MEATH HILL 2-16 SYDDAN 3-10

With escape from the IFC relegation dogfight the prize for the winners, this North Meath derby proved a thrilling encounter and was on a knife edge throughout, at Drumconrath on Sunday.

Meath Hill led by seven points at one stage in the opening half and eight in the final quarter but were clinging on desperately in a nail-biting finale before making certain of their status for another year at least.

The outcome could have been different had Mark Fedigan's effort from point blank range gone under the bar instead of over it in the fifth minute of added time after Syddan pounced on a short kick-out from the otherwise excellent Ryan Shekleton.

It was thrill a minute stuff as both teams fought desperately for the win that would steer them clear of relegation.

Keeper Shekleton converted three frees as the ‘Hill eased themselves into a 0-7 to 0-3 lead after 20 minutes.

Syddan were back in the contest when Daire Rowe reacted quickest and blasted to the net after a Paddy Farrelly effort for a point rebounded off a post.

Shane Carpenter then pointed for Syddan to draw the teams’ level but Meath Hill responded in the best possible fashion with Shane McCabe and Kieran Slavin both finding the net in a two minute spell to leave it 2-8 to 1-4.

The game was slipping away from Syddan at that stage but Rowe again came to the rescue with a pointed free and then hit an unstoppable shot to the net to leave the scoreline more manageable, 2-8 to 2-5, at half-time.

Syddan hopes suffered a blow early in the second half when Paddy Farrelly picked up a second yellow card. Meath Hill seized the initiative for a spell and tagged on three points before midfielder Ryan Owens was black-carded.

Meath Hill maintained their edge on proceedings and went 2-14 to 2-6 clear after keeper Shekleton converted another free.

Syddan weren’t about to surrender without a fight and Shane Carpenter pointed and Rowe then converted from the penalty spot following a foul on Sean Clare on 51 minutes.

Rowe very nearly had a fourth goal two minutes later but his fierce drive was batted was away by Shekleton and Padraic Dillon drove the rebound wide of the far post.

Pointed frees from Rowe and Carpenter kept Syddan in contention and there was just three points between the teams when Fedigan drove that late effort over the bar.

The game was in the seventh minute of added time when Dean Martin hit the insurance point to leave the Meath Hill contingent in fine voice.

MEATH HILL – Ryan Shekleton 0-4 (4f); Harry Corscadden Aodhan Matthews, Thomas Carolan; Paddy Matthews, James Mooney, Barry Kieran; Ryan Owens 0-1, Kieran Slavin 1-0; Cormac Sheehy 0-2, Shane McCabe 1-1, Gary Breslin 0-1; Dean Martin 0-4 (1f), Ian Malone, Jack McMahon 0-3 (one free). Subs: Tom Rooney for McCabe (46).

SYDDAN – Ben Bashford; Stuart Fedigan, Ronan Mooney, Tommy Meade; Cathal Duff, Ryan Summersby, Michael Fedigan; Kevin Traynor, Paddy Farrelly; Daire Rowe 3-5 (1-0 pen, 4f), Shane Carpenter 0-4 (1f), Mark Fedigan 0-1; Padraic Dillon, Sean Clare, Graham Garland. Subs: Jack Reid for Duff (h-t), Dara Dillon for Rowe (64).

REF: Sean Gahan.

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