Unspectacular victory

Summerhill survived a major Trim test as the race for the SFC Keegan Cup resumed in earnest at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday evening. Trim started brightly and surged into the lead (1-1 to 0-1) when Ciaran Joyce finished to the net in the seventh minute after Maurice Kennedy and Ronan Fitzsimons traded early points, but this defeat sent them crashing out of the race for Keegan Cup honours. That positive start was Trim's best spell in the opening half and they managed only one more point, from a Paul Gilsenan free in the 20th minute, as they faced into a 1-2 to 1-4 interval deficit. Both goalkeepers made good saves in the opening half with Tony McDonnell going full length to get a hand to Neil Heffernan's shot and at the other end Brendan Murphy advanced smartly to block Rory Donnelly's effort as the momentum picked up. However, Summerhill found the net with an opportunist goal. Donnelly took a quick free which flatfooted the Trim rearguard and Sean Dalton finished to the net for the first of his two goals. The remaining Summerhill points flowed from Stephen Kennedy, Paul Rispin and Brian Ennis for that two-point interval advantage. Referee David Coldrick issued first-half yellow cards to Trim's Mark McCormack and Willie Milner of Summerhill in separate incidents. Trim also replaced Darren Fay during the interval with Maurice Power introduced along with Paul Flanagan for Colin Doyle in a re-shaped rearguard. Trim were a lot more positive after the resumption and had a goal chance from substitute Derek Donohoe which thundered off the woodwork after McCormack and Stephen Husband traded early points. When Dalton finished to the net for Summerhill's second goal in the 10th minute, after Husband flicked the ball across the square, it looked like a certain victory was on the cards. Summerhill capitalised on that superiority and surged into a 2-8 to 1-3 lead with Stephen Kennedy (two) and Maurice Kennedy adding the points. Donohoe was eventually rewarded with a goal for Trim in the 13th minute and they got right back into contention with a bizarre third goal with 10 minutes remaining. Frankie Murphy made the opening with a pass which released Eoin McGrath, but his effort was well parried by McDonnell. The ball rebounded off a Summerhill defender and into the net. Alan Douglas followed with a point from play and the deficit was down to two points (3-4 to 2-9), but Summerhill retained their composure and had enough in the tank for what might be reasonably described as an unspectacular victory. Referee David Coldrick received plenty of assistance from his official linesmen and umpires and issued five yellow cards as he kept a tight rein. Summerhill - T McDonnell; C Young, A Kenny, W Milner; P Rispin (0-1), R Hatton, C Malone; M Kennedy (0-2), D Byrne (0-1); D Dalton, S Husband, B Ennis (0-1);S Dalton (2-0), R Donnelly, S Kennedy (0-4, three frees). Subs - G Rispin for D Dalton 42 mins; C Gillespie for Husband 47m. Trim - B Murphy; C Doyle, D Hegarty, A Fay; Richie Fitzsimons, D Fay, Ronan Fitzsimons (0-1); M Lowther, F Murphy; P Gilsenan (0-2, frees), C Joyce (1-0), M McCormack (0-1); E McGrath (1-0), A Douglas (0-1), N Heffernan. Subs - D Donohoe (1-0) for A Fay 25 mins; P Flanagan for Doyle, M Power for Day, both half-time. Referee - David Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels)