Syddan survive late Brigid's surge to take Tailteann Cup honours

Syddan were crowned Tailteann Cup champions on Saturday afternoon after defeating St Brigid's in Carnaross

Syddan 0-2-9 (13)

St Brigid's 1-1-6 (11)

Tom Gannon

Syddan 0-2-9 (13)

St Brigid's 1-1-6 (11)

Syddan were crowned Tailteann Cup champions after they got the better of St Brigid's at Carnaross on Saturday afternoon. Often matches are described as a game of two halves but this enthralling encounter transpired to be a game of four quarters, where momentum proved to be vital.

Syddan opened up an early 0-5 to no score lead before St Brigid's took control and outscored their opponents by 1-3 to a point which sent the sides in at the break level.

The eventual winners regained momentum in the third quarter and just as they did in the first-half, rattled off 0-5 without reply. St Brigid's had several scoring opportunities during this period but failed to convert. A late revival for the Ballinacree-based outfit was not enough to get back level and Syddan secured the victory along with the honours.

There were some good individual performances across the two sides. Syddan's Michael Fedigan caused the St Brigid's defence a lot of issues and Eoghan Dillon had a fantastic second-half. Cathal Duff had an excellent game at full-back and made plenty of vital interceptions. From a St Brigid's perspective, their midfield pairing of David Gibney and David Briody worked very well together. Michael Flood and Cian Blake also impressed for St Brigid's at either end of the field.

With only a minute gone on the clock, Michael Fedigan played a lovely kick-pass into the path of Cillian Rafferty who slotted over nicely. Syddan then had a golden opportunity for a goal but the St Brigid's net-minder, Dylan Scully, pulled off a fantastic save to deny Eoghan Dillon.

Daire Rowe then provided two points in quick succession before a fantastic two-pointer free from Ben Blakemore put Syddan five points to the good after only 9 minutes.

Momentum shifted in the 18th minute when Luke Blake was fouled deep in Syddan territory. Blake had the whereabouts to take a quick solo and go and set up Dylan Briody for a goal which got St Brigid's off the mark.

Cian Blake followed up Briody's goal with well well-struck free. A long-range effort from Michael Flood fell short but Luke Blake was first to react and he picked up the pieces by tapping over. Luke Blake then added another to put St Brigid's in front for the first time after 27 minutes.

An injury-time free from Daire Rowe was Syddan's first score in 22 minutes and it sent the sides in at half-time level, 0-6 to 1-3.

It took some time for the second-half to produce anything of real substance but eventually in the 42nd minute, Daire Rowe had a Joe Sheridan-esque drive at the St Brigid's goalmouth, before crossing the line, the Syddan full forward recycled the ball and Ben Blakemore tapped over.

Eoghan Dillon then had a brilliant couple of minutes as Syddan once again seized control of momentum. The centre forward followed up a fantastic individual point with a long-range two-pointer free to put the eventual winners four points to the good after 45 minutes. Daire Rowe extended the gap to five a few minutes later.

During that third quarter, St Brigid's had six wides but in the 49th minute, Cian Blake got them off the mark in the second-half with a free, that score was soon cancelled out though by an Eoghan Dillon point. Cian Blake secured his third free before a fantastic two-pointer from substitute Cormac Browne brought St Brigid's back to within two of the lead.

A Dare Rowe free settled the ship for Syddan and a late point from Ivan Carroll was nothing more than a consolation as Paddy Clarke's final whistle confirmed Syddan as Tailteann Cup champions.

Syddan - Myles Avers; Alex Timmons Sheehy, Cathal Duff, Dara Dillon; Patrick Balfe, Ronan Mooney, Graham Garland; Sean Clare, Cathal Dardis; Cillian Rafferty (0-1), Eoghan Dillon (0-4 one two-point free) Michael Fedigan; Ben Blakemore (0-3 one two-point free) , Daire Rowe (0-5 four frees) Cormac Rowe. Subs - Mark Fedigan for Dardis 43m, Cormac Rafferty for Cillian Rafferty 57m.

St Brigid's - Dylan Scully; Tommy Russell, Michael Flood, Mark Gibney; Ciaran Russell, Padraig Plunkett, Leo McCann; David Gibney, Dylan Briody (1-0); Luke Blake (0-2), Rory Collins, Donal Plunkett; Ivan Carroll (0-1), Cian Blake (0-3 frees) Ivan Smyth. Subs - Cormac Browne (0-2, one two-point) for Ivan Smith.

Referee - Paddy Clarke (Kilmainham)