Skryne had to meet in Dunganny at the new fantastic centre of excellence that is due to have its open day on Saturday 19th. Skryne were to play Dunderry in the U14’s Div 3 Shield Final on Wednesday evening with a late throw in of 8:15pm. Skryne are really tight with players born in 2001. Skryne have a total of four and unfortunately one of the older players had an injury. We have to go as far back to U11’s to make up a team. Credit has to go to the bunch of players who never give up and play to the bitter end regardless of the result. We had already played Dunderry in the round robin game that is a far bigger side with the majority of their players born in 2001. They had beaten Skryne well that time in the Summer League but when Skryne teams reach a final they mean business.
Skryne started off with brightly with Eoghan Conway in midfield giving a quick ball to Shane Smyth and scored the first point of the game with 38 secs gone. Dunderry then went up the field to reply with a Goal and a point after Five minutes of play. It was end to end stuff with both sides giving it their all. A long ball with pin point accuracy was sent into Jack Dardis. He gave a ball to the on running Smyth who busted the net with a rifling shot. It was now all level and game on!!! Dunderry went on the break and scored a goal themselves to balance things out. With 9 minutes gone it was 2-1 to 1-1 in favour of Dunderry. Dunderry hit another point from a breaking ball. Kristoffer Kinsella gave Oisin Keogh a perfect ball to split the posts with a fantastic point. Dunderry sprung attack after attack on Skryne but Luke Brady at full-back kept their full forward tightly marked. Brady had a game of his life. He normally plays in midfield but was excellent at full-back. Also the brilliant defence of Sam Hawes and Billy Reilly with Sam Hawes outstanding. Dunderry went up the field and with all their hard work for over Five minutes eventually got a point. Skryne launched another attack from Billy Reilly onto the pacy half back of Niall Finnerty who gave the ball onto Alex Grendon and with his long strides left the full back behind him and rushed onto the goal with a rocket shot into the corner of the net. Goal!!!! The Dunderry keeper kicked out the ball but the alert Niall Moreland got in front of his half back defender and ran at the goals and gave the keeper no chance with a perfect goal. It was as good a goal as you would see in Croke Park. There was nothing in it at half time.
For the second half Dunderry sprung attack after attack and notched up three quick points. Sean Keogh who had a fantastic at corner forward scored a fantastic point from a tight angle on 30 mins. On the 31st minute Skryne pulled off some great movement from the defence line of Sam Hawes who gave it to Finnerty onto Jack Dardis, who had a fantastic game in midfield covering every blade of grass, sent a high ball into Grendon who plucked it from the sky and blasted home another goal. Dunderry once again went on reply and scored a point. Gary Browne who had a brilliant game in goals sent a long ball to Kinsella and Smyth joined in to receive the ball and no better person then you would put your house on came flying through but Finnerty who drove the ball low into the left corner and the Skryne crowd cheered. Skryne’s tails were up and Dunderry were looking shook. Moreland and Finnerty won two perfect balls and scored two points to leave Dunderry on the back foot. Skryne were up by 5 Points with Five minutes to go. The Dunderry management thought it was over but their players had other ideas. Skryne battled hard and with attack after attack Skryne tried to the bitter end. Dunderry notched up two further points. A Skryne player who we will not name received a second yellow for what was a poor refereeing decision. A ball came in and as he jumped for it he caught the player of Dunderry. He had only eyes for the ball and the referee deemed it as dangerous. It was unfortunately not the only poor refereeing decision and the back end of the second half where decision after decision went against Skryne. Dunderry launched another high ball in with Skryne defending like there life depended on it. A Dunderry attack saw a player fouled outside the square and the referee awarded Dunderry a penalty. The referee was at least 15 mtrs away from the foul and with all the players around him gave the penalty to Dunderry. The players and the umpire tried to explain that he was fouled outside the box but the referee had made his decision. Dunderry scored the penalty to leave it level. The referee then blew the whistle and the game finished at 9-15pm there was to be extra time for 10 minutes aside. The first ball that was sent in Dunderry fouled Grendon who was pulled down in the box and the Dunderry player received a yellow card. Grendon stepped up to take the penalty and it just slotted over the bar. Skryne launched another attack with Jack Swan introduced and sent the ball onto Reilly who sent it to the corner to Josh Farrell who played well alongside Grendon. Farrell hit a hay mary of a ball into the dark sky and it nestled nicely into the Dunderry goal. Half time came and Skryne were ahead by three points of extra time. Both sides to their credit gave an exhibition of football in Dunganny. The only down side was the late throw in that was given and expecting both sets of kids to go to Secondary and National school the next day. A good team talk form the Skryne manager who couldn’t ask any more of the players urged them on.
Second half of extra time saw some really tired players. Some who were cramping up and others who were exhausted. It really was a performance of a life time from the Skryne lads and as I type this every single player from the Gaolie, Defenders, Half Backs , Half Forwards, Full Forwards & Attackers gave it absaloultey everything. From the 70th minute of extra time to the 75th minute Dunderry scored 2-3 point to leave them winning by 6 Points. The management was devastated for the young lads who played from 8-15 pm till 9-55pm. Credit to Dunderry who won the shield. Dunderry played with the same passion as Skryne and never gave in. Unfortunately there has to be a loser and Skryne were on the receiving end. Its not often it happens it’s not easy when it does.
Finally thanks to all the parents who supported the kids during the U14’s campaign. They are a all a credit to you and we look forward to seeing them again during the U13’s & U15’s
Final Score (AET)
Skryne 6-07
Dunderry 6-13
List of players who played the best football for the year in the final is :
Gary Browne Goals
Billy Reilly Luke Brady Sam Hawes
Kristoffer Kinsella David Rathbourne Niall Finnerty 1-01
Jack Dardis ©
Eoghan Conway
Oisin Keogh 0-1 Shane Smyth 1-01 Niall Moreland 1-01
Josh Farell 1-01 Alex Grendon 2-01 Sean Keogh 0-1
Subs : Jack Swan, john O Regan, Alex Curran, James O Brien © (out through injury)
