Match Report   by M.C.

    Syddan V Gael Colmcille

Competition: Meath Senior Football Championship Section C.

Venue:  Carlanstown.

Date:  16th June 2000.

Time:  8.00pm.

A Brian Dillon free 2 minutes from time earned the men in Green and Gold a share of the spoils in this hard fought encounter at carlanstown.

    Syddan got off to a magnificent start when after 3 minutes Shay Duff kicked a magnificent point following some good work in the centre of the field by Joey Dillon. Ian Callaghan put Gael Colmcille back in front with a point after 6 minutes but Shay Duff found the net a minute later to put Syddan 2 points clear of their north Meath rivals. However that was to be Syddans last score of the half as points from Paul Murphy, Stephen Quigley and 2 from Eugene McGillick put Kells 2 ahead at the half time break.

    Shane McEntees charges appeared for the second half in a more business like manner. Four unanswered points in a blistering 6 minute spell from Thomas Dillon, Brian Dillon, Noel McGillick and a fantastic individual effort from half back Sean Malone put Syddan 1-5 to 0-7 ahead. Alan Carrie got one back for Kells, but Trevor Gilsenan restored the 2 point lead after 11 minutes. At this stage Syddan looked to be in the driving seat, but then disaster struck in the 13th minute when a Eugene McGillick solo run ended in a goal for the Kells men, to put them 1 ahead.

    However, Syddan quickly recovered with 2 points from Philip Duff to go 1 ahead with 11 minutes to go. Alan Carrie levelled things at 1-8 apiece with 7 minutes remaining and then what looked like certain disaster struck when Kells were awarded a penalty with just 5 minutes to go. Fortunately for the Syddan Men, Goalkeeper James Sheehy was on hand to push the ball out wide. Kells surged forward again and Eugene McGillick put them ahead from a free with just 3 minutes to go. Syddan's Stephen Dillon was then dragged down and brother Brian tied it at 1-9 from the resulting free.

    Syddan now face already qualified Simonstown in the last round in what will be a clash of the top 2. Should they go through, they may face last years Champions Skryne in the Quarter Final.

Team:

                                            James Sheehy

Robbie Clare                        Frank McKenna                Andrew Kane

Ian Curran                            Stephen Dillon                    Sean Malone

                    Joey Dillon                            Thomas Dillon

Philip Duff                            Noel McGillick                    Brian Dillon

Gary Carolan                        Shay Duff                            Trevor Gilsenan

Sub:   Patrick Meade for Gary Carolan.