Skryne report:

Skryne 2-09 Wolfe Tones 1-10

Junior A Football Championship, Group C - Round 2

On a splendid evening in Bective, Skryne super-sub Craig Nolan bagged a last gasp goal to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat as Skryne produced a heroic second half performance to pip the Tones at the post and register their first victory in this year's Junior A Football Championship.

Skryne registered early points from Felim O'Rouke and Kesha Reilly, and led by 2 points to 1 when Wolfe Tones launched a superb attack from deep in their own half. Their centre-back who swapped passes several times during the move, picked up the final pass in Skryne's penalty area and finished emphatically to the Skryne net. The Tones added 2 more points before Skryne grabbed 2 of their own from Felim O'Rourke to narrow the gap to 2 points. Wolfe Tones converted 2 soft frees in injury time to give themselves a 4 point cushion at the half-time interval. Half-time score: Wolfe Tones 1-05, Skryne 0-04

Skryne were desperate for a good start to the second half, but instead they found themselves down a man inside the opening 2 minutes of the half when influential midfielder Aidan Tuite received his marching orders for retaliating to an over zealous challenge from a Wolfe Tones man. Similar retaliation on 2 occassions in the first half from the Tones merited only yellow cards, so Aidan's exit came as an unwelcome surprise to the Skryne contingent. Skryne were still 4 points down at this stage and were now a man down and facing an uphill battle to retrieve a favorable result from this game. However, their response to the sending off was superb. Felim O' Rourke and Kesha Reilly added to their tallies to reduce the deficit to 2 before Paddy Doherty who had been brought on to fill in for Tuitey at midfield at the expense of the unlucky Jason Fox, got on the end of a pass from Dermot Brennan who had made a brilliant burst through the heart of the Tones defence, and finished brilliantly over the head of the Tones keeper into the top left corner of the Tones goal to put Skryne into the lead. Tones levelled things up again a minute later, but the Hedge was on hand to restore Skryne's lead on the 17th minute. 3 unanswered points from the Tones saw them enter the final few minutes with a 2 point lead. Skryne missed several chances to reduce the deficit and as the game entered injury time it looked like all was lost, but then super-sub Craig Nolan stepped up with a fine point to leave just the minimum between the teams. He then got on the end of a fine ball, before turning his man and blasting a rocket of a shot past the Tones goalkeeper into the roof of the net to the delight of the Skryne faithful who were jumping around in ecstasy as Skryne grabbed a dramatic win. Final Score: Skryne 2-09, Wolfe Tones 1-10

Special mention to Mark Harrington who was magnificent throughout the game in defence and showed some great leadership in driving the troops on. He was not alone as all his colleagues can be proud of a tremendous performance and well deserved victory.

Skryne: Des Mc Avinney; Timmy Lennon, Mark Harrington, Barry Clarke; Dermot Brennan, Ronan McCabe, Darren Fox; Michael Doherty, Aidan Tuite; Kevin O' Reilly (0-02), Colm Doherty, Jason Fox; Ciarán Finnerty, Felim O'Rourke (0-05), Niall Morley. Subs: Paddy Doherty (1-00), Mark Jordan, James Hegarty (0-01), Craig Nolan (1-01).

Wolfe Tones report:

JFC Round 2 Bhulf Tón 1 10 Scrín 2 09 in Bective on Saturday 21 st April 2018

This was a very closely contested game played in ideal conditions with the outcome in doubt to the very end.

Bhulf Tón held a four point lead at half time on a score-line of 1 05 to 0 04, the goal being the most significant score of the half.

It was a brilliantly worked team goal coming at the end of a slick handpassing move right through the heart of Skrynes' defence involving several Tones' players, Brughach O Fionnagain, Davy Coleman, Caolán Ward and Cillian O Brien all handled the ball during the move which was started in midfield by Brughach O Fionnagain, who was also on hand to finish the ball to the net.

The goal came after 10 minutes and put the Tones in front 1 01 to 0 02. This was a lead they would hold until the 48 th minute. Tones opening score had come from wing back Davy Coleman who drove forward to finish off Tones opening attack of the game.

The ever lively Thomas Blaney scored an excellent individual point while Caolán Ward had added three points to the tally (two frees).

Tones had a numerical advantage for most of the second half as Skryne mid-fielder Aidan Tuite received a red card shortly after the interval. However they failed to make this advantage count and thanks to some unforced errors and a number of stray passes were only able to add one point to their tally (a pointed free from Caolán Ward in the 35 th minute) between the 30th and 53rd minute.

Meanwhile Skryne had gradually reeled their opponents in thanks to three frees early in the second half and when they goaled in the 50 th minute they led by 1 07 to 1 06. Bhulf Tón responded well and seemed set for victory following a four point scoring burst (Davy Coleman, Davy O Neill, Mark Coleman and Alan Fox) to a solitary Skryne reply and led 1 10 to 1 08 with normal time elapsed.

However the Oristown Kilberry men were unable to hold out and conceded 1 01 in added time. The goal was a killer blow coming when it seemed that Tones had done enough to merit victory.

Most prominent for Bhulf Tón were Davy Coleman, Brughach O Fionnagáin, Mark Coleman, Caolán Ward.

Bhulf Tón: Luke Condi, Alan Mc Keever, Ciarán Mc Loughlin, Oisín Mac Ghinneartaí, Davy Coleman, Brughach O Fionnagáin, Alan Lynam, Alan Callaghan, Mark Coleman (0 01), Eanna O Kelly Lynch, Cillian O Brien, Caolán Ward (0 04, 3F), Thomas Blaney (0 01), Davy O Neill (0 01), Alan Fox (0 01). Subs Gary Mc Fadden for Éanna O Kelly Lynch (20), Éanna O Kelly Lynch for Alan Lynam (50), Aonghus Mc Loughlin for Gary Mc Fadden (53).

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