Syddan’s protest in vain

SYDDAN’S first-ever game in league Division 1 ended in controversy after a Daire Rowe effort from a free was waved wide by one umpire and a point by the other in Moynalvey on Sunday morning.

Despite protestations Syddan had to be content with a share of the spoils after referee Gus Martyn ruled that the ball had gone wide in the final action of the match.

The visitors led by two points entering the closing stages, but inter-county player Padraic Harnan

SYDDAN MOYNALVEY 0-9 0-9

converted frees late on, with the equaliser coming two minutes into added time.

Harnan, making his return following a serious leg injury, accounted for all of Moynalvey’s second-half scores after they led 0-6 to 0-4 at the break.

All of Syddan’s second-half points came from the boot of Daire Rowe as he took his tally to seven for the hour.

Rowe opened his side’s account on two minutes, but by the ninth minute the hosts had raced into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead, with corner forward Raymond Ryan on target with all of the Moynalvey points.

Further scores from Rowe and Gary Farrelly left the minimum between the teams before Ryan hit his fifth point and almost immediately was forced off with an injury.

Moynalvey’s last point of the half came from a James Weldon free, while Kevin Traynor replied at the other end on the 30-minute mark. Rowe had the sides level at 0-6 each on 35 minutes before Harnan edged his side in front again near the end of the third quarter.

Two further Rowe points, the second a great long-range effort, had Syddan ahead on 51 minutes. He then doubled the lead, again from distance, before Moynalvey’s late rally levelled matters.

Ciaran Farrelly; Ronan Mooney, Cormac Rowe, Mark Fedigan; Kevin Garland, Andrew Garland, Jack Reid; Kevin Traynor 0-1, Sean Clare; Graham Garland, Cathal Dardis, Michael Fedigan; Paddy Farrelly, Gary Farrelly 0-1, Daire Rowe 0-7 (2f). Subs: Padraic Dillon for P Farrelly, Stuart Fedigan for Mark Fedigan.

MOYNALVEY: David Brennan; David Donoghue, Darren Brennan, Scott Tuite; Fearghal McCabe, Brian Harnan, William Mahady; Padraic Harnan 0-3f, Donal Smith; James Weldon 0-1f, Stephen Donoghue, Shane Lenehan; Shaun Deering, Sean Duggan, Raymond Ryan 0-5 (3fs). Sub: Padraig Kelly for Ryan. FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1 Football A League at 8.0

Div 1: O’Mahonys v Moynalvey.

Div 3: Longwood v Ballinlough; Castletown v St Ultan’s, P Clarke.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 2

Ballybofey: Donegal v Meath, NFL Div 2, 7.0, J Henry.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 3

Pairc Tailteann: Meath v Antrim, NHL Div 2A, 2.0, J Ryan.

Football A League at 11.0

Div 1: Donaghmore/Ashbourne v Summerhill, H Whoriskey; Syddan v Wolfe Tones, S O’Connor; Gaeil Colmcille v Ratoath, M Dawson; Skryne v Dunshaughlin, D Smyth; Na Fianna v Simonstown, B Heaney; Oldcastle v Dunboyne, C McManus.

Div 2: Trim v St Patrick’s, P Mooney; Meath Hill v St Michael’s, G O’Brien; Duleek/Bellewstown v Carnaross, A Lenehan; St Colmcille’s v Bective, L O’Brien; Nobber v Dunderry, J Curran; Curraha v Seneschalstown, O Ganly; Ballinabrackey v Rathkenny, F Scully.

Div 3: Blackhall Gaels v Walterstown; Drumbaragh v Kilmainham, P Clarke; Moynalty v Dunsany, S Kerley; St Vincent’s v Ballivor, S Gahan.

Div 4: St Mary’s v Clonard, E Barry; St Brigid’s v Drumconrath, P Nelis; Moylagh v Cortown; Kilbride v Clann na nGael, J Synnott; Slane v Boardsmill, K Sheerin.