Updated: Wednesday, 30th September, 2009 4:48pm

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Summerhill fumble their way into the last four

by Jimmy Geoghegan

Summerhill 1-11, St Patrick's 0-11

The paying customers who watched this SFC quarter-final at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday could have complained with some justification after the final whistle that they had been short-changed and brought their case to the Consumer Rights Commission.

This was not a pretty sight with the game degenerating into a scrappy encounter from very early on. Apart from the odd piece of skill or enterprise it rarely rose above the mundane.

At half-time one spectator could be heard saying to another: "Hope it's a lot better in the second-half." The reply was expected, but very appropriate: "It couldn't be much bloody worse," he said with feeling.

Summerhill will point to the scoreboard and say that they won and earned the doubtful prize of a game with Seneschalstown in the semi-final. Yet the scoreline doesn't tell the full story.

There is no doubt that Summerhill did deserve to win. They dominated possession, particualrly in the second-half. However, over the next week or so joint-managers Paraic Lyons and Mattie Kerrigan will be working hard with their players to address a number of crucial issues.

There is sure to be plenty of shooting practice for a start. Summerhill had enough ball to win this game by the proverbial landslide and the statistics tell a tale.

They managed 12 wides compared to just one from their opponents. The one wide St Pat's did clock up came with just five minutes to go.

Summerhill spoiled good approach work by choosing the wrong option, spilling the ball or simply blazing wide when in good positions.

Their supporters will take some comfort from the plain fact that they did win the game by three points despite all the faults and if they improve in that facet of their game they will be a potent force and very difficult to stop.

The Summerhill supporters and management can take comfort from some aspects of the game which includes the fact that six players hit the target.

Stephen Kennedy spurned a number of opportunities from frees, but he did notch 1-5, his goal netted after just five minutes. Brian Ennis and Sean Dalton were involved in processing the ball through the middle to Kennedy who, for a big man, did well to neatly sidestep a defender before cracking the ball home.

That goal helped Summerhill go in at the break with a 1-4 to 0-6 advantage and throughout most of the second-half they managed to stay in front.

Maurice Kennedy topped a fine display with two well-taken points from play with Paul Rispin, Damien Byrne, Brian Ennis and Paul Larkin others to split the posts.

Michael Gorman was very effective in breaking forward from defence as was Willie Milner while Byrne put in a lot of good work around midfield.

While Summerhill were wasteful when it came to scoring opportunities their opponents from Stamullen were models of economic sense. No-one was better at taking their chances than Barry Campbell who scored four of his six points from play.

When an opening did come his way he invariably looked up, took aim and the umpire reached for the white flag. Niall Whearty also helped himself to two superb points, while Cormac Sullivan, who played a roving role, powered over a '45'.

St Pat's, as is their way, worked like tigers for anything they got and they were unlucky not to get at least one goal. They put together some fine moves and one of those late in the opening half involved Ronan Kearns, Finian Everard, Campbell and Daithi Whyte ended with Mooney one-on-one with Summerhill netminder Tony McDonnell who did well to get a touch with his legs and direct the ball wide of the posts.

Summerhill - T McDonnell; S Husband, A Kenny, R Hatton; P Rispin (0-1), W Milner, M Gorman; M Kennedy (0-2), D Byrne; P Larkin (0-1), B Ennis (0-1), R Donnelly (0-1); S Dalton, M O'Reilly, S Kennedy (1-5, four frees). Subs - D Dalton for O'Reilly half-time; C Gillespie for Byrne 48 mins; B Lyons for S Dalton 48m; M Byrne for Larkin 56m.

St Patrick's - S Byrne; N Russell, D Hagan, A Reilly; R Kearns, F Everard, A Mooney; C Calvey, N Mooney (0-1); R Russell, D Whyte, J P Ryan; B Campbell (0-6, two frees), C Sullivan (0-1, '45'), N Whearty (0-3, one free). Subs - D Landy for J P Ryan 44 mins; A Woods for Everard 50m.

Referee - David McColdrick

(Blackhall Gaels).