Last-gasp score seals Syddan promotion

SYDDAN BALLINABRACKEY 0-8 0-8

SYDDAN secured the point to make certain of promotion in a dramatic finale to this ‘A’ League Division 2 tie on Sunday evening.

Daire Rowe fired over the bar from a penalty with the last kick of the game following a foul on Michael Fedigan deep into added time.

Moments earlier referee Martin Griffin had penalised Ballinabrackey keeper Ciaran Cummins for time-wasting, with Fedigan gaining possession from the throw-up.

The ‘Bracks were down to 13 players at that stage after Damien Carroll and Derek Flynn were dismissed following separate incidents.

Scores were at a premium throughout in what was a dour, feisty encounter. Wind-assisted Syddan led 0-4 to 0-2 at one stage in the opening half before two points from Damien Carroll frees had the sides level at 0-4 each at the break.

The third quarter produced just a single point, from Daire Rowe. Then Sean Clare doubled Syddan’s advantage before Seamus Curry, Carroll and Chris O’Connor pointed for the visitors.

Clare drew the sides level, but with a minute of normal time remaining Curry pointed the Offaly border side ahead again. However, it was Syddan who came away happiest following SYDDAN: Ciaran Farrelly; Mark Fedigan, Ronan Mooney, Thomas Meade; Stuart Fedigan, Andrew Garland, Jack Reid; Sean Clare 0-2, Kevin Traynor 0-1; Graham Garland, Daire Rowe 0-4 (2fs, 1 pen), Michael Fedigan; Brian Dillon 0-1f, Gary Farrelly, Cormac Rowe. Subs: Padraic Dillon for B Dillon, Peter Sheehy for Mooney.

BALLINABRACKEY: Ciaran Cummins; Sean Bannon, Nicky Judge, Diarmuid Meleady; Eric Clancy, Derek Flynn, Richie Coffey; Trevor Bannon, Seamus Curry 0-2; Gavin Quinn, Andrew Munnelly, Dean McNamee; Chris O’Connor 0-1, Damien Carroll 0-4 (2fs), Danny Quinn 0-1.

REFEREE: Martin Griffin (Simonstown Gaels)