Summerhill claim Keegan Cup in thriller

The 10-year wait is over for Summerhill. The pain of four final defeats in seven years were washed away in a tide of courage and determination as they outlasted Ratoath 0-22 to 1-13 in a pulsating SFC final that needed extra-time at Pairc Tailteann today.

There was nothing between these two sets of gladiators and the arena for their battle was a cauldron of noise which erupted at David Coldrick's final whistle.

The pain of 2022 when they lost the final to Ratoath fueled Summerhill. The heartbreak they also suffered in 2017, '18 and '19 built character and steel that came to the fore in this game.

Ratoath threw everything they had at their bid to retain the crown, but Summerhill were not in the mood to capitulate. Even the concession of a fifth minute goal didn't rattle Conor Gillespie's men.

It took them until the 27th minute to get their noses in front. They surrendered their one-point half-time lead within four minutes of the restart of the second-half and with just over 10 minutes remaining their character was questioned again as they trailed 0-11 to 1-10.

With their backs to the wall Summerhill never panicked and four minutes into injury-time they held the lead when corner-back John Lavelle, of all people, pointed.

Like true champions Ratoath found a leveller and again Summerhill must have felt it wasn't going to be there day.

They held on to force extra-time and it was then where they showed their true power, their utter determination and ravenous hunger.

They outscored Ratoath by seven points to one in the extra 20 minutes. Everyone to a man was a hero who played their part to perfection in one of the most exciting and dramatic Keegan Cup finals in years.

Ratoath can have no complaints. They have been wonderful, powerful champions, but Sunday was Summerhill's day and they were not to be denied.

All over the field Summerhill had the measure of their men, but such was Ratoath's ability and strength they were never out of the running and led for the majority of the initial hour.

Despite playing catch up for most of normal time Summerhill never looked overawed, they never played like a team that was chasing the game. They stuck to their own game plan and got their rewards.

The young guns impressed. Eoghan Frayne was named man of the match with a six-point haul and a contribution of significance. Adam McDonnell was excellent before being forced off injured.

While the young ones excelled it was the old heads that were central to Summerhill's win. Even at just 26 years old the Ryan twins Ronan and Ross, are considered seasoned defenders and they were outstanding.

Micheal Byrne was called into the fray early and provided the perfect foil for Adam Flanagan as Summerhill dominated around the middle, then up top David Larkin and Barry Dardis were hugely influential.

It was a complete panel performance from Summerhill. 23 players played their part and their influence was crucial in getting Summerhill over the line.

After both sides squandered chances early on it was Ratoath who stole the initiative when Cian Rogers fisted over in the third minute and a minute later they had the ball in the net when Joey Wallace's point attempt dropped short where Bryan McMahon pounced ahead of Sean Muddiman and Ronan Ryan.

Lesser teams would have crumbled - but not Summerhill.

Eoghan Frayne steadied the ship with a converted free and in the 10th minute Dardis called a mark and kicked the point.

Summerhill almost clawed the goal back too when Eoghan Frayne kept in his brother Conor's wayward effort and set up John Keane, but Ben Wyer did brilliantly to prevent the goal.

Larkin closed the gap to the minimum in the 12th minute and 90 seconds later Eoghan Frayne restored parity, 0-4 to 1-1.

Ratoath settled again with Eamon Wallace on the mark and after Larkin was denied a goal by a fine save from Shane Duffy, Ratoath stretched their lead to two points when Daithi McGowan fisted over.

Diarmuid McCabe sliced over a fine point with the outside of the right and Cian O'Brien responded for Ratoath before Summerhill drew level again with two points from Dardis (one mark).

It looked like Summerhill might never get their noses in front when Jack Flynn restored Ratoath's lead, but in the closing four minutes of the half two points from Eoghan Frayne (one free) and one from Adam McDonnell countered a score from a Daithi McGowan free as Summerhill led 0-10 to 1-6 at the break.

That lead lasted just four minutes as Ciaran O Fearraigh equalised and then Joey Wallace edged Ratoath ahead again.

Cian O'Brien lofted over his second point to make it 1-9 to 0-10 and Summerhill looked in trouble.

However, they never panicked. Conor Frayne traded points with McMahon before a 10 minute lull which saw both sides cancel each other out.

When the scoring resumed in the 50th minute it was Eoghan Frayne again from a free and Larkin who made it 0-13 to 1-10.

That parity remained after Daithi McGowan (free) and Conor Frayne exchanged scores.

Summerhill hit nine wides to Ratoath's two up to that stage, but when Lavelle galloped forward to finish a brilliant move it looked like they would hold on.

However Daithi McGowan showed amazing composure and steel to land an equaliser from a difficult free after Davy Dalton fouled Padraig Byrne to make it 1-12 to 0-15 - on to extra-time they went.

Dardis edged Summerhill ahead three minutes into the additional period, but Flynn levelled it up four minutes later with what proved to be his side's last score.

As Ratoath tired and faded it was Summerhill who got a new lease of life as Eoghan Frayne and Conor Lyons gave them a 0-18 to 1-13 lead at half-time of extra-time.

Lyons and Dalton stretched that lead to four points with just six minutes remaining. Ratoath needed a goal, but Summerhill were not for breaking and they hammered the final nails when Padraig Jennings fisted over and Dardis landed a monster free to spark wild celebrations and banish the ghosts of the last seven years.

SCORERS

Summerhill - Eoghan Frayne 0-6 three frees; Barry Dardis 0-5 two marks, one free; David Larkin 0-2; Conor Frayne 0-2; Conor Lyons 0-2; Diarmuid McCabe 0-1; Adam McDonnell 0-1; John Lavelle 0-1; Davy Dalton 0-1; Padraig Jennings 0-1.

Ratoath - Bryan McMahon 1-1; Daithi McGowan 0-4 three frees; Cian O'Brien 0-2; Joey Wallace 0-1; Cian Rogers 0-1; Eamon Wallace 0-1; Jack Flynn 0-2; Ciaran O Fearraigh 0-1.

TEAMS

Summerhill - Sean Muddiman; Iarla Hughes, Ronan Ryan, John Lavelle; Adam McDonnell, Ross Ryan, Padhraig Geraghty; Adam Flanagan, John Keane; David Larkin, Eoghan Frayne, Kevin Ryan; Diarmuid McCabe, Conor Frayne, Barry Dardis. Subs - Micheal Byrne for Keane 16 mins, Conor Lyons for K Ryan 39m, Padraig Jennings for Hughes 42m, Jamie O'Shea for McDonnell 45m, Davy Dalton for McCabe 56m. Extra time - Eamonn McDonnell for C Frayne 8m, Ben Moran for Geraghty half-time, Sean Dalton for E Frayne 11m.

Ratoath - Shane Duffy; Ben Wyer, Conor McGill, Ciaran O Fearraigh; Andrew Gerrard, Gavin McGowan, Eamon Wallace; Jack Flynn, Ben McGowan; Keith McCabe, Daithi McGowan, Cian O'Brien; Cian Rogers, Joey Wallace, Bryan McMahon. Subs - Bobby O'Brien for McCabe 47 mins, Brian Daly for Gerrard 49m, Padraig Byrne for B McGowan 52m, Conor Rooney for C O'Brien 61m. Extra time - Cian O'Farrell for Duffy, Liam Kelly for G McGowan 5m, Tom Fadden for J Wallace, Ronan Byrne for McMahon both 9m.

Referee - David Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels).