Superb second-half secures Under 16 FC success for Skryne
July 11, 2007

Skryne captain Ciaran Lenehan raises the Benny Caffrey Cup after victory over O Mahonys at Pairc Tailteann.
Liam Toland led the way with 1-5 and Declan Morley chalked up 1-2 as Skryne deservedly and decisively won the Under 16 FC title for the first time in 33 years with nine points to spare over O'Mahonys at Pairc Tailteann on Wednesday night.
Skryne ....... 2-13
O'Mahonys .... 1-7
Skyrne's first annexation of the Benny Caffrey Cup was achieved on the back of a strong second-half showing which saw them outscore the Navan lads by 2-7 to 1-1.
To their credit the Navan lads, who only played their sem-final against Ratoath four days earlier, battled valiantly against the strong breeze blowing from the hospital end and when Simon Dixon netted brilliantly in the 51 minute the gap was down to just three points, 1-7 to 1-10.
Earlier in the half, the O'Mahonys' number 15 struck the side-netting after cutting in from the left. The losing side saw five second-half scoring attempts drop into the safe hands of Skryne custodian Conor Ryan.
Skryne might have won by a wider margin but for shooting 14 wides, twice as many as Brendan O'Reilly's charges, who were never headed in the opening half and reached the interval on level terms, 0-6 each, with the Tara boys.
Within 30 seconds of the restart Toland pointed Skryne in front for the first time when latching onto a long delivery from impressive team mate and skipper Ciaran Lenehan.
Though Darragh Maguire, Michael Murphy and Neil Jordan combined to set up James O'Reilly for a levelling score moments later. It was the third and final time that the sides were level on a fine evening for football.
A scoring blitz that yielded 1-2, including Toland's goal, between the 36th and 39th minutes, set Skryne on their way to a success that was warmly appreciated by all associated with the club.
O'Mahonys goalkeeper John Foley saved smartly from Morley ten minutes after the restart. However, when Lenehan's midfield partner Adam O'Sullivan pointed from the edge of the exclusion zone as the clock ticked into the final quarter it was 1-10 to 0-7.
Dixon's goal threw O'Mahonys hopes of first success at this level in five years a lifeline, but Skryne's win was sealed with 1-2 in the final minutes with Morley getting the goal while substitute Paul Bannon had another effort blocked by O'Mahonys' defender Killian Walsh.
Skryne - Conor Ryan; Dermot Brennan, Cian Kennedy, Ciaran O'Rourke; Joseph Jordan, Paul Keogan, David Hegarty; Ciaran Lenehan (0-1), Adam O'Sullivan (0-1); David Burke, Brian Davis (0-3), Ian Gillette (0-1); Liam Toland (1-5), Declan Morley (1-2), Patrick Fox. Sub - Paul Bannon for Jordan.
O'Mahonys - John Foley, Donal McCreanor, Killian Walsh, Alan Forde; James Murphy, Donal Ennis, Conor Finnegan; Darragh Maguire (C) (0-1), James O'Reilly (0-2); Paul McGrath (0-1), Michael Murphy, Neil Jordan (0-1); John Gillen, Shane Gillespie, Simon Dixon (1-1). Subs - Donal Callan for Gillen, Tommy Cox for McGrath, Lee Dixon for Gillespie.
Referee Brendan Darby (Ballinabrackey).
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