St. Michaels 1-9, Skryne 2-7.

For the second week running the brave-hearts of St. Michaels set off for home feeling the pain of a one point defeat after having given it their all in this very well contested division 2 minor league match in very windy conditions in Skryne on Friday night. The 46th minute dismissal of Caolan McConnell on a second yellow didn't help matters and seemingly handed the initiative to the hosts who were leading by 1-4 to 0-6 at that point, but when all seemed lost and the home side went into a 3 point lead with just 5 minutes remaining on the clock, the 14 man St. Michaels side showed true grit and pulled it back to just the minimum in the 4th minute of injury time however time ran out on their brave effort and Skryne held on to claim the victory.  

The opening quarter of this match was all St. Michaels as Craig McGivern, Ray Reilly, Ben Tobin and Matthew Halpin fired over a point apiece to go 0-4 to 0-0 ahead while playing with the aid of the strong wind. While St. Michaels were making their chances count on the scoreboard, they weren't having it all their own way in the exchanges and they have their back six to thank for some brilliant defending where in particular Alan Reilly, Mickey Dunne, Adam O'Brien, Christopher Drew and Shane McCormack stood out. Matthew Halpin put in great work and covered the entire pitch but was constantly been dragged down by his opponents. The home side opened their account with two pointed frees in the 16th and 22nd minute of the first half. Halpin and Tobin left St. Michaels with a 0-6 to 0-2 interval lead after they each converted frees after Caolan McConnell and Craig McGivern were fouled on route to goal.

The physically stronger Skryne side started the second half with all guns blazing and had the ball in the back of the St. Michaels net within 30 seconds of the restart after a pile-driver gave Shane McCormack no chance, they were on level terms two minutes later and the lead point quickly followed on 37 minutes. Shortly afterwards Caolan McConnell got his ticket for an early shower but his team mates rallied and good combination work from the impressive Ben Tobin, Craig McGivern and Ray Reilly resulted in Thomas O'Brien finishing to the back of the net on 53 minutes to put St. Michaels back in a one point lead, however Skryne's reply was swift and decisive as a minute later McCormack was picking the ball out of his own net for the second time in the match and the home side made it a three point game a minute later. The St. Michaels lads never gave up though and they gave it their all for the last few minutes but all their attacks on goal were halted by fouls which were punished by the excellent Matthew Halpin who sent over the last three frees of the match, Skryne cancelled out one point on 62 minutes but it was a case of so near and yet so far as time ran out on the visitors and the home side held on for a one point victory.                                                                                 Credit must go to all of the St. Michaels players who took to the field last night, it definitely wasn't through lack of effort that they lost, they all played their hearts out. So continue to do what ye are doing lads because your luck WILL change.

St. Michaels team & scorers: Shane McCormack, Alex Farrell, Mickey Dunne, Alan Reilly, Stephen Dolan, Adam O'Brien, Caolan McConnell, Christopher Drew, Matthew Halpin 0-5, Rory O'Driscoll, Ray Reilly 0-1, Craig McGivern 0-1, Thomas O'Brien 1-0, Ben Tobin 0-2, Shane McDonnell.
Subs: Cory McGivern for Rory O'Driscoll on 29 minutes.

Referee: Owen Ganly.

Report and photo Pascal Reilly.

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