Skryne U14 second team reach Division 8 final after fantastic victory over Walterstown
Skryne 3-09 Walterstown 0-06
LGFA U14 Football Championship. Division 3 – Semi-final
Skryne’s U14 girls first team were victorious yesterday evening in their semi-final against Clann na nGael. It was the turn of the second team today who were hoping to emulate their achievement and make it two finals out of two for the U14s.
Sunshine greeted both teams onto the pitch, but there was a stiff breeze blowing diagonally across the pitch towards the clubhouse which favoured the team playing towards the scoreboard end. Walterstown had the aid of the breeze in the first half but despite this, Skryne had a terrific opening quarter racking up 1-04 to a single point by the first water break. Rachel O’Dowd, Liz Fitzpatrick, Lauren Meharg and Ellen Hogan all got their names on the scoresheet with some terrific points, but with the last play of the game before the water break, Ellen Hogan managed to get her fist to a high ball in the Walterstown square to send it to the back of the Walterstown net.
The second quarter saw a resurgence from the Walterstown girls who hit five points without a reply from Skryne and after such a good opening quarter, Skryne suddenly found themselves in a game. Half-time score: Skryne 1-04, Walterstown 0-06.
Skryne’s defence had to reorganise to counter the dangerous Walterstown forward line and this they did superbly in the second half with Hannah Clarke dominating in the full back line and Roisín Reeves, Isabella Reuter, Isabella Meharg and Ailbhe Lynch all brilliantly repelling the Walterstown attacks and hoovering up any loose ball. Midfielders Ellie Kate Mc Donnell and Ellen Hogan also chipped in, tracking back time and time again to make sure all Walterstown personnel were accounted for and marked.
Meanwhile at the other end Rachel O’Dowd had plundered Skryne’s second goal as the girls began to turn the screw. Further points from Rachel O’Dowd (2), Liz Fitzpatrick and Ellen Hogan left eight points between the sides as the game broke for the second water break.
Walterstown to their credit continued to fight on in the last quarter, but the Skryne defence were impenetrable. Skryne’s net minder Meabh Lynch kept a dangerous effort out late on and her clearances and kickouts were excellent throughout the game. Lauren Meharg hit her second point of the game to add to Skryne’s tally and then Liz Fitzpatrick put the result beyond any doubt when she fired home Skryne’s third goal with a minute of normal time remaining.
This Skryne team has shown so much character since the beginning of the season with the players showing huge improvement throughout the year. Claire Cassidy, Megan O’Brien, Harriet Hayes, Emma Dardis, Grace Hollywood (Captain for the day) and Cara Mahon all had bright moments in this game and Skryne can now look forward to a well deserved place in their first ever final.
Team: Meabh Lynch; Claire Cassidy Hannah Clarke; Isabella Reuter, Roisín Reeves, Ailbhe Lynch; Megan O’Brien, Ellie Kate McDonnell; Lauren Meharg(0-02), Ellen Hogan(1-02), Rachel O’Dowd(1-03); Grace Hollywood, Elizabeth Fitzpatrick(1-02,2fs),. Isabella Meharg, Emma Dardis, Cara Mahon, Harriet Hayes.
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