SFC Final Focus: Who'll come out on top when the irresistible force meets the immovable object?

What happens when the irresistible force meets the immovable object?

Well we'll all find out next Sunday in Pairc Tailteann when free-scoring, goal hungry Ratoath clash with the meanest defence in the county, Summerhill, for the right to claim the Keegan Cup.

Summerhill have not conceded a goal since Gaeil Colmcille raised a consolation green flag in the A FL Div 1A clash on 14th June.

They shipped just 10 goals in their 11-game league campaign and have kept five clean sheets in championship football, holding some highly regarded attacking units at bay.

Conversely Ratoath scored 10 goals in their first three games of the championship, hitting five against Simonstown, four against Donaghmore/Ashbourne and their 10th of the campaign against Gaeil Colmcille.

In their five championship outings to get to the SFC final Ratoath have scored a remarkable 16 goals. Summerhill have conceded none. Something has to give!

Scoring goals is something new manager David Brady has certainly worked on with Ratoath since they finished third in A FL Div 1A with just eight majors to their credit. Some perspective has to be applied to that low return as Ratoath were operating in the league without their full deck of stars because of inter-county duty, but since the championship started they have been on fire.

It's not as if one man has been doing all the scoring for them with their 16 championship goals shared amongst seven different players.

Cian Rogers and Daithi McGowan have shared eight of those goals evenly, while Eamon Wallace, Bobby O'Brien and Bryan McMahon have two each and Jack Flynn and Joey Wallace have also found the net.

Unfortunately for Ratoath they will have to plan without Joey Wallace for the next 10 to 12 months after he picked up the dreaded cruciate injury in the quarter-final win over Moynalvey, but even without his obvious skills Ratoath still look extremely potent up front.

Despite operating at midfield Daithi McGowan has been a scoring revelation this year and his partnership with Flynn at midfield has helped make Ratoath the force they are. That midfield pair give Ratoath such a perfect platform from which to launch their fast-paced, power-packed performances. Their aerial ability, athleticism and skills have given them the edge all campaign, but next Sunday they will face their stiffest test to date from Micheal Byrne and Adam Flanagan.

Byrne, who is now working and living in Limerick, has been used sparingly by Conor Gillespie in Summerhill's run to the final, but his effectiveness was very obvious in his outstanding display in the semi-final win over Wolfe Tones.

Flanagan's arrival in Summerhill after a couple of years away from playing football has been crucial to Gillespie's side remaining as genuine contenders.

When Summerhill lost to Ratoath in last year's SFC quarter-final they looked like a team on the decline. They lacked that spark around the middle, someone who could get them going on the front foot, a leader who could secure primary possession and get them moving.

There was too much focus on defence for Summerhill last year and it suffocated their attacking capabilities, but the arrival of Flanagan has given them so many options and has allowed young, dynamic attackers flourish again.

Despite managing just half the amount of goals as Ratoath in this year's championship Summerhill still look very dangerous in attack. They might not play the same free-flowing, all-out attacking style as Ratoath, but their patient, accurate and incisive build up is equally effective.

Summerhill don't take too many risks in possession and that is a strength. They value the ball with their lives and invariably make good use of it.

Their defensive unit is built on a collective attitude of hard work and tenacity. Anchored by the Ryan twins Ross and Ronan and flanked by outstanding competitors like Padraig Jennings, John Lavelle, Iarla Hughes, Adam McDonnell, team captain Padhraig Geraghty, amongst others, Summerhill are notoriously hard to break down.

In three of their five championship games they have shipped just eight points, in their semi-final they conceded just five points against the county champions.

They only time they lost double figures in scores was in the nothing, final group game against Na Fianna where they conceded 12 points, but still won the game. Just 41 points conceded in five championship games, it's doubtful if there's a better record than that in the country.

Undoubtedly Ratoath have the firepower to shoot down any opposition. As well as their 16 goals they have also managed 61 points and just as with their goals those scores can come from anywhere on the field with Gavin McGowan from half-back and Daithi McGowan from midfield hugely influential.

Summerhill have their own dangers with Conor Lyons' expert ability from frees complementing the danger and ingenuity of the Frayne brothers Eoghan and Conor, the hard work and strength of Diarmuid McCabe and the elusiveness of players like David Larkin and Kevin Ryan.

Even off the bench Summerhill's attacking options are just as strong, if not even stronger.

Barry Dardis looks back to full fitness, but hasn't force his way into the starting line-up as of yet. Davy Dalton has been in and out of the first 15 and always makes a telling contribution as does Liam Shaw who gives Summerhill's attacking options another dimension.

If Ratoath are to claim their third Keegan Cup in four years they will need to be more resolute at the back. For all their free-flowing brilliance going forward they have shipped a couple of heavy scorelines, but have always managed to outscore an opponent.

While Summerhill were conceding just 41 points in their five games, Ratoath have allowed their opponents grab 5-55. However, there have been signs in the last couple of games, against Moynalvey and na Fianna, that they have closed up shop a little tighter.

Sunday's final promises to be a fascinating affair. In boxing parlance styles make fights and in Summerhill and Ratoath we couldn't have two more contrasting, but equally effective styles.

If Summerhill can get to grips with Ratoath's rampaging attack then they will have a chance, but the likelihood is that they will have to improve their return at the attacking end of the field to counter David Brady's men.

Ratoath will have to guard against being too gung-ho against a very dangerous Summerhill side, but if they change their style now that could upset their momentum and be detrimental to their chances.

It is such a tight contest to call. At the start of the season we predicted Ratoath to claim the Keegan Cup and we are going to stick with that call, more out of stubbornness than certainty.