Summerhill survive stern test in the rain

A FL Div 1 final spot secured

There was no backward step taken or offered at Summerhill tonight as the Keegan Cup champions made home advantage count to book their place in the A FL Div 1 final with a 2-12 to 0-14 victory over Donaghmore/Ashbourne.

Even though these two will meet again in round three of the SFC in September, there was no question about the commitment as both were hell bent on laying down a marker and securing that league final spot.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne scored six of the last eight points in the final quarter to give a closer reflection on the scoreline, but the Moores had their chances too with Summerhill 'keeper Sean Muddiman producing a couple of outstanding saves to preserve Summerhill's dominance.

It took them a while to get going, but when they hit their straps Summerhill looked every bit the cut of champions and with three weeks to go until the start of the defence of their crown there's a suspicion they are going to get better.

Whether they can afford a similar slow start at the more punishing levels of championship fare remains to be seen and in the opening quarter Donaghmore/Ashbourne more than had their measure.

However despite dominating that opening quarter Donaghmore/Ashbourne failed to make their supremacy count on the scoreboard with three wides in that spell as strong defending, particularly from the excellent Iarla Hughes, limited their return.

When Bryan Menton swung over the opening score in the second minute there were signs that Summerhill might be vulnerable. A mistake by Kevin Lyons not to claim the mark when it was offered led to him being punished for over-carrying and Andy Colgan strode forward to convert the free.

In the 12th minute Andy Tormey got in on the act as Donaghmore/Ashbourne opened up a 0-3 to 0-0 lead, by that stage Summerhill had barely mustered an attack, hardly got out of their own half.

However one swift, incisive ball from midfield cut open the Donaghmore/Ashbourne rearguard in the 13th minute and Barry Dardis punished them with a fine take and an even better finish to draw his side level - just like that, the visitors lead was wiped out.

Frees from Tormey and Colgan either side of an excellent score from the lively Conor Frayne gave Donaghmore/Ashbourne their 0-5 to 1-1 first quarter lead and they pulled further clear by the 20th minute with Colgan landing a superb kick from a difficult angle and Menton popping over unchallenged to make it 0-7 to 1-1.

With the game slipping way Summerhill woke from their evening slumber.

Eoghan Frayne converted a free, David Larkin pounced on a loose ball and fired over and Eoghan Frayne landed his second free to ensure parity at the break, 1-4 to 0-7.

Realising they had yet to get motoring Summerhill moved through the gears in the third quarter and stamped their authority on the contest.

Dardis converted a mark inside a minute of the restart, 60 seconds later Conor Frayne gathered Larkin's wild effort and lofted over and in the 36th minute the excellent Kevin Lyons made it 1-7 to 0-7.

Just like Summerhill in the opening half, Donaghmore/Ashbourne were struggling to muster an attack of note, but when they did they almost made a breakthrough when Jamie Browne was set up by Dylan Brady, but Muddiman produced an astounding tackle to win the ball as Browne was about to fire to the net.

On the counter-attack David Larkin pointed immediately and a minute later he added another. Instead of being level, Donaghmore/Ashbourne found themselves 0-7 to 1-9 down almost in the blink of an eye.

Another goal chance was coughed up by the visotrs as a pass too many went astray before Thomas McGovern fisted over, but two minutes later the issue was put beyond doubt when Conor Frayne rifled an unstoppable shot to the top left hand corner to put eight between the sides, 2-10 to 0-8.

With the benches being emptied the game became scrappy in the closing quarter and Donaghmore/Ashbourne benefitted with Brady and Colgan landing frees before Darragh McGovern clipped one over to make it 0-11 to 2-10 with nine minutes remaining.

Ronan Ryan was left unchecked to settle Summerhill nerves with an easy point and then Adam McDonnell got in on the act to make it 2-12 to 0-11. They were Summerhill's last scores.

Zac Thornton was denied by a brilliant save from Muddiman and Michael O'Sullivan's follow up was smothered off the line as Donaghmore/Ashbourne went in search of a goal. Menton got some consolation with a point from that passage, but they needed the goal.

Thornton and James Crumlish added some gloss to Donaghmore/Ashbourne'a final tally with two excellent points, but Summerhill were home and hosed by that stage, looking forward to an A FL Div 1 final against the winner of Saturday's other semi-final between Ballinabrackey and Skryne.

Summerhill - Sean Muddiman; Iarla Hughes, Ronan Ryan (0-1), Jack Bannon; Adam McDonnell (0-1), Ross Ryan, Conor Ryan; Adam Flanagan, Micheal Byrne; Diarmuid McCabe, Kevin Lyons, Kevin Ryan (0-1); Eoghan Frayne (0-3 frees), Barry Dardis (1-1 one mark), Conor Frayne (1-2). Subs - David Larkin (0-3) for McCabe 17m, Manny Mango for K Ryan 42m, Jack Davies for Ross Ryan, Darragh Tormey for Dardis both 50m, Eamonn Ryan for C Ryan 55m, Ross Tallon for Lyons 58m.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne - Andy Colgan (0-4 frees); Aaron McLoughlin, Evan Quinn, James Redmond; Conor Carton, Shane Melia, Cillian Hegarty; Kevin Cully, Bryan Menton (0-3); Thomas McGovern (0-1), Darragh McGovern (0-1), Jamie Brennan; Dylan Brady (0-1 free), Andy Tormey (0-2 one free), Kevin Fenton. Subs - Sean Tyrell for Fenton half-time, Sean Curran for Cully 38m, James Crumlish (0-1) for Tormey 44m, Michael O'Sullivan for Tyrell 50m, Zac Thornton (0-1) for D McGovern 58m.

Referee - Andrew Smith (Dunshaughlin).