Syddan 0-12, Kilmainham 1-9

Kilmainham headed for Lobbinstown on Saturday 30th May 2026 to take on Syddan. Both teams were looking for a win to move up the Div 3 league table with games running out. I am not sure what it is about this fixture but every year we seem to have the bare team for various reasons. We were determined to put in a good performance and to back up our impressive draw with senior side Kilbride in the last round. 

We couldn’t have asked for a better start to the match, Mickey Newman won possession from the throw up, Kilmainham kept possession before a pass was slipped to Harry Newman who looked to pass to Michael Hoey, the ball dropped to the ground and Hoey cleverly side footed the ball low to the Syddan net. A dream start for us. Syddan then hit the next three points to level it. They had the wind and probably tried to force shots, with a few going wide. Michael Hoey was unlucky with an effort off his left going wide on 11 minutes. Harry Newman finished to the Syddan net, but the referee had blown for too many steps in the lead up to the finish, probably a fair call. Declan Mullen played a brilliant one two with Dylan Morgan to cut through the Syddan defence. He drove his effort over the bar for our first point of the match. Scores were hard to come by for both teams. Syddan hit their four point of the half on 27 minutes. Seanie Mahon wrapped up the first half scoring, finishing off a brilliant team move with a brilliant point with the outside of his right boot. This game was tight with Kilmainham taking a one-point lead at half time playing against the wind. 

Half-time score: Syddan 0-4, Kilmainham 1-2. 

Kilmainham knew that this game was there for the taking. A Mickey Hoey effort went wide before Syddan scored to level the match. Mickey Hoey repsonded with a brilliant two-pointer from distance. Dylan Morgan and Scott Lynch had chances from free’s to push us further ahead but unfortunately their efforts went narrowly wide. Kilmainham were on top and were winning primary possession around the middle. Mickey Hoey hit his second two-pointer of the day. Another brilliant effort from distance that clipped the post and went over. Syddan replied at the other end with a point. Dylan Morgan was unlucky with another effort from distance. Shane Morgan then scored another two-pointer, curling a lovely effort in off his right boot. Syddan were struggling to get their kicks away. Then came probably the turning point of the match. Jamie O’ Sullivan broke through the Syddan defence and fed centre back Harry Newman, as he was about to pull the trigger for goal the Syddan player pulled him to the ground. Everyone expected a penalty and a black card for the Syddan midfielder, unfortunately the ref waved play on. Syddan turned over possession and went up the other end of the field to score a point. This let off breathed life into the home side. Shane Morgan had another point attempt drop short before Syddan hit 3 points in a row. They punished some wayward passing by Kilmainham to 

level the match on 27 minutes. Michael Hoey had another effort tail wide on 29 minutes, he had more time than he realised to slot it over. Then came a sucker punch. Syddan hit a well worked point on 29 minutes to go one point up. It looked to be the winner. They turned us over and held on to possession to run down the clock. Kilmainham forced a brilliant turn over through Michael Hoey, he fed Jamie O’ Sullivan, who passed to Harry Newman. He played a nice one two with Seanie Mahon before Newman fed the evergreen Shane Butler free in behind the Syddan defence. He was dreaming about burying a goal, thankfully for us he used all his years of experience to take his point and level the match with time up. Butler was quick to remind us that he has saved Kilmainham on many occasions down through the years and that we should be grateful! The referee blew the full-time whistle from the resultant kick out. The initial reaction is relief to have salvaged a draw but also knowing that we could have won this match. This was a brilliant team performance by the lads. The work rate of the lads was brilliant to watch. They can take this confidence and belief into next week’s matches. 

Next up. Our first team are out again in round 8 of the Div 3 A league against intermediate side Dunsany on Thursday 4th June at 7.30pm in Kilmainham. Then on Friday 5th June our second team take on high flying neighbours Cortown in round 7 of the Div 11 A league. The lads really appreciate your support at matches, please come out and support them at next week’s matches. 

Best for Kilmainham were: Harry Newman, Terence Daly, Declan Mullen, Shane Morgan and Jamie O’ Sullivan. 

Kilmainham: Terence Daly, Padraig Caffrey, Stephen Newman, Phily Mahon, Shane Morgan (0-2), Harry Newman, Seanie Mahon (0-1), Declan Mullen (0-1), Mickey Newman, Michael Hoey (1-4), Ger Morgan, Jamie O’ Sullivan, Scott Lynch, Dylan Morgan, Sean King. 

Subs: Shane Butler (0-1), Adam McManus. 

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