Summerhill too strong for Dunderry in thriller

Summerhill's clinical efficiency proved to be the major difference as they edged out a plucky Dunderry side to secure a Feis Cup semi-final spot at Trim on Thursday evening. When presented with two decent goal chances the senior side took one - Adrian Kenny finished superbly and Dunderry goalkeeper David Jennings made an exceptional save from the other. Dunderry created plenty, but squandered great goal opportunities as Aaron Newman, TJ Garry, Andy Coogan, Martin Garry and Keith Callaghan all saw gilt-edged chances go astray. Had any of those goal chances found the back of the net, then Summerhill would have been asked serious questions. Instead Dunderry failed to convert and while they did play quite well, they were always second best. With Darren Fay, Peadar Callaghan and David Callaghan impressing around the middle, Dunderry lorded the second-half and created chances for the lively Aaron Newman, TJ Garry and Coogan. Defensively they were sound too with John Kelleher and Gary Newman doing well, but when Summerhill required another gear they were able to up the tempo significantly and pull clear of their intermediate opponents. Missing several of their first choice championship 15, Summerhill offered opportunities to others and some impressed. Declan Lyons had a lively game at wing-back while Richie Hatton, Davy Dalton and David Larkin also did well, but when it came to being an attacking threat most of the penetration came from the pace of Adrian Kenny and the persistence of Paul Rispin. Both Kenny and Rispin were essentially the difference. They took their chances and were huge creative influences in an entertaining contest that ebbed and flowed from one end to the other. The free-flowing nature of the contest was epitomised in the opening minute when corner-back Willie Ryan galloped forward to open the scoring. Micheal Byrne (pictured) added a free five minutes later, but by the 12th minute Dunderry were on level through Aaron Newman and Keith Callaghan. Larkin settled Summerhill again before the decisive goal from Kenny gave Declan McCabe's side a 1-3 to 0-2 first-quarter lead. Ross Tallon and Brian Ennis (free) stretched that advantage before Jennings reacted well to keep out a Brian Ennis drive. Within seconds Dunderry wasted a decent goal chance when Martin Garry's effort was blocked by Eamonn O'Shea, but within three minutes the gap was down to 0-4 to 1-5 from David McCormack and Keith Callaghan (free) points. Dunderry were pleased to be still in touch, but in the closing minutes of the half they conceded sloppy frees and Byrne punished them to secure a 1-7 to 0-4 interval lead for Summerhill. Keith Callaghan rattled the post from a fiercely struck 13-metre free a minute after the break, but Aaron Newman gathered the rebound and closed the gap with a point. Again Summerhill upped the tempo with a brace of points from Kenny and Rispin pushing them seven points clear. The entertaining start to the second-half continued with Coogan and Aaron Newman responding for Dunderry, but points from Stephen Husband and Kenny either side of a TJ Garry '45' gave Summerhill a 1-11 to 0-8 cushion with 16 minutes remaining. Alan Garry blazed a great goal chance wide and soon after Coogan had a goalbound effort cleared off the line by Hatton. Those misses summed up Dunderry's evening as Summerhill hit back to put the issue beyond doubt with scores from Rispin, Byrne and Tallon to make it 1-14 to 0-8. Newman forced Tony McDonnell into a fine save, but tapped over the rebound and Coogan closed the gap to seven points before Brian Rispin closed Summerhill's account. Dunderry eventually found the net in injury-time when TJ Garry converted a penalty, but it was too little too late as Summerhill cruised through to meet Dunshaughlin in the last four. Summerhill - T McDonnell; E O'Shea, D Dalton, W Ryan (0-1); C Malone, R Hatton, D Lyons; A Lyons, M Byrne (0-4, three frees); P Rispin (0-2), A Kenny (1-2), P Geraghty; R Tallon (0-2), B Ennis (0-1, free), D Larkin (0-1). Subs - S Husband (0-1) for O'Shea half-time, J Ennis for Husband 50 mins, B Ennis (0-1) for Tallon 52m. Dunderry - D Jennings; D McCormack (0-1), Darren Callaghan, G Newman; J Kelleher, E Stephens, A Garry; David Callaghan, D Fay; M Garry, T J Garry (1-1, 1-0 penalty one '45'), A Coogan (0-2); D Clarke, A Newman (0-4), K Callaghan (0-2, frees). Subs - K Dowd for Clarke 18 mins, P Callaghan for M Garry half-time, S Carty for Stephens 48m, K Slattery for A Garry 55m, T Conaty for Coogan 55m. Referee - Seamus O'Connor (Carnaross).