Summerhill stroll home

Summerhill maintained their 100 per cent record in this year's SFC when they overcame the challenge of Oldcastle in damp conditions at Athboy on Sunday. The winners were superior in almost every department and although Oldcastle's determination and effort could not be questioned they were out-classed by a side with genuine Keegan Cup ambitions. Summerhill's full-back line was particularly impressive with Willie Ryan and Davy Dalton in excellent form in the corners. Full-back Caolan Young was given the unenviable task of marshalling the dangerous Paddy Gilsenan as Oldcastle left their county star alone in the full-forward line for long periods. Gilsenan always looked a threat, but was starved of possession for most of the game. Midfielders Paul Comey and Michael Byrne were in control for Summerhill and the forwards also looked sharp throughout as Sean Dalton, Brian Ennis and Adrian Kenny provided a constant threat for the south Meath outfit. Dalton looked set to run riot for Summerhill early on as he kicked the first three points of the match from play, two with the right foot and one with the left. Gilsenan notched Oldcastle's first score from a free before Ennis and Ronan Farrelly swapped points to leave Summerhill 0-4 to 0-2 ahead after the first quarter. Summerhill were having much the better of possession and this was soon reflected on the scoreboard as further points from Ennis, Dalton, David Larkin and Kenny gave them a 0-8 to 0-2 interval lead. Ennis knocked over his third point a minute into the second-half. A free from Gilsenan pulled one back for Oldcastle, but points from Ennis, Michael Byrne and Stephen Husband ensured that Summerhill were comfortably ahead entering the final quarter. Summerhill were working very hard and this was perfectly illustrated in the 44th minute when Eoin Gilsenan was dispossessed near the Summerhill goal by Larkin and within seconds the ball was down the other end and Bobby Lyons knocked over another point. To their credit Oldcastle never dropped their heads and Niall Mangan's excellent left-footed point was followed by a goal when substitute Conor McHugh punched Mangan's centre to the net to narrow the gap to six points (1-4 to 0-13). McHugh added another point for Oldcastle when his long-range free bounced over the bar, but his side were too far in arrears to worry Summerhill and Ennis finished the scoring with a free in the 57th minute. Summerhill - T McDonnell; D Dalton, C Young, W Ryan; S Husband (0-1), R Hatton, M Gorman; P Comey, M Byrne (0-1 free); D Larkin (0-1), A Kenny (0-1), B Lyons (0-1); P Rispin, B Ennis (0-5 three frees), S Dalton (0-4). Oldcastle - P Coakley; S Farrelly, C McPartland, D Hawden; P Lynch, R McHugh (0-1), E Gilsenan; R Pakenham, V Reynolds; P Gilsenan (0-2 two frees), T Farrelly, T Rahill; A McCann, Ronan Farrelly (0-1 free), Robert Farrelly. Subs - N Mangan (0-1) for Rahill 22 mins, C McHugh (1-0) for Pakenham (half-time), B Curran for Hawden 37m, R Kellett for Robert Farrelly 40m. Referee - David Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels).