No unlucky 13 for champions Skryne
November 27, 2010The quality tends to be of secondary importance in these big games. It's all about winning. But the fact that Skryne clinched their 13th senior crown in what was undoubtedly one of the greatest finals in living memory must have added to their sense of satisfaction and pride.
The closing stages of this gripping contest were drama and tension-filled as Paddy O'Rourke, the man who had been transformed from goalkeeper to attacker this year, faced up to a '45' with the teams level. Referee Brendan Darby added to it all by penalising Seneschalstown's Joe Sheridan for not retreating the required distance and moved the ball forward.
Of course, he had erred because this was a '45', not a free, and he soon rectified the situation. The delay would have unsettled many kickers, but not O'Rourke who planted the ball between the uprights at the hospital end of Pairc Tailteann to earn his team an extraordinary win which signalled wild scenes of jubilation.
When team captain Aidan Tuite got his hands on the Keegan Cup Skryne had moved one step closer to Navan O'Mahonys on the Senior Championship roll of honour and there was further celebration when 21 year-old Ian Davis was a worthy winner of the 'man of the match' award and received the Colum Cromwell Trophy.
It was a far cry from last year when Skryne lost to Seneschalstown by eight points in a quarter-final at the same venue. They conceded two goals that day and this time they gave away four, but still managed to come out on the winning end thanks to their phenomenal point-taking which earned them a 0-21 to 4-8 victory.
Not too many people were predicting that Skryne would win their first senior title in six years at the start of the championship and they had some less than convincing days along the route to outright success. But when the championship really warmed up they demonstrated the necessary improvement and were worthy winners of the title.
It probably shouldn't have come as a major surprise that they leaked four goals in the final because they were giving them away all through the competition. They conceded just one in the opening round against Simonstown Gaels.
That was neither a good nor a particularly bad start to the title race as Liam Harnan's team drew (0-11 to 1-8) at Seneschalstown where they led by 0-7 to 0-4 at the interval. A Shane O'Rourke goal had the Navan men level at the three-quarter stage and both sides scored three points subsequently, with Wayne McCarthy having the final say for the Gaels.
Ian Davis, who scored four points, and O'Rourke with three were already demonstrating their attacking value and when Skryne moved up a notch by scoring a 0-17 to 1-6 victory over St Patrick's at Ashbourne. O'Rourke split the uprights seven times, with four of his scores coming from frees.
This was an improved display from Skryne who led by 0-7 to 1-2 at the break after suffering a couple of setbacks in the first half. Kevin Mulvaney had to retire with a hamstring injury after only 30 seconds and they also conceded an early goal to Barry Campbell. With Aidan Tuite and David McGoldrick impressive at midfield they recovered from those blows and scored points with consistency to win decisively.
But when a comprehensive defeat followed against Wolfe Tones in the third round at Pairc Tailteann few could have predicted the heights that Skryne would later scale. In the absence of Trevor Giles who had a finger injury Skryne struggled and the issue was beyond doubt at the interval when Tones led by 1-10 to 0-3 after Cian Ward had scored their goal from a penalty.
Tones had Ciaran McLoughlin sent off six minutes into the second period, but it made no difference and by the time Ian Davis netted from a penalty on the hour mark Skryne were a well beaten team.
Skryne conceded four goals in the final a couple of months later and still won and they did the same when they met Trim in the fourth round of group matches at Dunsany. Two of those were given away in the first half, but with Kevin Mulvaney netting Skryne were on level terms (1-6 to 2-3) at the change of ends.
Skryne showed their true worth in the opening 20 minutes of the second half when they outscored Trim by 1-7 to 0-0, with Mark Battersby getting the goal. The town side battled back and notched two late goals, but the Taramen were in front by 2-16 to 4-6 at the final whistle.
