Summerhill fancied to survive mission impossible

SFC PREVIEW

After all the adversity and disappointing form they have endured and produced this year Donaghmore/Ashbourne find themselves just 60 minutes away from a place in the SFC final - Summerhill stand in their way at Pairc Tailteann next Saturday.

For any other side the prospect of facing Summerhill right now would be a daunting one, but for Donaghmore/Ashbourne they are riding the crest of a wave and will relish another 'mission impossible'.

Instead of characters like Ethan Hunt, Luther Stickell, Benji Dunn and Ilsa Faust Donaghmore/Ashbourne have their own IMF heroes - players like Leo Reilly, Bryan Menton, Thomas McGovern, Andy Tormey, Andy Colgan.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne have won three out of their last nine group games in the Meath SFC from 2021 to now. On two of those campaigns they went on to make the last four (they lost to St Peter's in '01 and now face Summerhill). In between those runs to the last four they endured a brief relegation fright last year, surviving at the first hurdle with victory over Seneschalstown.

While Donaghmore/Ashbourne have, quite evidently, struggled in the group stages they have made a habit out of winning games when it matters most and it has helped that they have enjoyed a little luck along the way.

Their journey to this year's semi-finals has certainly been eventful. After playing four games they have a neutral scoring difference. They advanced from their group in controversial fashion with their -1 scoring difference marginally superior to Na Fianna's and Curraha's.

Even Na Fianna's bid to distract them from their quarter-final clash with a fancied St Colmcille's side didn't knock them from their stride.

Leinster Council went with Na Fianna's appeal, but the Dispute Resolution Authority sided with Meath GAA that their regulations were prim and proper and so Donaghmore/Ashbourne advanced.

Few gave them much hope in surviving their last eight mission against a St Colmcille's side that had toppled Ratoath to claim top spot in their group, but Donaghmore/Ashbourne were worthy winners.

Even when the floodlights failed in Skryne when they had their noses in front in the latter stages Donaghmore/Ashbourne stuck to their guns and found a way to hold on and advance - they will be hoping for more of that never-say-die spirit next Saturday.

While nothing is ever achieved without a little bit of luck it is hard to envisage the stars staying aligned for Donaghmore/Ashbourne against a Summerhill side that have been near perfect this year.

Summerhill management used the league campaign to get valuable game time into every player on their panel. They have developed a strength-in-depth that is the envy of the county.

They finished third in the league despite their experimentation and won each of their three group games in the championship with 11 points to spare against Ballinbrackey, eight points clear of Wolfe Tones and a nine-point win over Gaeil Colmcille.

They maintained that familiar trend with an eight-point victory over Trim in the quarter-final and introduced even more players with Diarmuid McCabe and John Keane getting back into the fold for their first appearances.

There is an exciting look about Summerhill. They are defensively outstanding. They have conceded just two goals in the SFC and both came against Trim, one from a penalty and one in the 60th minute.

Their midfield is dominant and fluid with any one of four or five players rotated into the central area to do a job and in players like Eoghan Frayne, Barry Dardis and Conor Lyons they have a lethal attacking unit. It is dangerous to write off Donaghmore/Ashbourne in this year's championship, but with so many weapons of destruction in Summerhill's arsenal it does look like another mission impossible for the Moores.

Verdict - Summerhill.