Having lost the 2005 Meath intermediate football championship final by one point after a replay, Syddan could be forgiven for looking back on the year with something bordering on contempt. But this is not the case. Veteran attacker Trevor Gilsenan reckons that, despite the obvious disappointment of having been edged out by Duleek at Pairc Tailteann on the second day of October, '05 nonetheless represented a thoroughly decent year for the Green & Gold, who retain a positive outlook going into the new season. Two-thousand-and-five saw Syddan come within touching distance of a return to senior football. They mounted a ferocious onslaught on the intermediate championship but unfortunately were pipped at the post in agonising fashion. The 2-7 to 2-6 defeat to Duleek in the IFC final replay at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday October 2 was one of the most heartbreaking suffered by any team in the Royal County during the year, but Syddan took it manfully on the chin. Rather than sitting around feeling sorry for themselves, they regrouped to win the Division Three 'A' league, thus ensuring that they didn't finish the year empty-handed. The intermediate crown was without doubt the one they wanted most, but the Syddan camp seems philosophical rather than inconsolable in defeat. It's a refreshing outlook, one that is epitomised by ace attacker Trevor Gilsenan, who opts to look forward in hope rather than back in anger. A mainstay of the Syddan first team for 14 seasons, Gilsenan is widely regarded as one of the steadiest club forwards in the county. He's been through thick and thin with Syddan and, having seen many ups and downs, is perfectly placed to determine that 2005 was a good year - even if the team did fall narrowly short of achieving their prime objective. A Division Three league crown (and promotion back to Division Two) was subsequently achieved, as well as a good run in the Feis Cup, and the junior 'B's acquitted themselves admirably over the course of the year as well. All in all, it was the kind of season many clubs in the county can only dream of and Trevor chooses to count his blessings rather than rue the ones that got away. Furthermore, he is convinced that Syddan showed enough over the course of the year to suggest that a return to the top grade is imminent. So, why panic? All is well in Camp Syddan. "There's still a very positive attitude in the club," Trevor confirms. "That mentality has always been here in Syddan and I can see no reason why it should be any different after the way we played in 2005. We had a good year, we were in the latter stages of all the major competitions, we got plenty of football and the experience should stand us in good stead in 2006. If we put the experience of last year to good effect, there's no reason why we can't win next year's intermediate championship. We've no reason to be feeling sorry for ourselves." Indeed, to the contrary, the corner forward looks back on the events of the past twelve months with contentment: "We had a good run and, overall, we're happy. Of course, we'll be looking to go one better next year and I'm confident that we're good enough to do that." Syddan could hardly have come closer than they did in '05. A late equaliser denied them in the drawn county final (which finished on a scoreline of 1-9 apiece) before they were lucklessly pipped in the replay a fortnight later. Needless to say, defeat was a bitter pill to swallow: "We were disappointed. We could have won it the first day in particular - that was the one that got away - but there was nothing in it the second time either. In fairness, both games could have gone either way and it just came down to one kick of a ball. We were close but it just wasn't to be. We gave it our best shot and the mood in the camp is good. We're going to regroup and give it another crack next year." There was nothing ambiguous about Syddan's approach to the 2005 season. Having won the 1999 IFC and then lost their senior status after a couple of years in the top flight, they were determined to move back to the highest echelon of Meath football. "I think every club in intermediate football set themselves the target of winning the championship at the start of the year and we were no different," Trevor notes. "Syddan definitely intended to go all the way and we felt we could do it." Syddan opened their IFC programme by crushing Slane (0-18 to 1-3) but were stunned by St Colmcille's (2-11 to 2-9) in their next group outing. "We started okay but the defeat to St Colmcille's was a real wake-up call. We had to gather the troops again and came strong in the latter stages of the competition." Then came four wins in a row: Gaeil Colmcille (0-11 to 0-10), Duleek (1-12 to 0-9) and Na Fianna (1-11 to 1-9) were sent packing and an eight-point victory over nearby Rathkenny confirmed Syddan's place in the knockout stages. They finished off their Group A campaign with a draw against Ratoath. The Green & Golds recorded excellent wins against Ballivor (0-11 to 1-4) and neighbours Nobber (1-14 to 3-6 in late August) to progress to the decider. The original encounter was played on Sunday September 18 and Syddan took some time to settle into their stride. The Hoops didn't score until the 22nd minute and trailed to 2004 beaten finalists Duleek by four points with ten minutes left. John Henry's charges tagged back a point before a Philip Duff goal and a Shay Duff point left them within touching distance of glory. Unfortunately, Duleek substitute James Devereaux fisted a late point to tie the scores at 1-9 apiece. In the replay a fortnight later, Trevor Gilsenan got Syddan off to a perfect start when netting from the penalty spot but the losers managed only two more scores in the first half hour, trailing by 2-4 to 2-1 at the interval before falling to a disappointing 2-7 to 2-6 defeat. The game was probably there for the taking but Syddan never really hit form and could have few complaints about the outcome. It was a campaign to remember, even if it did end on a low note. "There was great excitement in the area and, when we got to the semi-final, people really started to take notice. Syddan have played good football these last few years and we've been in a number of finals, so it was nothing new, but it was still great to be a part of it," says 33-year-old Trevor, who has been lining out for Syddan since he was 20. He collected an intermediate championship medal in 1999 and a Feis Cup souvenir four years later. After going senior in 2000, Syddan reached the knockout stage of the senior championship but lost to champions-elect Dunshaughlin at the quarter-final stage. They were relegated again at the end of 2001 and have been knocking on the door of a return to the top level for four seasons now. "Last year was the closest we've come," says Trevor. "There's absolutely no reason why we can't go one better in the season coming. Duleek came back from losing a final to win the next one and we're capable of doing the same. "The team seemed to capture the imagination locally, everybody was looking forward to playing in the 2005 final and there was a great buzz in the parish. It was the second time in six years that we've played on that stage and we'd like more of the same. It was enjoyable but somebody had to lose and unfortunately it was our turn. We have no excuses. "We're happy to be back in Division Two and winning the Division Three title offered us some consolation. It's nice to get something out of your year's work. We'll be playing against better teams in the league again next year and that'll be a big help. Overall, we feel we achieved a fair bit in 2005. "And we're still a young team. There might be one or two older lads like myself but we're hoping to keep going for another year or two yet and we've a young team. Time is still on their side and the experience of 2005 should serve us well. Hopefully we'll go one better in 2006…" Tweet

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