the referee and he got things going, Alex Grendon and Shane Smyth were the two midfielders. Grendon broke the ball to Smyth who laid it off to the oldest of Brothers Sean Keogh. Keogh laid it off to Niall Finnerty who got the scoring underway. Skryne were tormenting the Trim defence and Niall Morland, Kian Reddy and Sean Keogh upfront were exceptional all through the Summer League. In the Half forwards was Oisin Keogh, John O Regan,Niall Finnerty played with Pace and precision. Skryne were scoring at every opportunity Possible and Finnerty was raking up the scores.
On the opposite end you had the trusty defence and when Trim went on the attack they were met with a sea of Blue and found it hard to break down Skryne. Skryne defence of Gary Browne (Captain), Kristoffer Kinsella, Jack Swan, David Rathbourne, Billy Reilly, Sam Hawes was a joy to watch. They cleared every attack that Trim put on never gave up and on numerous times forced Trim out wide to impossible scoring positions. The Midfield area was a real titan battle and one the Skryne midfielders of Shane Smyth & Alex Grendon got a grasp of. The amount of work rate the lads put in was exceptional. Alex Curran in goals gave a great performance yet again and his pin point kick outs were on point. Skryne were playing the game at a really fast pace and it was tough for Trim to keep up with the movement of players from Skryne. To be fair to Trim they battled really hard and the score line at half time was not really a true reflection on their performance. Trim had their chances of scores and at times were unlucky.
Half time score
Skryne 3-05
Trim 0-5
Skryne got together at half time and thing were calm and there was nothing won yet. The management of Declan Smyth, Mick O Dowd, Padraig Finnerty, and Tony Morland kept the team focused. Unfortunately due to senior training Darragh Campion who was part of the management was busy getting training for the Senior A League Final with all the Senior panel. The words of wisdom echoed around Seneschalstown that there was nothing won as yet. Skryne took to the field for the last 30mins as a large crowd had gathered from both sides. Skryne once again got the perfect start with Keogh and Grendon notching up a point a piece. Once again the defence was playing sublime and the forwards of Finnerty, Keogh, O Regan and Reddy were playing off each other with three options every time for passing. Finnerty was once again on fire as he blasted home his third goal of the game. Rathbourne added the fourth when he sold a dummy solo to take two Trim players out of it. Trim goal keeper received a black card when Rathbourne was pulled down on goal and he was pulled down Fifteen minutes into the second half. Trim went on the attack and a well worked play saw them notch up there only goal of the game and this was all down to the hard efforts of the Skryne defense and the goal keeper Alex Curran. Skryne did clear another ball off the line by midfielder Grendon who like Smyth was still full of running. Later on the Subs of James Mangan, Scott Armstrong, Nathan Chawke and the youngest of them all Mark Swan was introduced. These lads are as good as the Fifteen on the pitch and to pick any team is a manager’s nightmare. The lads got stuck in with Swan and Armstrong introduced in defense. They took over from where the lads had left and didn’t give in one bit. Mangan & Chawke were a torn in the side of Trim and the lads were full of running in the Forwards. This is a team that has built on trust and hard work for each other and from U12’s have been a joy to watch. Credit to the management team who have put a lot of hard work in. This is a team that has had plenty of success from U12’s and one that we look forward to seeing playing at Senior in time to come. Trim never gave up at any stage and even though they were behind they still persisted and tested out the Skryne defense. Hard luck to Trim and and they are a team that has certainly tested Skryne out. The scoreline may not really reflect how close this game was and as I type this Trim were a big physical team that left everything on the pitch.
In there five mathes of the Summer League Skryne U16’s have score a staggering 27-66 and conceded 10-37. The games that were played in the round Robin Games was against Trim, Summerhill gave a WO, Ratoath, Simonstown, Duleek / Bellewstown
After scores in the second half from Finnerty, Morland Grendon, Sean Keogh Skryne were victorious in the U16’s Div 1 Summer League Final on a Final Score of,
Skryne 4-11
Trim 1-08
Brian Kelly Secretary of Co Na Fi presented Gary Browne captain with the shield for the U16’s Div 1 League Final. Gary thanked the management of Skryne and also thanked Trim for the tough game. Also thanks to Brian for all his hard work and dedication it’s a position that is not one that people would cue up for. Also thanks to Seneschalstown for hosting the final. It would have been nice to play the Final in Pairc Tailteann but with it and Dunganny unavailable the next best grounds was Seneschalstown.
There is no shortage of Meath players on the panel and with currently two at U16’s two at U15 and three at U14’s there is plenty of more that are good enough to make the panel who is excelling at club level. The main thing is to keep working at what you are good at and your time will certainly come.
Panel for Skryne is as follows, (1) Alex Curran, (2) Gary Browne © (3) Kristoffer Kinsella (4) Jack Swan (5) David Rathbourne 1-0 (6) Sam Hawes (17) Billy Reilly (8) Shane Smyth 0-1 (9) Alex Grendon 0-1 (10) John O Regan 0-1 (11) Niall Finnerty 3-05 (12) Oisin Keogh 0-1 (23) Niall Moreland 0-1 (14) Sean Keogh 0-1 (15) Kian Reddy (18) Nathan Chawke (19) Scott Armstrong (25) James Mangan (22) Mark Swan
Well done Players & Management and its been a summer not to forget……………
