Simonstown on course to retain the Keegan Cup

As the shadows of those that trailed in their wake exit the scene Summerhill and Simonstown Gaels remain standing and will meet in the Meath SFC final for the first time in what promises to be a thriller at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon, 3pm.

With Halloween fast approaching both Summerhill and Simonstown will be hoping to avoid a shocker, but it is the defending champions from Navan who are expected to make the biggest bang and retain their crown.
For all their pedigree and status as one of the top four teams in the history of the Meath SFC Summerhill are expected to play second fiddle to a Simonstown side that only won their first Keegan Cup last year.
Since 1974, Summerhill have been the second most prolific winners of the Meath SFC with their seven wins putting them behind just Navan O'Mahonys who have won 12 in that same spell.
When Summerhill were winning their four-in-a-row between 1974 and 1977, Simonstown were languishing in Junior B having been established in 1965, but since making the breakthrough to senior football in 1995 the Navan men have featured in three SFC finals.
The tales of woe from 2003 have long since been told, but they will never be forgotten. The manner of the second-half collapse and the loss of a nine-point half-time lead against Blackhall Gaels still haunts the Navan men. They also reached the final in 2004, but again lost out to Skryne.
However last year those wrongs were put right with a mesmerising demolition of Donaghmore/Ashbourne in the Keegan Cup decider.
That victory last year has added a resolve to Simonstown that has created an aura of almost invincibility about them. Last year they stumbled into the knockout stages despite failing to win any of their first three games, this year they have been all-conquering.
There were a few times when Simonstown's credentials as champions were tested, but they passed every exam with flying colours.
The manner of their recovery against Dunboyne in the quarter-final spoke volumes about the team. Eleven points down and seemingly destined for the exit doors, Simonstown showed character in bucket loads and that could well be a crucial factor again on Sunday.
Simonstown will have history on their side too when they face Summerhill.
SFC meetings between the pair are rare, but in their three previous clashes Simonstown have never been beaten, drawing one game in 2007, while winning the other two in 2006 and 2011.
Ironically Simonstown's biggest win over Summerhill came in the fourth round in 2011 when they coasted to a 0-13 to 0-7 win, but that was only a blip on the road to glory for the 'Hill as they went on to lift the Keegan Cup following a replay victory over Dunshaughlin.
That win in 2011 was the first of two successes in three years for Summerhill and marked them as one of the leading lights in Meath football.
However, they never kicked on from those triumphs and while they have always been knocking on the door much more has been expected of them.
Looking at Summerhill's recent success it is hard to believe that in the early years of the Millennium they were struggling to maintain their senior status. They held onto top flight ranking in 2001 by virtue of a 0-6 to 1-2 win over Navan O'Mahonys in a relegation play-off and the following year they survived by seeing off Oldcastle 1-6 to 0-6.
Buoyed by those reprieves Summerhill have progressed superbly and they continue to produce many of the county's outstanding young players and mix them with seasoned veterans who know how to get the job done.
Summerhill's progress this year has surprised many. They were meant to be a team in transition for a couple of years having lost such key men as Conor Gillespie, Adrian Kenny, Byrne and Paul Rispin, but they have never shied away from a battle and now they are back in a Keegan Cup final for the first time since 2013 and the fourth time since 2008.
Both teams’ paths to the final have been quite similar. They both topped their group with Summerhill's only defeat coming in their final game against Wolfe Tones when top spot was already secured.
Simonstown were rarely bothered in their march to the knockout stages with St Colmcille's going closest to catching them on the hop in round one when they ran them to within a point. In their remaining group games Simonstown won by an average of almost nine points.
The two games in the knockout stages tested resolve and character against Dunboyne and Wolfe Tones and they passed them scoring eight goals in the process having scored just seven in the group stages.
Summerhill's four wins in their group were achieved by an average of seven points and the only time they failed to find the net was in that one loss to Wolfe Tones.
The quarter-final victory over Navan O'Mahonys was impressive as it came after a long wait for the game and the 1-15 to 0-9 victory over Gaeil Colmcille was also quite a feat just five days after the win over O'Mahonys.
All the indications are that Sunday's final will be a free-flowing, open game of football between two sides that like to play on the front foot.
Defensive structures are unlikely to be the main feature of the contest, but then again it is a final and the fear of losing could become a factor.
Both Summerhill and Simonstown have quality attackers. Padraig McKeever, Mark McCabe (pictured), Sean Tobin and Nathan O'Brien have been buzzing for Simonstown, while Barry Dardis, Seanie Dalton, Brian Ennis and Davy Dalton have been the creative forces behind Summerhill.
They both also have solid midfields and sound defensive set-ups, although it is still unclear if Aussie Rules star Conor Nash will be available for Simonstown as he is due back Down Under to resume his career with Hawthorn after their end of season break.
If Nash is available then he might just be the one factor that can swing the final in Simonstown's favour. The ability to secure primary possession at midfield will be crucial and Nash can provide that for the Navan men.
If Summerhill can work hard around the breakdowns and release the ball in quickly into Dardis and Seanie Dalton, then they will really fancy their chances.
On paper there is very little between the sides, but the hesitant vote has to go to the defending champions Simonstown who have shown remarkable character to have won last year and then survive against Dunboyne and Wolfe Tones this year. A narrow win for the Navan men.

SFC PATHS TO THE FINAL
SIMONSTOWN
Round 1 - Simonstown 1-16, St Colmcille’s 2-12.
Round 2 - Simonstown 2-17, Moynalvey 0-11.
Round 3 - Simonstown 3-13, Seneschalstown 1-10.
Round 4 - Simonstown 0-12, Navan O’Mahonys 0-7.
Round 5 - Simonstown 1-12, Blackhall Gaels 1-4.
Quarter-final - Simonstown 4-12, Dunboyne 2-16.
Semi-final - Simonstown 4-9, Wolfe Tones 1-13.
SUMMERHILL
Round 1 - Summerhill 1-13, Duleek/Bellewstown 2-5.
Round 2 - Summerhill 1-12, Gaeil Colmcille 0-11.
Round 3 - Summerhill 2-15, Donaghmore/Ashbourne 2-7.
Round 4 - Summerhill 1-16, Rathkenny 0-9.
Round 5 - Wolfe Tones 2-11, Summerhill 0-11.
Quarter-final - Summerhill 2-12, Navan O’Mahonys 1-10.
Semi-final - Summerhill 1-15, Gaeil Colmcille 0-9.