Duleek Bellewstown 5-10 Syddan 3-16

With the smell of fresh cut grass filling up our senses and an eerie silence descending on Castletown’s facilities both Duleek Bellewstown (DB) and Syddan entered the fray in this Intermediate final round robin championship game with the same ambition; get the 2 points on the board and hope that results elsewhere work out. However when both teams left the fray it wasn’t as it was hoped for and that was that. 

DB were on their way when within 20 seconds of the throw in Jamie Crosby rattled the Syddan net after a sweet move involving Flats and Johnny Mc Donnell yet that was only the start of the goal fest. A further free in the second minute from Johnny Flood left DB on the up but 2 long range Syddan points in the 3rd and 5th minutes assured all that this would be no foregone conclusion. With the game being played at a fast sharp pace DB’s ex county player Collins tagged on another point in the 6th minute only for another ex county player Roe (C)to hit the back of the DB net to leave it 1-02 each after only 7 minutes. Both teams traded points through Clarke (R) and Roe (D) in the 8th minute to leave it all square yet highlight how ambitious both teams were. It was exciting end to end championship football that the few in attendance could savour. Syddan took the lead in the 9th and further extended it in the 13th by 2. This would suggest that DB were not with it during this time yet Johnny Flood brought the best out in the Syddan keeper with an excellent save in the 12th minute. Cianan Byrne tagged one back in the 14th minute and everyone came up for air at the water break with Syddan ahead by 1, DB 1-04 Syddan 1-05. 

Although their opponents hit a wide shortly after the restart DB’s Collins had the ball in the Syddan net (soccer style) in the 18th minute with Syddan hitting the net themselves in the 20th following a dubious free. A very dynamic Flood popped over again in the 22nd after a free flowing move  to leave it 2-05 apiece yet the best action of the half was yet to come. With Syddan dominating the attacking play for the following period  their dominance paid off in the 27th minute when through on goal they were awarded a penalty, which was successfully converted only for 2 minutes later after a slick move involving Collins, Johnny McDonnell hit the Syddan net to leave it 3-05 apiece. Half done you would have thought yet after 3 minutes of added time Syddan found the resolve to tag on another point to leave it DB 3-05 Syddan 3-06 at the official break. 

The restart was similar to the first half start yet in reverse where Syddan, with a point, were on the scoreboard within the minute. Both sides traded points over the intervening 5mins until Collins, while at the keepers mercy was pulled down giving the referee no option but to award the spot kick. Crosby (Shane) brought out a good save in the Syddan keeper yet the rebound was on a plate for Crosby again to finish to the net leaving DB on top on a scoreline of 4-07 to 3-09. Sensing blood the DB lads pushed up on Syddan’s keeper resulting in a Flood pointed free but in the 11th minute a flicked over point from a Syddan 45 meant the bare minimum between them (4-08 3-10). However a spate of tit for tat, this for that, allowed one further score for DB and 1 further for Syddan heading for the water break. Final quarter looming DB 4-09 Syddan 3-11,

Not like previous it took over 4 minutes to register the next score, from a Syddan turnover and another 3 minutes later by them meant Syddan were in the driving seat. Added to this a black card for DB’s R Clarke for what the referee deemed a cynical foul and a further Syddan point meant our boys were well and truly feeling the heat with 5 minutes of normal time remaining. But if nothing else Anthony Malone and his team have instilled a never say die attitude, with an ability to make effective substitutions that came to the forefront again.

A great Dowling save, after some Messi like soccer skills to get through on goal didn’t stop the oppositions onslaught and they tagged on another score on the 27th minute to have them ahead on a scoreline of 4-09 to 3-15. But as stated a never say die attitude, some slick movement and a quick flick from young Colm Regan to Collins saw Syddan’s net rattled for the fifth time to level the game. Spurned chances in the dying minutes looked costly for DB but their opening scorer of the game Jamie Crosby popped up in the 33rd minute to fist over what everyone thought was the winning score after a dynamic move. However not so! With the kick out and working the ball downfield Syddan somehow orchestrated a free 43 metres from goal. And with this chance came the incredible, and Duleek Bellewstown hearts sank as the ball sailed between the posts leaving a scoreline of Duleek Bellewstown 5-10 Syddan 3-16. The next kick of the ball hailed the full time whistle and the eerie silence descended deeper on Castletown for the gathering of thoughts and the march off.

Both teams gave it their all with equal to play for but the Gods were not in either camp as a result from another game was not favorable to either.

This result signalled the end of Anthony Malones reign at the helm in Duleek Bellewstown where we believe he has made a wonderful contribution to football in the club. He has been a breath of fresh air throughout and we wish him well in his future endeavours. For all and others we gathered our thoughts and headed for home.

 

 

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