The reality going into their last group game against already qualified Dunboyne at Walterstown was that they had to win and Skryne responded to the challenge with a 2-10 to 2-6 victory. They led all the way, including by 0-8 to 0-5 at the interval, and they were in a strong position when Ian Davis goaled from a penalty early in the second half.
Dunboyne rallied and after Sean McGarrell had goaled they trailed by only 1-6 to 1-8 at the three-quarter stage. A point from Allan Carty and a Davis goal put Skryne firmly in the driving seat again, though Ger Robinson scored a late Dunboyne goal from a penalty. Davis top-scored with 2-3.
Skryne had achieved their first big mission by qualifying for the quarter-finals, being edged out of top position in the group on score difference by Wolfe Tones, and they had it surprisingly easy in the last eight meeting with Donaghmore/Ashbourne at Pairc Tailteann, winning by 2-11 to 1-8.
This was an impressive display which demonstrated the extent of Skryne's improvement, but the match was marred somewhat when tempers flared in the closing stages. Paddy O'Rourke was a star of the show with 1-6 and Skryne made their intentions clear from the word go when Kevin Mulvaney scored their first goal on three minutes.
Points from Brian and Ian Davis left them ahead by 1-2 to 0-0, but David Morgan hit back with a goal for Donaghmore/Ashbourne, before Skryne pushed on again to lead by 1-7 to 1-2 at the break. They conceded the first three points of the second half, but O'Rourke's goal put the issue beyond doubt.
Battersby, who had made a great recovery from a cruciate ligament injury sustained last year, was a hero of the 2-9 to 2-8 semi-final win over Dunboyne at Pairc Tailteann where he contributed 2-1. O'Rourke also impresses as he rowed in with a valuable six-point haul, made up of four frees, one '45' and one from play.
Ciaran Lenehan was hugely influential at centre-back and Trevor Giles also made his presence felt. Again, Skryne started very well when Carty set Battersby up for his first goal after a minute, but they led by only two points (1-4 to 0-5) at the interval after O'Rourke (three) and Mulvaney had scored the points.
O'Rourke (two) and Giles provided the scores as they led by 1-7 to 0-7 early in the second period, but Stephen Moran netted to leave Dunboyne level. Skryne responded well as Battersby and O'Rourke pointed and when Battersby scored his second goal in brilliant fashion they knew a final place was theirs.
Just as he had done in the group meeting of the teams, Ger Robinson goaled from a late penalty for Dunboyne, but Skryne had already done enough. An encouraging sign had been the impacts made by substitutes Patrick Fox and Brian Byrne, demonstrating the strength of the panel.
Seneschalstown, who were aiming for their third senior title in four years, were warm favourites going into the final because of their greater experience. Skryne had conceded 12 goals in their seven games en route to the decider and with the champions possessing a real goal-scoring threat that had to be a worrying statistic.
By the time the final was over Skryne had given away 16 goals during the championship, but nobody cared. What mattered was that they had taken possession of the Keegan Cup for the seventh time and were senior champions for the 13th time.
Every final is a great one to win, but this one was extra special such was its quality and drama. When it was over nobody could deny that Skryne were worthy winners. They scored 21 times compared to Seneschalstown's 12 and overcame a succession of setbacks.
They were in serious trouble in their full-back line in the first half, with Joe Sheridan posing a major threat, and when Brian Sheridan goaled for Seneschalstown on nine minutes there was a feeling that this might not be Skryne's day. But, typical of their tenacity, they replied with three points in succession from Ian Davis (two, one free) and Brian Byrne.
However, that good work was undone when Joe Sheridan goaled at the end of the first quarter. Skryne kept scoring points, with Davis particularly effective, but again they were rocked back when Joe Sheridan scored his second goal close to half-time. That gave Seneschalstown a 3-5 to 0-9 interval lead and their standing as favourites looked justified.
But Skryne clearly believed they could still win and after making switches they proceeded to enjoy a very productive third-quarter which was highly significant to the outcome. They scored six points in this spell, with the sixth from an O'Rourke '45' drawing them level.
