Skryne boys merit victory over rivals

Skryne took the MFL Div 2 title at windswept Pairc Tailteann on Saturday when they proved too strong for neighbours and great rivals Walterstown in a game which produced plenty of good football. 'It"s great to see two senior clubs contesting a minor final and it was a credit to both sets of players that they were able to produce a good game under difficult conditions,' stated Minor Board chairman Ultan Fitzpatrick. 'We always knew it would be tough, this is the second time we"ve played Walterstown and they kept coming back at us,' commented Skryne captain and Meath minor player David Ryan in his acceptance speech. Meath player Ryan lined out at midfield with his county colleague Ciaran Lenihan while Walterstown, who also made a contribution to the Royal County"s Leinster MFC success, included both Brian McGrane and Mark McCormack in their starting 15. On this occasion Skryne proved too strong although both clubs can look forward to the future with a certain amount of confidence based on the fact that they will have a steady supply of talent progressing to their adult teams over the next few years. Skryne enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening half on Saturday, but they laboured to find any fluency until the close to the interval. For the first 22 minutes they managed just one score, but crucially it was a goal which arrived in the 12th minute from Karl Burke. Once Skryne found a rhythm they had a potent appearance which translated into a 1-4 to 0-4 interval advantage. The pace of Skryne"s Liam Tolan was a constant threat against an over-worked Walterstown rearguard and he was involved in the majority of their attacks. Apart from his well-taken goal, Burke sent over a brace of points from play which were augmented by similar scores from Declan Morley and Tolan. Those four points arrived in a blistering eight-minute spell before the break, but Walterstown were in touch throughout with pointed frees from Stefan McDonnell (three) and Cormac Madden. Diarmuid Murphy"s pace also caused problems for the Skryne rearguard, but the Blacks were unable to capitalise on a number of chances and finished the half with a tally of four wides. Against the elements in the second-half, Walterstown were always going to find the going difficult. They opened at a whirlwind pace and had a 'goal" ruled out for a square ball infringement after six minutes. It looked like a harsh decision because Burke appeared to run into the square to get a touch to Stephen O"Keeffe"s lob and then they missed another chance at the end of the third-quarter. Murphy blazed wide in front of the posts from no more than about six metres. Walterstown ended a 19-minute barren spell on the scorebaord when McDonnell sent over from play, but at that stage Skryne were ahead by 2-6 to 0-5. Ryan carved out the opening for Skryne"s second goal when he played in Morley on the edge of the square. The full-forward needed two opportunities to get the ball, but he had sufficient time to adjust and finish past "keeper John Davis. That was the crucial score and while Walterstown kept battling for the remainder, they were never really in contention. Skryne had it relatively easy and could even afford eight wides as they took the spoils in confident style. Skryne - Conor Ryan; Ciaran O"Rourke, Paul Keogan, Ciaran Bailey; Dermot Brennan, Adam O"Sullivan, Cian Kennedy; David Ryan, Ciaran Lenihan (0-1); Paul Bannon, Brian Davis (0-1), Karl Burke (1-3); Patrick Fox (0-1), Declan Morley (1-1), Liam Tolan (0-3). Sub - Paul McGoldrick for Bannon. Walterstown - John Davis; Colin McGrane, Andrew Daly, Conor McGuinness; Colm McMahon, Brian McGrane, Aaron McLouglin; Stephen O"Keeffe, Mark Reynolds; Diarmuid Murphy, Richard Ellis, Mark McCormack; Cormac Madden (0-1), Stefan McDonnell (0-5), Akalaque Khan. Subs - Adam Daly for McGuinness, David Reilly for Madden. Referee - Gerry O"Brien (Wolfe Tones)