A-League Div 3B Rd 8

Did we win? Yes…. and No!. Summerhill’s 2nd team made the trip over to Kilbride for the final game in the A-League division 3B. The game was played in torrential rain throughout. Top marks to Kilbride for their pitch which was in top class condition.
Summerhill were slow to get into the game and despite having plenty of possession they didn’t open their account until the tenth minute when Liam Shaw landed a free. Three further points from Conor Frayne and an Adam Flanagan effort saw the sided tied at five apiece after twenty minutes. The lively Kilbride full forward line were putting the Summerhill back under serious pressure scoring some fine points. A great block from Ben Moran prevented a goal in the 25 minute but moments later the home side did find the net as half time approached. The home side led at the break by 1-10 to 0-7.

The Summerhill team began the second half with intent popping over two quick points from Ben Moran and Eamonn Ryan. As the half wore on Summerhill gradually cut the home side lead. The Summerhill defense had tightened up considerably and Kilbride were finding scores hard to come by. With time almost up Summerhill trailed by two points. they were awarded a close in free which Liam Shaw lobbed in towards the goalmouth. In the scramble that followed Conor Summerville pulled on a loose ball to find the back of the net to give Summerhill the lead for the first time in the game…. or so we thought!. From the kick out the Kilbride lads poured forward looking for the “equalising” point but the Summerhill defense held firm to win on a score line of Summerhill 1-15 to Kilbride 1-14…..

As the Summerhill lads celebrated a great 2nd half performance and as the deflated and disappointed Kilbride lads were leaving the field the referee announced the score line as Summerhill 1-14 Kilbride 1-15. This was a huge surprise to both set of players and to many people in attendance as they were sure Summerhill has won but as they say the referees word is final……. As the Kilbride lads mood changed to celebration the Summerhill lads can be proud of their performance, especially in the second half, in what was a great game played in very difficult conditions.

This was the last game in the league and the team now has a long wait before the first round of the Premier 2 Championship against Simonstown on the 23rd of July.

Team: Robbie McDonnell, Darren Chapman, Eoghan Jennings, Paddy Troy, Donal Matthews, Gavin McVann, Ben Moran (0-2), Eamonn Ryan (0-2), Adam Flanagan (0-1), Conor Summerville (1-0), Liam Shaw (0-5, 5f) Mark Donoghue, Cathal Ryan, Connie McGrath, Conor Frayne (0-4) .

Subs: Luke Byrne for Cathal Ryan, Jack Regan (0-1) for Connie McGrath, Luke Moran for Gavin McVann, Sean Hughes for Ben Moran.