Syddan’s silverware dreams shattered

BALLINLOUGH SYDDAN 4-15 2-11

SYDDAN’S last remaining hope of lifting silverware in 2018 disappeared when they were well beaten in the semi-final of the Corn na Boinne at Carlanstown on Thursday night.

Ballinlough were having their first outing following their Intermediate final defeat and they showed no ill effects from that loss to Longwood as they produced an impressive display to book a final spot against either Ballinabrackey or Oldcastle.

Syddan never led at any stage and their chances of making the decider were all but over at halftime after they conceded 2-4 in the final 10 minutes of the half. It left Ballinlough leading 2-10 to 0-7 at the break and Syddan never threatened to make inroads into that deficit in the second half.

With Peadar Byrne on target with four points, Ballinlough built up a 0-6 to 0-3 lead by the 16th minute. However, that lead was down to the minimum following scores from Daire Rowe and Michael Fedigan (both frees).

Byrne doubled his side’s advantage before Ballinlough struck for the opening goal, a simple slap-in from Simon Deevey on 21 minutes.

Ballinlough piled on the scores, with Byrne, Ronan McGuinness and Sean Geraghty all pointing before Tommy McCullen struck for a second goal on 29 minutes.

Syddan only managed two points in that same period, both scored by Kevin Traynor.

Daire Rowe converted two frees within four minutes of the restart, but in between those scores Ballinlough pounced for another goal, from Mark McCullen.

Rowe converted another brace of frees, and when he cut in from the left wing before finishing low to the net on 50 minutes it left the scoreboard reading 3-12 to 1-11.

That was as close as Syddan got, however, as a wayward pass was punished by a fourth goal from Ronan McGuinness.

Sean Clare accounted for Syddan’s second goal before the winners rounded off an excellent display with late points from Johnny Reilly and sub Conor Briody. BALLINLOUGH: Derek Muldoon; Robbie Farrell, Padraig Muldoon, Matty Farrell; Emmet Smith, Michael Geraghty 0-1, Johnny Reilly 0-1; Lorcan Maguire 0-1, Tommy McCullen 1-0; Sean Geraghty 0-1, Ronan McGuinness 1-2, Mark McCullen 1-0; Benji Smith, Simon Deevey 1-0, Peadar Byrne 0-8 (6f). Sub: Conor Briody 0-1.

SYDDAN: Peter Sheehy; Mark Fedigan 0-1, Ronan Mooney, Kevin Garland; Stuart Fedigan 0-1, Andrew Garland, Michael Fedigan 0-1f; Sean Clare 1-0, Cathal Dardis; Graham Garland, Kevin Traynor 0-2, Gary McManus; Cormac Rowe, Daire Rowe 1-5 (5f), Padraic Dillon 0-1. Subs: Jack Reid for Dardis, Gary Farrelly for McManus, Stephen Tallon for S Fedigan, Ben Bashford for K Garland, Ben Blakemore for G Garland, Robbie Farrelly for Dillon.

REF: Liam Reddy (Duleek-Bellewstown)