JFC C: Syddan fall as Pat's reach final
August 15, 2014
Syddan's Miley Byrne
ST PATRICK'S 1-11
SYDDAN 0-7
Syddan hopes of making it to a second Junior C final in three years were dashed at the penultimate stage in Donore on Thursday evening.
A St Patrick's side that contained a fine sprinkling of ex seniors had the upperhand for most of the way and led from the 10th minute after Ronan Kearns put them into a 0-2 to 0-1 lead.
A goal on the stroke of half-time from veteran Cormac Sullivan boosted the East Meath men to a six point interval advantage, 1-5 to 0-2.
They went seven points clear on two occasions in the third quarter before Syddan enjoyed their best spell to reduce the deficit back to four.
And while both Sean Malone and Sean Clare went close to finding the net, the goal that Syddan craved to get back into contention never materialised.
Syddan led for the only time through Conor Dillon's opening point of the match. They created few opportunities in that opening half and their only other score came from Gary Farrelly.
Despite playing well below their best Syddan were still in contention approaching half-time but that goal from Sullivan proved a massive body blow.
Great defensive work by Miley Byrne and Stephen Finnegan prevented St Patrick's goals on two occasions in the second half and with Gary Farrelly on song from placed balls Syddan eventually hauled themselves back into contention.
They were unable to sustain the challenge though and St Patrick's finished the stronger with full forward Barry Campbell taking his tally of points to seven with the last three scores of the game.
SCORERS - Syddan: Gary Farrelly 0-5 (4f), Conor Dillon, Philip Meade 0-1 each.
SYDDAN: B Corcoran; A Smith, S Finnegan, M Cassidy; P Smith, M Byrne, M Sweeney; S Clare, G McManus; S Malone, G Farrelly, P White; P Meade, C Dillon, D Smith. Subs: S Halpenny for White, K Carry for D Smith, S Fedigan for A Smith.
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