Syddan 1-7 Slane 0-9

Syddan arrived to Gibbstown GFC on Sunday evening to face an in form Slane team in a must win game. The conditions on the night were wet and windy resulting in a low scoring affair but certainly an exciting one.

Syddan shot against the wind in the first half and found it tough to score. Eoghan Dillon opened the scoring for Syddan kicking a great score from play under a lot of pressure. Daire Rowe added to Syddan’s tally with a free soon after., Syddan defended well against the strong win and held Slane to not many scoring chances all throughout the opening half. Each team had their fair share of possession in the opening half with a lot of the play going over and back the pitch. On the twenty minute mark, Cormac Rowe drove through a blanket Slane defence and kicked a great point off his right to tie the game at three points apiece. Slane then used the wind to their advantage for the last ten minutes of the half, kicking two good scores to take them in to half time two points up. 

Half time score Syddan 0-03 Slane 0-05.

Syddan started the second half with Daire Rowe calling a clever mark and pointing a long distance score. Daire, then got the ball around the same position once more and kicked an almost identical score from play levelling the game. Slane upped their performance and regained the lead going into the final quarter. Syddan then introduced Kevin Traynor, who has returned from a cruciate injury from last year’s championship game versus Kilbride. Kevin made an immediate impact scoring a vital point for Syddan from a difficult angle to put Syddan a point behind. Slane then stuck over another free before Gary McManus kicked a lovely point to keep Syddan within touching distance. The Slane players would not give in and replied soon thereafter kicking a good score. With time almost up, Syddan were in need of a goal, trying to find the right ball to give them one last chance. In the dying minutes, Cormac Rowe drove towards the Slane goal and put a head high ball into the Slane square. The ball was fumbled and in the ensuing scramble, Syddan’s Summersby manged to connect with the ball and stick it right in the corner leaving Syddan one point up. Play continued on with Slane getting up the field to get a point attempt in which thankfully from a Syddan perspective went the wrong side of the posts. 

A great last ditch win for the Syddan men who never gave up the fight. Special mention for Kevin Traynor who has worked so hard to get back playing following his injury and great to see him back. 

SYDDAN: Myles Avers, Mark Fedigan, Cathal Duff, Daire Dillon, Graham Garland, Kevin Garland, Ryan Summersby (1-0),  Cathal Dardis, Gary McManus (0-1), Paddy Farrelly, , Cormac Rowe (0-1), Eoghan Dillon (0-1), Ben Blakemore, Daire Rowe (0-3),  Michael Fedigan

Subs: Cormac Rafferty for Paddy Farrelly, Kevin Traynor (0-1) for Kevin Garland, Patrick Balfe for Ben Blakemore

Match Report by Tomás Dillon

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