BY CARLO DI VITO

Dominant spells in the second and third quarters proved decisive for Summerhill in this under-16 FC final at Trim on Friday evening as they got the better of a strong Navan O'Mahonys side and claimed the Benny Caffrey Cup for the first time.

The 'Hill recovered from a slow start and played some wonderful football during the middle part of the game and they showed great courage and determination to hold out in the closing stages as O'Mahonys sought an equalising goal.

The final whistle was greeted by scenes of jubilation among the Summerhill players and mentors and the large band of supporters who had made the short journey to St. Loman's Park.

O'Mahonys players and supporters were understandably devastated. The Brews Hill club are not used, to losing under-age finals, but when they get time to reflect, they will be first to admit that a better team beat them on the night.

RESEMBLED

Every Summerhill player gave their all in pursuit of vic-tory and at times their workrate resembled that of a side playing for senior championship glory.

Conor Foley, Paddy Austin and Mark Lynch performed excellently in a strong Summerhill rearguard, Richard Hatton ensured his team had marginally the better of the midfield exchanges and in attack, Paul Rispin and substitute Stephen Lynch caused severe problems for the O'Mahonys defence.

However, there was only be one winner of the "man of the match" award and that was Summerhill captain Brian Ennis who led by example and looks certain to be a star of the future.

He finished as the game's top scorer with 1-4 and provided all the necessary inspiration in the second-half with faultless fielding, powerful surges upfield and clinical finishing.

O'Mahonys also had their share of good performers and players like John Brady, Barry Regan, Cormac Reilly, Jonathon Murtagh, Joseph Carrig and Douglas Fagan can be very proud of their efforts.

This decider promised a close encounter as the sides played out a draw in the group stages, but despite playing against the wind in the firsthalf, O'Mahonys found scores easier to come by in the early stages and looked hot favourites for victory.

They opened the scoring courtesy of an excellent point from Fagan, but Summerhill responded with a bizarre 13th minute goal which seemed to come direct from a long range point attempt by Ennis.

Despite the goal. the 'Hill laboured in front of the posts and registered eight first-quarter wides.

O'Mahonys were much more clinical and further points from Regan and David Bray (free) enabled them to restore parity in the 15th minute.

They took the lead in the 22nd minute when Bray added another free, but then Summerhill upped the tempo and a strong finish yielded, points from Rispin (free) and Ennis as they opened a 1-2 to 0-4 interval advantage.

With Ennis, goalkeeper Noel O'Sullivan and Hatton providing the inspiration, their dominance continued at the start of the second-half.

EXTENDED

Rispin extended the gap to two with a well struck free before Ennis showed magnificent strength against Cormac Reilly before firing over. He was on target again in the 41st minute with a close range free and matters began to look good when he struck his fourth point at the end of the third-quarter for a 1-6 to 0-5 margin.

O'Mahonys needed to raise the stakes and that's exactly what they did in the last 15 minutes, but poor finishing ensured they could never get on terms. A second point from Fagan was all they could muster as the 'Hill held on for a deserved win.

Summerhill - N. Sullivan; T. Walshe, C. Foley, S. Kennedy; P. Austin. P. McGlynn, M. Lynch; M. Kennedy, R. Hatton; P. Rispin (0-2), B. Ennis (1-4), W. Milner; G. McDonnell, G. Gorman, D. Canton. Subs - V. O'Mahony for Canton, S. Lynch for Milner, B. Byrne for Walshe, D. Canton for S. Lynch.

Navan O'Mahonys - J. Murtagh; J. Carrig, C. Reilly. S. Crosby; S. O'Toole, K. Reilly. J. Brady; B. Regan (0-1), P Culligan; P. Smith, H. Finnegan. D. Fagan (0-2); D. Bray (0-3), F. Ilamngton. B. Daly. Subs - R. McKeown for Daly.

Referee - M. McDonagh (Athboy).