Slashers cut down Skryne in Leinster decider
Defeat another chapter in Fiona O'Rourke's amazing career
Hopes Skryne had of adding a Leinster Club IFC title to the the Intermediate crown they won in their native county were dashed at Kinnegad today. Cruelly and comprehensively dashed.
Mick O'Dowd's team produced some encouraging, enterprising football in the opening half, helping themselves to three goals but they were by some distance outshone in the second-half despite having the breeze behind them.
The Meath side trailed 3-4 to 2-8 at the break (with the prolific Ciara Smyth grabbing both goals and Amy O'Dowd one) but couldn't muster more than two points in the second-half, only one from play.
That was never going to be enough to win a Leinster crown, against a hungry, well-organised, highly capable Slashers side.
Even the experience and the relentless running of Fiona O'Rourke couldn't spark a response from Skryne in that second-half. Afterwards the 39-year-old mother of five pointed out how Slashers lost last year's final so they were highly motivated.
Sunday's game was just the latest in Mahon's amazing career as a footballer and athlete. Known to many by her maiden name, Fiona Mahon, she won a series of Meath Cross-Country Athletic Championships (as well as national titles at novice and intermediate levels).
As a footballer she claimed an amazing 12 Meath ladies SFC titles with Seneschalstown. She missed out in one, in 2014 when she gave birth to her first child. Now she has a family of five ranging from eight to a baby girl born last May.
In 2018 she transferred to Skryne and helped them move from the Junior to Intermediate and land the title this year under Mick O'Dowd, the former manager of the Meath's mens team.
"It's been a brilliant year for Skryne ladies, we worked very, very hard and it was a really proud moment for the club to get to a Leinster final. We've had some great days unfortunately it was disappointment for us today."
She looked on Sunday as eager, as full of enthusiasm as ever as she ran up and down the pitch, constantly chasing possession in a free role. "There are not too many playing football at 39 but age is just a number and when you are feeling fit, feeling healthy and well there's no reason not to play if you enjoy it."
She played tribute to Longford Slashers; their experience and ability to turn chances into scores. That ability was clearly evident in those opening minutes when they went three points in front.
The Skryne supporters in the crowd of about 500 certainly had reasons to be optimistic when their team grabbed their first goal. Smyth lobbed the ball into the Slashers' goalmouth. The flight of the ball deceived Slashers' goalkeeper Emer Casey. It was a score to spark a few madcap moments.
From the kick-out Skryne won possession and Amy O'Dowd surged through the Slashers' defence before firing to the net. It was a great run, a super score and put Skryne 2-0 to 0-3 in front.
Slashers' response was lethal. Immediately afterwards they too worked a fine move and Kyana Lee slotted to the net. Three minutes three goals and all inside the opening seven minutes or so.
There was more to come. On 11 minutes Smyth again found space. Again the net bulged. Smyth, O'Dowd, Catriona Keogan and Ellie Murphy subsequently fired over points for Skryne but they still trailed at the interval.
Yet with the breeze behind them in the second-half Skryne had real reasons, at the break, to be hopeful. Could they push on? The answer was no. Instead the Slashers found and extra gear. Unforced errors and misplaced passes undermined Skryne's cause. They were dealth a devastating blow when Jessica Barry, who had goaled in the opening half, found the net again on 51 minutes. That left it 3-10 to 3-4.
A spell in the sinbin for Ciara Smyth also didn't do their cause any good.
Skryne didn't get their first point of the second-half until the 55th minute when Roisin McManus pointed. Ruth Moore added another soon after. They needed more. Chances were missed. Like 2003 the chance of a Leinster title was gone.
Another fine, top class athlete Elizabeth Morland marked her display with a series of surging runs that helped to turn defence into attack while Keogan, Samantha Clarke and Lisa Browne were others who put in big performances.
Unfortunately for Skryne it just wasn't their day as a chance to land a provincial title passed them by. No doubt, however, as one supporter added: "They will be back." No doubt.
SCORERS
Longford Slashers - Jessica Barry 2-5; Kyana Lee 1-1; Kate Shannon 0-3 one free; Kara Shannon 0-1.
Skryne - Ciara Smyth 2-1; Amy O'Dowd 1-1; Ellie Murphy 0-1 free; Catriona Keogan 0-1; Roisin McManus 0-1;Ruth Moore 0-1.
Longford Slashers - Emer Casey; Lauran Kenny, Emily Reilly, Grace Kenny; Orla Nevin, Eimear O'Brien, Ciara Farrell; Aoife O'Brien, Aisling Cosgrove; Lisa Nolan, Grace Shannon, Kyania Lee; Kate Shannon, Jessica Barry, Kara Shannon. Subs - Jill Glennon for Lee 55 mins.
Skryne - Rachel Whelan; Ciara Cowley, Steffi Finnegan, Alana Cooney; Nicola O'Reilly, Lisa Browne, Niamh O'Brien; Catriona Keogan, Elizabeth Morland; Samantha Clarke, Amy O'Dowd, Fiona O'Rourke; Ellie Murphy, Ciara Smyth, Roisin McManus. Subs - Sophie Finnegan for Murphy 46 mins, Ruth Moore for Cooney 55m.
Referee - Kevin Phelan (Laois).