When Syddan bridged a gap of half a century in late 2003 by winning the Feis Cup they must have started to think that it was really only a matter of time before they would achieve an even greater ambition - that of being a senior club again. Syddan are passionate about their football and that Feis Cup triumph, achieved with a comprehensive final victory over Skryne in early November last year, must have provided them with a great boost and a very nice consolation prize following their elimination at the semi-final stage of the Intermediate Football Championship against champions-to-be Navan O'Mahonys. As a result, they must have entered the 2004 championship race with high hopes that they could elevate themselves back up to the top flight and the chance to mix it with the big boys that they would relish with such gusto. It will be something of a surprise if Syddan don't achieve their goal in the very near future, but it wasn't to be for Shay Duff's side in the campaign gone by as they bowed out at the quarter-final stage to Carnaross, a side which also suffered at the hands of O'Mahonys the previous year - in the intermediate final. Syddan's qualification group also included Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Rathkenny, Duleek, St. Colmcille's, Oldcastle, Slane and Castletown and was one from which they certainly looked more than capable of advancing. They opened their campaign in desired fashion with back-to-back victories, but they were by no means overly convincing performances, starting with a 0-11 to 0-6 triumph over Donaghmore/Ashbourne at Duleek. Donaghmore/Ashbourne, who went on to dice with death in the championship before preserving their intermediate status with a relegation play-off win over Curraha, put up a very brave performance with a young team against a vastly more experienced Syddan outfit which managed to lead by only 0-3 to 0-2 at the interval. The absence of Shay Duff and Brian Dillon and the early loss of Philip Duff certainly didn't help their cause and Syddan had to work hard for their victory. They didn't manage to hit the target from play in the first-half, but improved significantly in the second period when Derek Young excelled. Syddan certainly made their supporters sweat it out in an incident-packed second round encounter against Castletown at Drumconrath, before they pounced late to snatch a 1-9 to 1-8 victory. Three players, one from Syddan, were sent off and a goal from a Young penalty helped them to a comfortable enough 1-6 to 0-4 advantage at the interval. But Castletown battled back and held a 1-8 to 1-6 advantage, before they began to wilt and Syddan hit them with three late points to win by the narrowest of margins. The third round meeting with Rathkenny at Slane had the appearances of a potential 'banana skin' for Syddan and that's exactly how it turned out as an injury-time goal from Richie Timmons won it for Rathkenny on a 1-6 to 0-8 score line. The sides were level on 0-4 each at the break, by which stage Syddan had missed a penalty, but they still managed to be in front by 0-8 to 0-6 with time running out and they were looking good for a third successive championship victory. But Rathkenny were waiting to spoil the party and Timmons pounced with his late, late winner to do just that. The alarm bells weren't exactly ringing in Syddan after that defeat, but it was obvious that they needed to bounce back to get their qualification hopes firmly back on track. With matches following against St. Colmcille's and Slane they looked to have very realistic hopes of achieving further wins to go with the two that had kick-started their group campaign. It wasn't exactly clear-cut when they met St. Colmcille's at Duleek as they edged through by 0-11 to 1-6, but the win over Slane at Rathkenny left them with four victories from five outings and they were certainly heading in the right direction as far as making the quarter-finals was concerned. Oldcastle had already dethroned them as Feis Cup champions at Kells and the desire for revenge must have been in the minds of the Syddan players as they prepared to meet the same opposition in the sixth round of the championship at the same venue. This time Syddan did the business in an exciting encounter, winning by 0-12 to 1-5 - a win that booked their place in the knock-out stages. However, it was Oldcastle who were in the better position at half-time when leading by 1-4 to 0-5, but Syddan improved in the second period when they restricted the opposition to a solitary point from a free, while adding seven themselves. That win left them sitting nicely at the top of Group B on 10 points from their six outings. Barney Rock's Duleek provided Syddan with their opposition in the final round of qualification matches at Donore and it was Duleek who moved to the head of the section on a day when Syddan were without the services of several regulars due to holidays. Playing with the advantage of the wind, Duleek build up a 0-6 to 0-0 lead and they were in a very strong position when the half-time whistle sounded as they held a 0-10 to 0-3 cushion. Syddan did manage to close the gap to five points within eight minutes of the restart, but a Duleek goal really killed off any chances they might have entertained of making a successful recovery. It finished 1-15 to 1-8. Carnaross had recovered from a less than convincing early part to their divisional campaign to reach the business end of the championship and Syddan must have been very wary of them going into the quarter-final meeting at Moynalty, though by this stage they had Brian Dillon back for his first championship start. In the end, goals proved decisive for Carnaross who booked their place in the last four with a narrow 2-8 to 0-12 triumph and the fact that both of them came from penalties, scored by Gavin Murphy in the second-half, must have added to Syddan's sense of disappointment and utter frustration. Syddan were surely happy with their half-time position as they held a 0-8 to 0-5 advantage, but it was certainly a day of penalty woes for them as Dillon's spot kick effort was saved by Carnaross goalkeeper Tony Morris, also in the second period. However, they were still level with time almost up after Dillon had slotted over a free, but