Late drama as Jordan seals victory
Just when extra-time looked inevitable Mark Jordan popped up to fire home a late goal and seal the most dramatic of victories for Skryne/Tara in the Leinster Junior Shield final today.
Jordan struck in the 92nd minute to give his side the 1-0 win and the coveted trophy with rivals Ashbourne Utd left to ponder what might have been. It was the first time Skryne/Tara have won the competition.
The fact that two Meath teams reached the final made today's showdown a little special for the North East Football League.
The game was played at Frank Cooke Park in Dublin the home of Tolka Rovers and the well-manicured surface was the perfect platform for a thrilling contest. That was the theory.
What we got in reality was a cagey, close encounter that neither side were able to dominate for long.
Just when extra-time looked inevitable Jordan struck firing home from a tight angle.
Skryne/Tara's goalkeeper Darragh Keegan also played a big part in the win making a super one-handed save from Ashbourne Utd's Matthew Devine shortly before Jordan hit his winner.
Paddy Carpenter, Robbie Fox and man-of-the-match Jason Fox also threatened for the side managed by Robbie Thorpe and Cyril Carty but there was no breakthrough until Jordan struck.
Devine had a number of chances for Ashbourne Utd and he looked destined to score for Jonathan Noctor's team but was denied by Keegan at least twice including that vital one-handed stop.
In the opening half Ashbourne Utd's Kamil Sworowski also unleashed a shot from the edge of the box but the ball rebounded off the bar and away.
It is such moments that can make all the difference in tight games and in the end Skryne/Tara dug deep to find that something extra that ensured they went home with the trophy - and the satisfaction of a job well done.
Skryne/Tara - Darragh Keegan; Colin Doyle, Darren Fox, David Lynch, Stephen O'Brien, Ciaran Croke, Luke Thorpe, Timmy Lennon, Paddy Carpenter, Mark Jordan, Jason Fox. Subs - Frank Carty for Carpenter, Dermot Brennan for Croke both 61 mins.
Ashbourne Utd - Daniel McShane; Colm Ward, Colin O'Sullivan, Rory Rice, Jonathan McNally, Brian Rice, Dillon O'Brien, Tadhg Browne, Matthew Devine, James Reddin, Kadail Skorowki. Subs - Craig Jordan for Reddin, David McKeown for Browne both 59 mins, John Naughton for Skorowski 75m.
Referee - Daryl Carolan; Assistants - Brian Murphy, Ronan Little.
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