Keegan Cup final a tight one to call

After 52 games over six and a half months we are down to the last two in the race for the Keegan Cup and it has never been more difficult to call a winner suggests FERGAL LYNCH.

Sunday's SFC final clash between Dunboyne and Summerhill willt ake place at Pairc Tailteann, 3.30pm

After Dunboyne's shock annihilation of three-in-row chasing Simonstown in the semi-finals they were installed as slight favourites to claim their first SFC crown since 2005, but only a fool would write-off a Summerhill side that were the top scorers throughout the campaign.

Undoubtedly the two teams that remain are deserving finalists. They played the most attractive football, provided the best of the entertainment and exhibited all the attributes necessary to be champions - so who will be crowned champions?

Based on overall levels of performance it has to be Dunboyne. If ability to wipe out an opposition in a blistering spell is anything to go by then Summerhill are on to a winner.

Both sides have struggled a bit this year in terms of finding a constant level of top quality football, but that is a common trait throughout the Meath SFC for many years, so who can adapt better to the pressure that Sunday will bring.

When Summerhill have had to they've been able to turn on the style this year.

Thunder bursts of 20-25 minute spells decimated Skryne, Na Fianna, St Colmcille's and Donaghmore/Ashbourne, yet they have consistently given opponents their purple patches, allowed them live in hope with lapses in concentration or an inability to close out a game.

Dunboyne were similar. They produced patches of football that no opposition could live with. The ability to defend solidly, secure primary possession, distribute economically and hit hard up front has made them formidable foes.

The statistics suggest Summerhill have the superior scoring threat. Their scoring return from their seven games in this championship is 20-106, that's an average of almost 24 points a game. Dunboyne have hit 7-101 in their seven outings, an average of just over 17 points.

However, Summerhill's figures are somewhat skewed by the 35-point hammering they dished out to an extremely weakened Curraha in round three, but even taking that game out of the equation, the return is an average of close to 21 points.

In contrast Summerhill have been leaking goals, despite goalkeeper Tony McDonnell making several outstanding stops throughout the journey to the final.

Summerhill have shipped 9-69 in seven games and while the points concession tally is acceptable, conceding goals and goal chances is a problem for the 2011 and 2013 champions.

Compare Dunboyne's defensive liability, they's conceded just three goals in their seven games, again much down to the performance of their talented young goalkeeper Cian Flynn, but also in no small part to their tigerish, determined defence and hard working philosophy that ensures the opposition are given very little room to create.

So who will break first?

In football ability Dunboyne and Summerhill cannot be separated.

Shane McEntee, Gavin McCoy, Cathal Finn and Seamus Lavin are all inter-county standard, while the aforementioned Cian Flynn has been one of the revelations of the championship.

That solid defensive unit will be tested by the movement, tenacity and accuracy of Seanie and Davy Dalton, the elusiveness, ball-winning and accuracy of Barry Dardis and the power, pace and trickiness of the outstanding David Larkin and Kevin Ryan.

While acknowledging their tendency to leak goals this term Summerhill have plenty of teak tough defenders that will make life very tough for the Dunboyne's marquee forwards Robbie McCarthy and Donal Lenihan.

Caolan Young has recovered from injury and returned to the type of form that makes him a top class full-back, while captain Willie Ryan and Padraig Geraghty are others with inter-county experience and an ability to be as threatening going forward as they are effective in their defensive duties.

Dunboyne's twin attacking threat of McCarthy and Lenihan is obvious, but not easy to stop.

They are surrounded by willing workers who create opportunities and open up space for them to flourish. The key for Summerhill is to suffocate that space - easier said than done.

With two evenly matched teams it could boil down to experience and this is why Summerhill get a very tentative nod to prevail.

After reaching the final last year they failed to perform on the big day. The grand stage can be a daunting place and Dunboyne have only one player, David Gallagher, still playing from the last time they played in a final in 2005.

Summerhill have been in four finals since Dunboyne were last in one and four of next Sunday's panel, including three certain starters, Tony McDonnell, Micheal Byrne, Davy Dalton and Paul Larkin were involved in 2008.

Nine of Sunday's panel played in the 2011 replay victory over Dunshaughlin, 10 played in the 2013 victory over Na Fianna and almost all of this year's panel were part of last year's final, so all the experience suggests Summerhill might be better capable of handling the occasion, but as John Lyons reminded his players of Mike Tyson's famous quote 'everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth'.

It has all the hallmarks of a classic, although the same was said about last year's final and that was dreadful, but Summerhill might just have more to smile about this time around.