Summerhill 0-14 Dunshaughlin 1-9:A 25-YEAR gap was bridged in the replayed Meath final at Páirc Tailteann yesterday as Summerhill found that little bit more in extra-time to deny Dunshaughlin who had one hand on the Keegan Cup near the end of the hour.
As in the drawn encounter, Summerhill had to depend on an added-time equaliser, this time from a free by Micheal Byrne. That left the score 1-7 to 0-10 (it finished 0-10 each 14 days earlier) before the games’ decisive spell came in the first period of extra-time when Summerhill tagged on four points without reply.
A wide-littered first half followed a similar trend to the drawn tie for a while with Summerhill racing into a three-point lead before Dunshaughlin drew level at the beginning of the second quarter with a goal. Adrian Kenny was the most threatening attacker in the opening period with four points from play for ’Hill to lead 0-7 to 1-1 at the break.
The number 15 put over the game’s first three scores but contributed two of his side’s nine wides. Dunshaughlin only had five shots at the posts in the first half but after 16 minutes Tommy Johnson took a pass from Niall Murphy and fired to the net to make it 1-1 to 0-4, Fergus Toolan having opened Dunshaughlin’s account from a free.
Summerhill dominated after the goal but a succession of wides at both ends, mainly by the eventual winners, meant the next score did not arrive until the 29th minute when the unmarked Kenny slotted over. Points from David Larkin and Brian Ennis (free) left three between them at the halfway stage. Strangely Summerhill took the decision to switching Kenny to wing back in the third quarter but the move did not lessen his attacking impetus as he added two more points and deservedly picked up the man-of-the-match award.
Dunshaughlin appeared to be in a promising position when edging into the lead for the first time on 48 minutes and then doubling their advantage. Trevor Dowd edged them ahead with his third pointed free of the half before setting up Ray Maloney to leave the scoreboard 1-7 to 0-8. However Summerhill refused to throw in the towel and after Kenny put over his fifth score, Byrne threw Summerhill a lifeline which they took full advantage of to float towards the title for the sixth time.
After the teams reappeared for the additional 20 minutes, points from Kenny, David Larkin, Byrne and Gillespie left the small attendance in little doubt about the outcome.
Cathal O’Dwyer had a chance of snatching what would have been a late winning goalbut goalkeeper and winning captain Tony McDonnell saved.
SUMMERHILL: T McDonnell; D Dalton, C Young, W Ryan; S Husband, R Hatton, M Gorman; P Comey, C Gillespie (0-1); D Larkin (0-2), B Ennis (0-1, free), M Byrne (0-4, two frees); P Rispin, S Kennedy, A Kenny (0-6). Subs: C Malone for Husband (23 mins), S Dalton for Gorman (42 mins), B Lyons for Comey (53 mins), P Larkin for Rispin, G Rispin for Malone (both extra-time).
DUNSHAUGHLIN: R Gogan; A Doyle, K McTigue, M Ahern; A Johnson, C King, D Kealy; J Crimmins (0-1), R Maloney (0-1); F Toolan (0-1, free), T Dowd (0-3, three frees), C Deveraux; T Johnson (1-1), N Murphy, C O’Dwyer (0-1). Subs: N Kelly for T Johnson (59 mins), T Ó Duishlaine for Dowd (60 mins), E Hegarty (0-1) for Toolan, R Kealy for A Johnson, K Ward for King (extra-time).
Referee: David Gough.
Leinster First Round (Sun, Nov 13th)
Summerhill v Dublin Venue TBA
Portlaoise v Louth Venue TBA
Athy v Edenderry Venue TBA
Leinster Quarter-finals (Sun, Nov 20th)
1: Meath/Dublin v Horeswood Venue TBA
2: Laois/Louth v Wicklow Venue TBA
3: Athy/Edenderry v Old Leighlin Venue TBA
4: Westmeath v Longford Venue TBA
Semi-finals: 1 v 2, 3 v 4.
