Skryne 2-8 Dunshaughlin 0-10

Skryne reached the under 21 final for the first time since 2006 when they defeated Dunshaughlin in an excellent game despite the conditions. The game was moved from Duleek to Martry due to the fact that Duleek was unplayable as were most pitches in the county as a result of the incessant rainfall over the last week.

The underfoot conditions were heavy and slippy for the midday throw-in with some parts of the pitch just about passing referee Liam O'Briens pre match inspection. Allowing for this both teams served up some very entertaining football with Dunshaughlin starting well, scoring the first 2 points of the game. Skryne replied with 2 Neal Burke points and another from Stephen O'Brien who was arguably Skrynes man-of-the-match.

With half time approaching the Black and Ambers had a 5 points to 3 lead which they fully deserved on their performance up to that stage. But then came the two decisive scores of the game as the Blues scored two goals in as many minutes. The first of these was the score of the game and would be deserving to be the winning score of any match. It started from the Skryne fullback line with Darragh Campion being involved all the way up the field until his final pass ended with a simple tap in goal for Conor O'Brien. The second followed very quickly with Paddy Doherty fisting a high centre to the net leaving the

Half time score - Skryne 2-3 Dunshaughlin 0-5.

Skryne had the benefit of the slight breeze in the second half and started brightly but found scores hard to cone by as the pitch proved difficult for both sides. The Blues went seven points clear at one stage of this half but Dunshaughlin to their credit brought it back to a three point game with just five minutes remaining. Skrynes last two points came from their two substitutes Eoin Smyth and Jason Fox. As stated with just one score, three points, between the sides that last score from Jason brought relief to the hard pressed Skryne defence and their uneasy backroom team and small band of supporters.

A feature of the game was the fact that even in such difficult conditions only three points of the total 20 scores came from frees - two to Dunshaughlin and one to Skryne. With ten scores each this is surely a compliment to both teams which made for an entertaining and free flowing match.

Apart from the players already mentioned Skryne had good displays from Dean Reddy in goals, Niall Lenehan, Enda Byrne and Oisin Gryson in defence while Harry Rooney and Donie Ryan gave them a slight edge in midfield. Upfront, apart from the scorers already mentioned, Stephen Rathbourne brought fresh legs and stability to this area when introduced.

Skryne - Dean Reddy. Eoghan Greene, Niall Lenehan, Enda Byrne. Niall Morley, Oisin Gryson, Darragh Campion. Donie Ryan, Harry Rooney. Sean Cassidy, Neal Burke (0-3), Stephen O'Brien (0-2). John Morley, Conor O'Brien (1-1), Paddy Doherty (1-0).
Subs used - Jason Fox (0-1), Eoin Smyth (0-1), Stephen Rathbourne.

Dunshaughlin Report

Dunshaughlin 0-10 Skryne 2-08

With Duleek pitch falling victim to the recent bad weather Dunshaughlin's U21 found themselve in Martry with a Semi Final against local rivals Skryne in a game played in tough conditions on a blustery November day.

t only took 20 seconds for the opening score of the game to come for the black and amber with the Gallogly brothers linking up well that seen Shaney Gallolgy finishing off a fine move that started with Ben Duggan at the throw up. Dunshaughlin were enjoying some good periods of possession and their hard work was to be rewarded with the deadly accurate Shane Gallogly smartly pointing 3 mins later following some good build up play from Tommy Kinsella.

A converted Skryne free got them off the mark after 5 mins but this was cancelled out by Cian Gallogly who was now starting to make some intelligent runs and it was good to see his hard work being rewarded with a lovely point on 6 mins and was well assisted after a now trade mark Oisin Foley surging run from half back. Skryne were not going anywhere though and two scores on the bounce levelled the game 17 mins before the two Gallogly's were to combine again four mins later with Shane Gallogly once again putting Dunshaughlin back in front by a point.

There must have been something in the porridge in the Gallogly household on Sunday morning when Dunshaughlin's answer to the Brogans were to combine again for the third time of the half with Cian Gallogly now pointing to put Dunshaughlin two to the good with the first half coming to a close and Dunshaughlin looking in cruise control. Skryne though had other ideas and two well worked goals in the space of a minute remarkably now had the Tara men leading by four points with Dunshaughlin now feeling as shocked and perplexed as a man who realised halfway through the nicene creed that he had left the immersion on after shaving for Sunday mass as referee Liam O'Brien blew for half time.

These two goals was exactly the tonic that Skryne were looking for and as the second half resumed as they took back up where they left off with three unanswered points that now had them leading by 7 after 41 mins. A badly needed Dunshaughlin point came on the 45th minute thanks to a converted Tommy Kinsella free. Skryne responded well to this and were to point again on 50 mins with Tommy  Kinsella showing good composure again on 51 mins to convert another free to now have 6 points between the teams.  Dunshaughlin now were to spring into life on 52 mins with Oisin Foley  scoring a fantastic point while a smart thinking Ben Duggan 45 found Shane Gallogly on 55 mins to now have four points between the teams with 5 mins remaining. 

Dermot Christie was now starting to come into the game and his hard work resulted in Shane Gallogly once again pointing for Dunshaughlin with just the kick of a ball between the teams with 3 minutes remaining but sadly for Dunshaughlin the all elusive goal was never to come with Skryne hanging on to get an injury point score to have them run out 4 point winners. 

Dunshaughlin to their credit battled hard and never gave up with Adam Kealy, Oisin Foley and Ronan Geraghty giving a good account for themselves in defence while Ben Duggan can feel proud of his efforts at midfield for neutralising the impact county midfielder Harry Rooney had on the game while both Shane and Cian Gallogly can both feel proud of their efforts as well as Diarmuid Christie who worked himself into the game.

Dunsaughlin: M.Galvin, A.Kealy, R.Geragty, D.Dunne, O.Foley, D.Ormsby, C.Mooney, B.Duggan, D.Quinn, D.Christie, S.Gallogly, N.Byrne, L.Carey, T.Kinsella, C.Gallogly. Subs - A McDermott for M.Galvin, S.Duffy for L.Carey, M.Galvin for A.McDermott

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