Derby win keeps Syddan safe
November 27, 2010Syddan has a proud football tradition with teams representing the parish since the early years of the GAA. The wearers of the green and yellow hoops were a strong force in the county in the late '40s and early '50s, winning the SFC for the first time in 1949, around the same time as Meath's initial annexation of the Sam Maguire Cup.
Further senior championship triumphs for Syddan followed in 1951, '52 and '56 and although after that glorious era, they ceased to be one of the county's football powers, there was an unexpected SFC final appearance in 1980.
Thirty year ago they scored a surprise semi-final success over Skryne but were well beaten by the fine Walterstown side of the time. In 1999 Syddan captured the IFC title and there was a Feis Cup victory in 2003, the first since 1952.
In 2010 Syddan were drawn in Group A and with just five teams in each of the divisions, there was less room for error than in some previous years. As well as Castletown, there were St Michael's and two sides from the south of the county, promoted Longwood and Na Fianna.
Former Syddan playing stalwart Shay Duff was again in charge, having taken over from Tommy Smyth, who stepped aside following the first round loss to eventual winners Oldcastle the previous year. Before a ball was kicked in the race for the Mattie McDonnell Cup, Syddan were among the outsiders.
Before entering the championship fray, they had a few warm-up outings in Division 3 of the All County A FL. The league programme began with a home game against senior side St Patrick's who won by 2-13 to 1-9 despite playing with 14 men for part of the second half.
Although players like Eamon Maguire, Sean Malone, Stephen Dillon and Padraic Young battled well, the end product was the first of a number of defeats during the coming months. There was also an early season loss to Dunderry before a 1-9 to 0-7 win over Cortown gave a pre-championship boost.
The opening IFC outing against promoted Longwood, who had scored a memorable Leinster junior club title triumph in December of 2009, at Bective looked a tricky encounter and so it proved with the north county side in trouble very soon after the start.
Syddan were a goal in arrears in the opening minute with former county senior Rory Maguire, a member of the Meath junior team this year, finding the net. Although
Aaron Ennis also raised the green flag in the first half, the difference the sides was only four points (2-2 to 0-4) at the break. However, Longwood had much the better of the second period to finish up as 10-point winners on a scoreline of 2-10 to 0-6.
After being idle in round two, Syddan performed much better in the next championship outing when only losing by the minimum margin (0-10 to 0-11) to well-fancied IFC contenders St Michael's in a Friday evening tussle at Drumconrath.
It was a game which Syddan could have won but for a good number of missed scoring chances. They took an early lead a matter of seconds after the throw-in but then did not score again for another 18 minutes as the Carlanstown/Kilbeg side took control to hold a 0-7 to 0-5 advantage at the break.
In a scrappy encounter, the teams were on level terms on two occasions in the second half and Syddan were left to rue their misses as a converted free put between the uprights in added time gave St Michael's the two points.
In their fourth round game at Walterstown, also on a Friday evening, Syddan again went close but again went away with nothing as Na Fianna recorded a 2-7 to 1-8 victory.
With the returning Brian Dillon in good form, Syddan led by 1-4 to 0-2 at the break and the lead was increased to six points early in the second half. Even though they were without their injured county senior forward Jamie Queeney, Na Fianna made a strong recovery with a brace of goals and Daniel Queeney top scored with 1-4.
Following round four Syddan were still rooted at the foot of their group with no points and minus 13 points. Castletown, who had drawn with Na Fianna, finished on one point. So the meeting of local rivals Castletown and Syddan was very crucial with the former only needing a draw from that encounter.
That clash took place at Drumconrath on the first Saturday evening in August and a press report of the game said: "such was the quality of the play at times that it was difficult to understand why neither side had managed to record a victory from their three earlier Group B ties."
With so much at stake, the game was competitive from start to finish and there was a high standard of sportsmanship between two clubs who are joined up under the banner of Killary Emmets in underage grades.
Syddan received an early boost when Cormac Rowe, a son of the Meath player of the same name of the '70s, soloed in from the left wing and shot low and hard to the net. Despite that bright beginning, Syddan trailed by 1-6 to 2-6 at the break.
Although there were times when Castletown looked the more likely winners, Syddan struck for their crucial second goal near the end of the third quarter with Philip Meade finishing to the net with a soccer-style shot.
Syddan were well in control of the exchanges in the second half and with county junior Pauric Young, Ben Bashford and Luke Halpenny showing up well in defence and netminder David O'Sullivan sound behind them, the opposition did not score from open play.
Brian Dillon was another to play a big part in Syddan's survival package and three converted frees after his side's second goal brought his personal total for the evening to five points, all from placed balls, as supporters of the Lobinstown side celebrated staying in the middle grade.
One of Syddan's longest-serving players is wing-back Ian Curran, who was on the team which beat St Patrick's to land possession of the Mattie McDonnell Cup in 1999, and got a taste of senior football for the next two years, reaching the SFC quarter-finals in 2000 before being relegated the next year.
Remarking that 2010 was a disappointing year, he said it was a big relief to survive in the intermediate grade. "At the start of the year we had hoped to do well and Shay Duff, who is a good coach, was back in charge. He put in a lot of good work, along with the selectors Patrick Dillon and PJ Cudden and things seemed to be going well in training and spirits were high," said the experienced defender.
"However, a couple of defeats in the league was not the kind of beginning to the season that we wanted and although we got the win over Cortown, Longwood gave us a good beating in our first championship outing.
"They hit us with a goal in the very first minute of that game and we were always in arrears after that. Despite giving away two goals in the first half that day, we were only four points behind at the break but the second half was a bit of a disaster for us.
"We performed a lot better against St Michael's and instead of losing by a point, we could have won by a few, had more chances of scores been taken. After missing all the 2009 season, Brian Dillon was also out for the first two championship games this year and he was a big loss.
"Brian was back for our next game against Na Fianna which we lost by two after being ahead by five at the break. A poor start to the second half cost us that day and they scored two goals in the second half.
"The clash with Castletown was a big game for both sides - a well-contested local derby. It was touch and go for a good part of the hour but we played well and got the vital scores. It was good to win it and some compensation for the earlier defeats.
"I feel we are capable of doing better although a few of the players have been there for a good few years. Apart from myself, there are lads like Martin Cassidy, Philip Duff and Brian Dillon and we have all played a lot of football.
"At the other end of the age scale there is Fiachra Ross, who was on the Meath minor team this year, while Padraic Young and Cormac Rowe played with the county juniors. Those lads will be improving and hopefully the results will be better next year," concluded Ian Curran. Tweet