Carnaross destroyed their hopes with two late points. Syddan can only look forward and hope that 2005 will bring that title and push them back up where they so desperately want to be - playing in the Senior Championship once again. "I suppose we were a bit unlucky to lose the quarter-final against Carnaross," reflected Brian Dillon who missed the vast majority of the IFC campaign as a result of the dislocated shoulder he suffered while assisting Meath in the National League against Cavan at Pairc Tailteann back in mid-February. "They scored two penalties and I missed one. I guess it was just one of those days. It was a bit of a joke really. But I feel we would have won only for giving away those goals. We were on top of them, but we were caught at the end by two late points that beat us. "That was my first championship game after the injury. I had missed all the matches up to that one, but had played in a couple of league games. Naturally, I was rusty and not used to any real contact. "I had been in a sling for six weeks after the injury, and then took part in some non-contact training, kicking the ball and whatever, but no games. It means you have no match practice under your belt and with an injury like that you're wary." So, what's the missing ingredient that Syddan require to make the step back up to the senior ranks? "It's really hard to know, perhaps a bit more consistency," the highly talented 23-year-old added. "I believe we have the players necessary to go all the way, but we need that bit more consistency. We need to put our minds to it and knuckle down to the task. We also need to get it right on the day; that's very important." Of course, everybody in Syddan would like to see Brian become an established member of the Meath senior panel. "Suffering that injury against Cavan was a big blow, a big disappointment," he acknowledged. "I had been enjoying being part of the set-up. The training is tough, but it's also enjoyable, something different. Of course, I would like to become an established member of the county set-up, absolutely." Dee Rangers triumph The combined forces of Syddan and Nobber enjoyed a significant success during the summer when Dee Rangers claimed the MFL Div. 3 title, defeating Curraha/St. Vincent's by 1-16 to 0-9 in the final at Walterstown. Dee Rangers controlled most of the match and a goal from Barry McEntee helped them to a commanding seven-point (1-9 to 0-5) interval lead. The match was over as a contest at that stage and Dee Rangers had 10 points to spare at the final whistle, before captain Padraig Young had the honour of accepting the Div. 3 Shield. The Dee Rangers team and scorers were - D. Sullivan; B. Bashford, A. O'Brien; C. Halpin, M. O'Halloran, S. McKenna; P. Young (0-3), A. Farrell (0-3); D. Cluskey (0-1), G. Hutchinson (0-3), C. Rowe (0-1); P. Meade (0-3), B. McEntee (1-0). Subs - G. Campbell (0-2) for McEntee, G. Farrelly for Young, R. Farrelly for Cluskey, C. Clarke for Hutchinson. Syddan take Junior C crown North Meath had something to savour in Pairc Tailteann on Sunday 10th October when Syddan deservedly got the better of Ratoath in the Lynch's Pharmacy, Kells JFC C final replay by beating Ratoath on a 1-10 to 0-8 scoreline. Just as in the main event the winning side were guided by a player-manager, Shay Duff got his charges off to a great start by pointing a '45' against the wind in the fourth minute. The early exchanges were among the few highlights of a mediocre hour with both goalkeepers being pressed into service early on. Ratoath's Sean Killian, replacing Robbie Donnelly who was promoted to the first team for the JFC decider, saved well from Paddy Skelly and Richie Sheehy. When Ratoath were awarded a penalty after a pass from James Sheehy went astray, the Syddan net minder redeemed himself by stopping Sean Ryan's placed effort with an outstretched leg. The sides were level five times in the opening half and turned around deadlocked at 0-5 apiece. However, Ratoath chalked up seven wides in the opening thirty minutes and looked ill-equipped to face the elements in their bid to add to the junior 'A' title won seven days earlier. Many of their players lined out in positions at variance with what was suggested on the programme and it would have been easier for all concerned if they lineout they submitted was based on the one that started the drawn match. At times the pitch resembled a field of primroses such was the preponderance of yellow and it was hard to understand why Ratoath didn't wear their predominantly blue jerseys. Surprisingly, it Ratoath were the first to open up a two-point gap when Colm Kelly landed two frees within five minutes of the restart, but they managed just one further score, a free from Damien Ryan in stoppage time. In between Syddan made a successful bolt for the finish line adding 1-5 without reply between the 10th and 25th minutes of the second-half. Apart form scoring five points (four from frees) full-forward Conor Dillon did a lot of useful work for Syddan who started with four members of the side that won IFC honours in 1999. Dillon dispossessed his marker Kevin Johnson before placing Paddy Skelly for the only goal of the game in the 43rd minute. There was little Sean Killian could do to stop the pile driver from entering the net at the hospital end. Syddan were now back in front, 1-6 to 0-7, and were in no mood to surrender the initiative. The player manger extended their advantage with a magnificent effort from 45 metres and with just over five minutes they were six points clear and out of sight. Team captain Shane Dardis led by example at the back and was well assisted by Damien McGillick and Paul Smith while overall the north county men were physically that bit stronger. Ratoath failed to raise a flag from play in the second-half and Paddy Coyne, who wasn't even listed on the programme, was their only player to score more than once from play. Syddan - J. Sheehy; S. Carolan, S. Dardis (C ), D. McGillick; P. Smith, M. Cassidy, J. Dardis; R. Sheehy, F. McKenna; S. Halpenny, S. Duff (0-2), R. Cluskey; P. Skelly (1-1), C. Dillon (0-5), G. Carolan (0-2). Subs - K. Rafferty for Cassidy, T. Hackett for R. Cluskey, M. Rafferty for J. Dardis, D. Cluskey for G. Carolan. Tweet

Most Read Stories