Talked about as relegation candidates at the ouset of the championship, the men from Syddan proved their doubters wrong. Fairy tales do come true. Just ask the good people up around the Lobinstown, Newtown and Woodtown areas of north County Meath. Two years ago their local side, Syddan floundered in the intermediate grade and appeared more capable of taking the drop down to junior rather than even reaching the knock out stages of the intermediate competition. Enter one Shane McEntee though and the rest, as they say, is history. McEntee turned a team of practical no hopers into one capable of turning around a huge half time deficit and swamping red hot favourites St Pats in the intermediate decider. This was McEntee and Syddan at their best. The men in green and gold, fit and disciplined, the bearded manager on the line cajoling and urging on his troops. Their finest hour, but surely Syddan had reached the limit of their achievements, that in the senior ranks the big guns were sure to find flaws in the north Meath machine. Syddan's biggest challenge lay ahead. And no greater test than the group of death in which McEntee's men were placed to ply their senior championship trade. Four teams, two to go forward, one to clasp the safety net, the other, well probably back to where Syddan arrived from. And the north Meath XV were firm favourites to occupy that berth. As contestants, they had for company Dunboyne and Kells outfit, Gaeil Colmcille, both senior champions in the '90s. Then there was emerging Simonstown, classed among the senior favourites every year since their arrival back in the mid '90s. But people who know McEntee and the passion for football around the Syddan area were aware that An Sodan were not going to lie down, that they would be extremely fit and courageous, that McEntee would suck the last ounce of effort from his squad. And so it proved, Syddan even allowing for their very average league form in division three, had by all standards a masterful year and while a disappointing quarter final defeat at the hands of Dunshaughlin might have thrown some short term muck on the horizon, it quickly disappeared on quiet reflection and what emerged was the bold words Syddan WERE BACK. Beaten in the end but very much back. Yes, we did mention quarter finals, Syddan did make it to the knock out stages, made it with a certain amount of style and woke up an entire Meath GAA population to their capabilities. They went through as group winners, albeit by the toss of a coin with Simonstown but that Dunshaughlin set back was Syddan's first championship defeat of this year. Draws were forced upon Dunboyne and Gaeil Colmcille and then perhaps the most controversial scoreline of the entire Meath SFC for 2000, as Simonstown with a few regulars missing were hammered out of sight. The opener versus the '98 kingpins brought a good Saturday evening crowd to Rathkenny. As usual the Syddan support was present in large numbers and an interesting snippet from a keenly fought duel was the involvement of the McEntee brothers, Shane the Syddan boss while younger brother Andy with six of his sides eight points did his damnedest to make Syddan's senior championship debut a non eventful one. For good measure another McEntee, Larry carried out his usual video work from the sidelines. Eight points apiece at the final whistle but this was a game tigerish Syddan should have won. Dunboyne were reduced to 13 men ten minutes from the finish and with tricky Trevor Gilsenan very much to the fore the north county men held a 0-8 to 0-7 lead with two minutes remaining. With their extra men hovering around the midfield area, they should have consolidated but a McEntee free gave Dunboyne a share of the spoils. Maybe if there was a criticism to throw at the Syddan class of 2000, then it was a little lack of tactical awareness. We suppose this lacking is nothing new to teams straight up out of the intermediate grade and it was something Dunshaughlin and Richie Kealy were going to expose in that quarter final clash. More about that later. The Dunboyne game, if anything, showed that Syddan were not going to be easy fodder for anyone. Their tackling was tenacious. Just ask Nigel Crawford as the county man shipped a few heavy tackles in the opening stages. Syddan, smaller than the usual senior team, hunted in packs and were driven forward by a huge hunger and will to succeed. Well known trademarks of their manager. Kells proved a different type of challenge and were 0-6 to 1-1 in front following 30 minutes of play, Shay Duff, the only Syddan scorer. Other Syddan marksmen got in on the act following the break and after the town XV missed a penalty with four minutes remaining, a late Philip Duffy point ensured another share of the spoils at 1-9 apiece. The Kells and Dunboyne games demonstrated Syddan's solid defence at work, their forward division was just not quite putting it together or more precisely between the posts. However, all critics of the Syddan attack were provided with a timely message on Sunday July 9th. Simonstown were in the other corner and as one well known club official remarked "the Syddan attack went mad". They ran up an impressive tally of 5-12 while only conceding 0-9 at the other end. Now rumours abound that this was only a second string town XV. Very untrue indeed, Simonstown were short a couple of players but