Walterstown: 0-17 Syddan: 1-9

One game down; one win on the board for the Blacks in Intermediate Football Championship 2021. Five points was the difference as Martin O’Connell’s men accounted for Syddan in Castletown on Friday evening. The victory leaves them top of the table and Meath Hill await in round two. 

Walterstown went in to the game without the services of the injured Ruairi O’Dowd, corner back Eoghan O’Mahony and Adam Treanor, who all started in the previous game - the 2020 Corn na Boinne final against Castletown. In to the team came the seasoned Peter Reynolds for O’Mahony, while Robbie Cunningham and Sam McCabe. 

It was the latter who turned in a superb performance for Walterstown and his scoring exploits, as the game drew to a conclusion, went a long way to securing the win for the Blacks. 

For the duration Walterstown were the better team but they didn’t make thing easy for themselves. A goal from Syddan star man Daire Rowe in the 19th minute kept them in contention until the Blacks put their foot on the proverbial pedal and finally put this game beyond the reach of their opponents. 

O’Connell’s charges started well and had three on the board before Syddan opened their account. Full forward Brian O’Connell registered the first point of the evening when he converted a free from his hands in the second minute, while Sam McCabe sent his mark over the bar soon after. Captain Mark McCormack completed Walterstown’s early scoring when he raised a while flag after he collected possession from Brian O’Connell. 

Walterstown had more firepower in their armour and found themselves 0-7 to 0-2 in front by 19 minute marl. However, the Blacks weren’t enjoying life in defence and when Peter Reynolds was turned over in the 19th minute, Walterstown were made to pay. Reynolds spilled possession and Daire Rowe let rip, soccer style, on the loose ball and sent it passed John Davis to narrow the gap to just two (0-7 to 1-2). Further points from Padraic Dillon, both from marks, restored parity by half time and despite Walterstown’s domination, the scoreboard suggested otherwise.

After the turnaround Syddan took the lead for the first and only time in this encounter thanks to a point from the boot of Cathal Duff but two on the trot, from Brian O’Connell, one from a free, flipped things around and left the scoreboard reading 0-9 to 1-5 in the 35th minute. 

Shane Carpenter’s point drew Syddan level soon after but when Alban Crosbie was fouled out on the right, he sent over the resultant free to nudge the Blacks ahead yet again. 

Up until the end of the third quarter Syddan were well in this contest and trailed by just the minimum (0-11 to 1-7) but thereafter Walterstown found a higher gear and the sharp shooting to go on and secure the win. 

The Blacks should have hit the net in the 46th minute when Alan Wall had the seemingly easy option to palm the ball to the net but the chance alluded him and in the end it didn’t matter all that much in the end.

With ten remaining, and on the counter attack, Sam McCabe registered the score of the game to stretch Walterstown’s lead to two and he tagged on two more soon after. By that point, the 57th minute, Walterstown led 0-15 to 1-9 and had the momentum. And they made full sure of it when Brian O’Connell raised a white flag from a free after Robbie Cunningham was fouled. 

Indeed it was Cunningham who completed the scoring when he struck over after a great cross field ball from Alban Crosbie and that was that. 

Up next for the Blacks is a second round meeting with Meath Hill, while Syddan face Oldcastle, who also opened with a win in Group C this weekend. 

SCORERS: Walterstown - Brian O’Connell 0-5 (3f), Sam McCabe 0-4 (1 mark), Robbie Cunningham 0-3, Alban Crosbie 0-2 (2f), Barry O’Connell 0-2, Mark McCormack 0-1.

Syddan - Daire Rowe 1-1 (1f), Shane Carpenter 0-3 (2f), Padraic Dillon 0-2 (2 marks), Cathal Duff 0-1, Michael Fedigan 0-1 (1f), Paddy Farrelly 0-1. 

WALTERSTOWN: John Davis; Peter Reynolds, Brian McGrane, Aron McLoughlin; Alan Wall, Cathal Hennelly, Conor Farrelly; Barry O’Connell, Alban Crosbie; Davy Donnellan, Conor O’Sullivan, Mark McCormack; Sam McCabe, Brian O’Connell, Robbie Cunningham. SUB: Johnny Geoghegan replaced P Reynolds 56 mins. 

SYDDAN: Ciaran Farrelly; Stuart Fedigan, Ryan Summersby, Mark Fedigan; Michael Fedigan, Andrew White, Ronan Mooney; Sean Clare, Kevin Traynor; Paddy Farrelly, Daire Rowe, Cathal Duff; Shane Carpenter, Cormac Rowe, Padraic Dillon. SUBS: Dara Dillon replaced A White (45), Graham Garland for P Farrelly (49).

REFEREE: Derek Ryan.

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