Syddan book their place in the knockout stages

SYDDAN BALLINABRACKEY 2-9 1-9

SYDDAN secured their passage to the knockout stages of the IFC following this hard-fought win in Trim on Sunday evening.

It was Syddan’s third win on the trot and they laid the foundations for victory in the opening period, as the end of which they led 2-5 to 0-2. They came under pressure in the closing stages, though, after leading by 11 points early in the second half.

Ballinabrackey, who despite this defeat are also in the knockout stages, led for the only time when Andrew Munnelly put them ahead on five minutes. Ian Curran got Syddan off the mark and they found the net after Ben Bashford added the finishing touch to a Kevin Garland centre on eight minutes.

Damien Carroll replied with a point for the Offaly border side but they didn’t score again for the remainder of the half as Syddan dominated proceedings. Daire Rowe contributed three points while Sean Clare added another. Rowe then set up Clare for Syddan’s second goal on 25 minutes.

It got even better for Syddan within three minutes of the restart, with Rowe adding two further points to leave it 2-7 to 0-2.

Ballinabrackey responded well, though, and and corner forward Andrew Munnelly found the net following a slip-up in the Syddan back line. That score gave Ballinabrackey impetus and Syddan only added two further scores, from substitute Ronan Mooney and Rowe.

Nine points separated the sides with 10 minutes remaining and the Bracks finished strongly with four pointed frees from Damien Carroll and one each from Chris O’Connor and Danny Quinn.

However, they left themselves with too much leeway to make up and time eventually ran out on them.

Syddan now play Walterstown in a quarter-final.