Skryne had taken a firm grip around the middle third of the field and this helped to cut off the supply of possession to the Seneschalstown attack. Trevor Giles became a growing influence and used his vast experience to telling effect. When Kevin Mulvaney pointed 12 minutes from the end they were ahead by 0-16 to 3-6, but Joe and Brian Sheridan found their range to edge the champions back in front again.
James Hegarty raided upfield to score a Skryne equaliser and when Davis added two more points (one from a free) and Battersby notched his only score of the final Skryne were three ahead. Amazingly, there was another goal in Seneschalstown and when Stephen Finnegan fisted to the net a replay looked to be on the cards.
But the real drama was still to come. An O'Rourke free was deflected out for a '45' and amid the most extraordinary drama and tension he demonstrated nerves of steel to settled himself after the delay in the taking of the kick. With over 5,000 people watching the flight of the ball it sailed through the Navan air and between the uprights.
Skryne had pulled off a sensational victory and Seneschalstown were left to rue a couple of goal chances which weren't taken. When captain Tuite went up to receive the Keegan Cup it signalled the end of a truly memorable road to glory. With six of the team aged 23 and younger this might well be the beginning of a great era for the club.
Last May Skryne lost one of their brightest young talents when Liam Tolan was tragically killed in a road collision. This was a triumph dedicated to him.
The Skryne team in the final was - Felim O'Rourke; Andrew Curry, Dwayne Beaton, Mark Jordan; James Looby, Ciaran Lenehan (0-1), James Hegarty (0-1); Aidan Tuite, David McGoldrick; Paddy O'Rourke (0-7, 3 frees, 2 45s), Trevor Giles, Ian Davis (0-8, 4 frees); Kevin Mulvaney (0-2), Brian Byrne (0-1), Mark Battersby (0-1). Subs - Patrick Fox for Byrne, Vinny O'Reilly for Curry, Brian Davis for McGoldrick.
Skryne are producing plenty of talented young footballers and that was obvious at Pairc Tailteann back in June when they edged out Donaghmore/Ashbourne in the Under-12 FL Division 1 final.
Jason Reddy earned and slotted over an injury time free which secured a 2-8 to 1-10 victory. Darren Fox scored an early goal for Skryne and they held a slender 1-4 to 0-6 interval lead.
James Crumlish gave Donaghmore/Ashbourne a big boost with a goal, but Fox netted at the other end to leave Skryne two points in front. Their opponents battled back to parity, but Reddy had the final say as he brought his personal tally to six points, four of which came from frees.
Reddy, Fox, Elizabeth Morland, David Carroll, Eoin Smyth and Michael Doherty were particularly impressive for Skryne.
Skryne - F Finnegan; C Craige, M Doherty, A Moore; R Clarke, J Finnerty, D Fitzpatrick; E Smyth, D Reddy; P Carpenter, D Fox (2-1), E Morland (0-1); D Carroll, J Reddy (0-6), C McLoughlin. Subs - L Carolan for Carroll, F Carty for McLoughlin.
Skryne made it a double at under-12 level when a superb tally of 6-1 from Darren Fox helped them to a 10-10 to 3-4 victory over Trim in the Summer League Division1 final at Skryne.
Skryne panel - A Clarke, M Long, L Carolan, C O'Dowd, S Dowling, L Thorpe, D Hawes, M Swan, J Jordan, D Bissett, M Carolan, P Finnerty, C Doherty, T Kelly, E Quinn, S Byrne, S Rooney, G Hanley, E Morley, J Reddy, D Reddy, E Smyth, R Clarke, J Finnerty, M Doherty, A Moore, C McLoughlin, P Carpenter, C Craige, F Carty, F Finnegan, D Fitzpatrick, D Fox, D Carroll, J Thorpe, J Cunningham-Murphy, B Clarke, C Twomey. Tweet
