Summerhill hold on for narrow win

Defending champions Summerhill moved one soggy step closer to retaining the u-21 FC title when they held off Donaghmore / Ashbourne in an entertaining semi-final that was played in awful conditions at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday. However, Donaghmore / Ashbourne were up in arms over the amount of injury-time allowed by referee Pat Clarke. The Seneschalstown official played over two and half minutes of added time, but Donaghmore / Ashbourne coach Andy McEntee was adamant there should have been more. McEntee confronted the referee at the final whistle and also voiced his disapproval towards Co Committee chairman Barney Allen. The Donaghmore / Ashbourne manager might have had legitimate claims for at least another minute, but Summerhill were worthy winners. The winning of the game was in the opening five minutes of the second-half. Leading by 1-7 to 1-3 at the break Summerhill burst from the traps against the wind after the break and tagged on quick points from Ross Tallon, Paul Larkin and Bobby Lyons to move seven points clear and leave Donaghmore / Ashbourne with a mountain to climb. The downpour that dominated the remainder of the game ensured that Summerhill struggled to break from their own defence, but Donaghmore / Ashbourne failed to take full advantage of the driving wind as the rain ensured that even Thierry Henry would have had trouble handling the ball in such conditions. Donaghmore / Ashbourne whittled the deficit to two points with 58 minutes on the clock and a minute into injury-time John Broderick closed the gap to the minimum. However, time eventually ran out for the three-in-a-row minor champions. Summerhill were physically stronger. They played a higher tempo and harder hitting game that left Donaghmore / Ashbourne overwhelmed at times. On occasions it appeared as if Summerhill had an extra player as Alan Lyons, David Dalton, Bobby Lyons, Sean Dalton and David Larkin caused countless problems. However, when Donaghmore/Ashbourne looked like being over-run themselves they too could call on big performances from Cathal Field, Sean Curran, Andrew Tormay and Eoin Reilly. The midfield battle was a titanic affair. The giants Conor Gillespie and Bryan Menton squared-off in an intriguing battle, while the more subtle nuances of Micheal Byrne and Reilly ensured plenty of creative football from both sides on what was an awful day, weather-wise, for football. Huge credit to both sets of players for providing an entertaining contest. The quality of the football was hindered by the weather, but that shouldn't take away from the commitment, and Summerhill were marginally hungrier. The contest started as it finished, in a welter of excitement. With just 14 seconds on the clock Summerhill used the wind to their advantage as Paul Larkin rattled the town end crossbar with a stinging drive. Donaghmore/Ashbourne eventually cleared, but from the resultant '45' Bobby Lyons floated in a tempting ball which Sean Dalton managed to flick past Danny McShane and into the net. Faolan Smith responded with a converted free, but by the sixth minute a great point from Sean Dalton and a free from David Larkin had Summerhill ahead by 1-2 to 0-1. Donaghmore / Ashbourne were struggling to string any cohesive movements together against the wind, but they did find their range again when Reilly pointed a '45' after Gillespie had stepped out over the endline. Another Sean Dalton point restored Summerhill's four-point cushion, but again Donaghmore / Ashbourne stayed in touch from frees when Smith added his second pointed free. Bobby Lyons made it 1-4 to 0-3 before Donaghmore / Ashbourne were handed a lifeline when Stephen Kavanagh reacted quickest to Cathal Field's blocked effort and rode two tackles before unleashing a fine finish beyond Gary Gill. That goal dragged Donaghmore / Ashbourne back into contention, but Summerhill set about making their wind advantage count as they took a 1-7 to 1-3 interval lead with further points from David Larkin, Paul Larkin and Gillespie. However, they may have been concerned that four points might not be enough and that they would rue nine wides, but that five-minute purple patch left Summerhill with a 1-10 to 1-3 lead early in the second-half. Donaghmore / Ashbourne took over subsequently as Summerhill managed just one more point. Frees from Tormey and Paul Gilligan and a point from play by Field narrowed the gap to four once again. Sean Dalton closed Summerhill's account with eight minutes remaining, but the champions had to cling on for dear life. A superb score from Tormey kick-started Donaghmore / Ashbourne's recovery bid and Kavanagh almost narrowed the deficit to the minimum, but his flick on from Tormey's centre hit the post and was cleared. Points from Field and the impressive Ciaran Ellis closed the gap to two points before Bobby Lyons wasted a decent chance to put the game beyond doubt for Summerhill. When Broderick made it 1-10 to 1-11 Donaghmore / Ashbourne sensed a reprieve, but Clarke's final whistle ended those aspirations and ensured Summerhill's crown remains intact. Summerhill - G Gill; C Malone, C Young, D Larkin; B Hatton, A Lyons, W Ryan; C Gillespie (0-1), M Byrne; D Larkin (0-2, one free), D Dalton, D Bruton; B Lyons (0-2), P Larkin (0-2), S Dalton (1-3). Subs - R Tallon (0-1) for Bruton 24 mins, D Lyons for B Lyons 62m. Donaghmore/Ashbourne - D McShane; C Finn, S Curran, D Lawlor; C Ellis (0-1), I O'Donnell, P Gilligan (0-1 free); B Menton, E Reilly (0-1 '45'); C Field (0-2), J Broderick (0-1), E Callaghan; F Smith (0-2, frees), S Kavanagh (1-0), A Tormey (0-2, one free). Subs - R Hanway for Smith 29 mins, M Devine for Finn half-time. Referee - Pat Clarke (Seneschalstown).