with the exception of centre half back Paul Reilly who deputised for the American based Cian McGrath, the Simonstown back line and goalkeeper were the exact same as that which took the field for their own quarter final clash with Skryne. This attacking onslaught was at its height during the opening 20 minutes as McEntees men clocked up 3-7 while keeping a clean sheet on the Pairc Tailteann scoreboard (it had already been 0-6 to 0-0 following ten minutes play) and goals from Brian Dillon with the help of opposing corner back Alan Meade, who carried the ball over the goal line and from Trevor Gilsenan and Philip Duff (Shay Duff was the creator on both occasions) placed the outsiders practically out of sight. Matters stood at 3-8 to 0-2 come Jimmy Henry's half time whistle and further three pointers per Shay Duff and Brian Dillon had the crowds turning towards the exits. It was Syddan's day all round, the toss of a coin to decide the group winners also went their way and instead of facing defending champions Skryne in the knockout stages, they were paired with Dunshaughlin. Syddan were really back in the big time. A wet late July Friday evening at Pairc Tailteann was the setting for that quarter final clash. The Syddan hordes had advanced further than at any stage since 1980 when Walterstown inflicted a heavy final day hammering. Rumour had it, no word had it (it is probably part of the legendary happenings of Syddan GAA by now) that manager McEntee took his charges away from work for that entire Friday, headed for the quiet of the Nuremore in Carrickmacross and plotted Dunshaughlin's downfall. They probably reckoned without the considerable scoring exploits of the aforementioned Mr Kealy. There was no signs of any chinks in the Syddan armour following 20 minutes play, however. Dunshaughlin's shot two early points but were pegged back by an aggressive, determined Syddan. Big Noel McGillick, who enjoyed a great opening quarter, hit a point, the impressive Brian Dillon punched over the equaliser and then the large crowd were treated to a moment of real vintage. Philip Duff started the move, got a return pass and blasted to the Black and Amber net. Brian Dillon converted a free and suddenly with a 1-3 to 0-2 advantage, it looked like the Syddan bandwagon was all set to roll onto the semis. Wily opposing manager Eamonn Barry's footballing pedigree needs no questioning and slowly but surely he directed his cohorts onto the tactical road of success. Bit by bit, minute by minute the Dunshaughlin half forwards were wandering towards the midfield zone. The net result was more and more room for the explosive town inner trio of Kealy, David Crimmins and Trevor Dowd. This trio shot a combined tally of 14 points as they ran the Syddan full backs ragged, Kealy was the real tormentor as he struck on no fewer than nine occasions. It was a strange sight to see the Syddan full back Martin Cassidy out around the midfield sector for much of the second half as Kealy galloped around inside at will. Six points on the trot in the nine minutes leading up to the break was the forerunner of things to come as Barry's men pulled well clear, 0-17 to 1-6. Certainly, Syddan were a little bit tactically naive but this was certainly not the main reason for their championship exit. Truth to tell Dunshaughlin were much the superior force, tricks and ideas gained over the previous three years while operating at the top level were put to full use. Syddan did fight gallantly right through the second half, a couple of good goal chances were scorned but when the dust settled and a week or two killed the disappointment, the realisation of a job well done sank in. Certainly, followers of the Meath senior code will hear much more of high scoring corner forward Trevor Gilsenan, a skilful and hard to mark attacker. We all know of county player Stephen Dillon but younger brothers Tom and left footer Brian look outstanding prospects. Another good Syddan name is Duff and brothers Philip and Shay of Meath junior fame are very much at home in the senior ranks. Paddy Skelly, injured in 2000 will be another addition. Syddan have plenty of enthusiasm, a big panel they can regroup for another concentrated effort next spring. But they could have difficulty holding onto Shane McEntee. A number of other clubs have to be sniffing. The Syddan teams and scorers in their championship campaign were Syddan 0-8 Dunboyne 0-8 Syddan - J Sheehy, F McKenna, T Dillon, M Cassidy, I Curran, S Dillon 0-1, R Clare, J Dillon, N McGillick, D Sheehy, P Duff, S Malone, B Dillon 0-2, S Duff 0-1, T Gilsenan 0-4. Sub - L Halpenny Syddan 1-9 Gael Colmcille 1-9 Syddan - J Sheehy, R Clare, J McKenna, A Kane, I Curran, S Dillon, S Malone 0-1, J Dillon, T Dillon 0-1, P Duff 0-2, N McGillic 0-1, B Dillon 0-2, G Carolan, S Duff 1-1, T Gilsenan 0-1. Sub - P Meade Syddan 5-12 Simonstown 0-9 Syddan - J Sheehy, F McKenna, M Cassidy, R Clare, I Curran, S Dillon, S Malone, J Dillon, T Dillon 0-1, P Duff 1-2, N McGillick 0-3, B Dillon 2-4, D Sheehy 0-1, S Duff 1-0, T Gilsenan 1-1. Subs - G Carolan, A Kane Syddan 1-6 Dunshaughlin 0-17 Syddan - J Sheehy, F McKenna, M Cassidy, R Clare, I Curran, S Dillon 0-1, S Malone, J Dillon, T Dillon, P Duff 1-1, N McGillick 0-1, B Dillon 0-3, D Sheehy, S Duff, T Gilsenan. Subs - P Meade, G Carolan Tweet

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