Syddan lose out in flurry of goals
THE concession of two early goals proved too much for a lacklustre Syddan as they made the worse possible start to their IFC campaign at Carnaross on Saturday evening.
Lacking urgency throughout, Syddan were unable to match a far more determined and committed Oldcastle team who bossed the exchanges for most of the game.
And to make matters worse, both Cormac Rowe and Ronan Mooney picked up nasty-looking injuries, while two other Syddan players were also forced out of the action with injuries in the second half.
Syddan led for the only time when Daire Rowe converted a free on two minutes, but a minute later Paddy Gilsenan set up CJ Healy for the first of Oldcastle’s three opening-half goals.
Oldcastle’s second score was also a goal, Stephen Tierney finishing to the net from a Jason Scully pass, and the goal spree continued when Syddan’s Paddy Farrelly found the back of the Oldcastle net on 11 minutes.
The Oldcastle lead stretched to nine points after Eoin Gilsenan hit goal number three on 25 minutes. Syddan made a quick reply when Daire Rowe converted from the penalty spot following a foul on Gary Farrelly.
Oldcastle spurned another couple of goal chances throughout the half and Syddan were fortunate that they only trailed 2-3 to 3-7 at the break.
A Syddan revival was never on the cards in the second half as Conor McHugh and Jason Scully (two) had Oldcastle points in the third quarter.
Scully added another point before Ronan Mooney opened Syddan’s second-half account on 53 minutes.
The losers’ remaining points, which came from Daire Rowe and Kevin Garland, arrived during the 10 minutes of injury time which was added on by referee Seamus O’Connor. OLDCASTLE: Patrick Kevin; Sean Maxwell, Cian McPartland, Keith Connell; Eoin Gilsenan 1-0, Rory McHugh, Robert Pakenham; Ross Cadden, Conor McHugh 0-1f; Darren Hawdon, CJ Healy 1-1 (0-1f), Gerard Reidy 0-1; Paddy Gilsenan 0-3, Jason Scully 0-5 (2f), Stephen Tierney 1-0. Subs - Robert Smith for Healy (40), Niall Mangan for Reidy (45), Healy for Pakenham (60+). SYDDAN: Ciaran Farrelly; Kevin Garland 0-1, Ben Bashford, Cormac Rafferty; Kevin Traynor, Ronan Mooney 0-1, Mark Fedigan; Sean Clare, Gary Farrelly; Paddy Farrelly 1-0, Cormac Rowe, Gary McManus; Michael Fedigan, Brian Dillon, Daire Rowe 1-4 (1-0 pen, 3fs). Subs - Andrew Garland for Traynor (45), Jack Reid for Rafferty (45), Peter Sheehy for Clare (48), Stuart Fedigan for C Rowe (50), Tommy Meade for Mooney (60), Rafferty for Dillon (60+). REFEREE: Seamus O’Connor (Carnaross)