Buoyed by the win for our 2nd team in the morning Summerhill’s senior team headed for Pairc Tailteann to take on resigning champions Wolfe Tones in the Senior Championship semi final.
The first half was a tough and physical affair with scores hard to come by. With over 20 minutes on the clock the sides were level 3 points apiece. Summerhill’s points coming, one each from the Frayne brothers and a Conor Lyons free. In the 25minute of the half Summerhill struck for the only goal of the game. The move started with Micheal Byrne making a great catch over his own cross bar from a Tones free that dropped short. The ball was worked quickly forward where eventually Adam Flanagan played in Conor Frayne who found the back of the net. Tones score a point with the last kick of the half to close the gap to 1-3 to 0-4 at the break. Summerhill would have been disappointed not to have a few more scores on the board at the break but would be pleased at how well the defense were dealing with the Tone’s danger men.
Tones scored the first point of the second half to cut the deficit to the minimum but surprisingly this was to be their last score of the game. Summerhill, through the excellent Michael Byrne and Adam Flanagan were slowly taking control of the game around the middle. Summerhill reeled off point after point to slowly but surely pull away from the champions. Any attacks Tones could muster were well dealt with by the Summerhill defense. In the end Summerhill ran out comfortable winners on a score line of 1-10 to 0-5.
In the lead up to the game many had considered the outcome a close 50/50 game that could go either way. While the result may not have surprised too many but the margin of victory probably did. Summerhill will now take on Ratoath in 2 weeks time in the final.
Summerhill – Tony McDonnell; Padraig Jennings, Ronan Ryan, John Lavelle; Padhraig Geraghty (c), Ross Ryan, Adam McDonnell; Micheal Byrne, Adam Flanagan; David Larkin, Diarmuid McCabe, Kevin Ryan; Conor Frayne, Conor Lyons, Eoghan Frayne.
Subs – Davy Dalton for K Ryan (41), Barry Dardis for C Lyons (47), Caolan Young for Lavelle (47), Willie Ryan for Geraghty (63), Liam Shaw for Larkin (63).
Scorers: Conor Frayne 1-3 (0-1f); Conor Lyons 0-3 (1f); Eoghan Frayne 0-2 (1f); Barry Dardis 0-2 (1f).
Wolfe Tones – Ciaran Gallagher; Brughach O Fionnagain, Shane Glynn, Adam O’Neill; Niall O’Reilly, Daniel O’Neill, Conor Sheppard; Cian Ward, Padraic Diamond; Caolan Ward, Thomas O’Reilly, Stephen Sheppard; Oisin Martin, Saran O Fionnagain, Tom Gavigan. Subs – Cian O’Neill for Cian Ward (57), Eanna Harrington for Caolan Ward (59)
Scorers– Caolan Ward 0-2 (2fs); Cian Ward 0-1; Oisin Martin 0-1; Tom Gavigan 0-1 (f).
Referee – David Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels)