Simonstown retain Keegan Cup
Shane O'Rourke made a big contribution as Simonstown retained the Keegan Cup today in Navan with a 2-9 to 0-7 victory against Summerhill.
Simonstown exploded out of the traps with Padraig McKeever denied a goal after only 30 seconds by a superb Caolan Young clearance off the line after Tony McDonnell was beaten.
Sean Tobin was off target from the resultant '45' and he added two more wides as Summerhill made a positive start with quick points from Sean Dalton and Young before Conor Sheridan got the defending champions off the mark with a sixth minute point from play.
The 'Hill remained in the ascendancy and Brian Ennis converted a free, but they were badly exposed in the 13th minute when a surging Conor Nash run made an opening and McKeever capitalised by finishing to the net for a 1-1 to 0-3 first-quarter lead.
The Gaels managed six wides during that period and they also benefited from some poor Summerhill passing and finishing as the tempo dropped.
However, Tobin and Sheridan added points for Simonstown to a lone David Dalton point for Summerhill and a 1-3 to 0-4 interval advantage.
Simonstown got an early second-half boost after McKeever increased the lead from a pointed free.
The resultant short kick-out by Summerhill 'keeper McDonnell was fumbled and Sean Tonbin reacted quickly to gain possession and pass to Sheridan who finished to the net.
Only five minutes into the second-half and Summerhill were struggling as they added wides and missed chances during a totally blank third-quarter on the scoreboard.
Summerhill eventually managed points from Ennis (free) and Barry Dardis but they were rendered ineffective by similar scores at the other end from McKeever and substitute Seamus Kenny.
Summerhill kept going, but only added a point from Ennis while Shane O'Rourke sent over at the other end to keep the two-goal lead intact and then McKeever split the posts twice before the end to complete a good day for the Gaels and keep the Keegan Cup in Navan
Simonstown Gaels - Robbie Burlingham; Shane Gallagher, Stephen Moran, Niall Mahon; Brian McGrath, Brían Conlon, Níall Kane; Shane O'Rourke (0-1), Conor Nash; Sean Tobin (0-1), Nicky O'Brien, Mark McCabe; Nathan O'Brien, Conor Sheridan (1-2), Padraig McKeever (1-4 two frees).
Subs - James Kilcullen for Conlon 20 mins, Seamus Kenny (0-1) for Nicky O'Brien 37m, Joe Lyons for Tobin 51m, Michael Brennan for Nathan O'Brien 56m.
Summerhill - Tony McDonnell; Iarla Hughes, Willie Ryan, Ronan Ryan; Padraig Geraghty, Richie Hatton, Ross Ryan; Micheal Byrne, Brian Ennis (0-3 two frees); David Larkin, Barry Dardis (0-1 '45'), Kevin Lyons; Sean Dalton (0-1), Caolan Young (0-1), David Dalton (0-1).
Subs - Ciaran Gillespie for Hughes, Kevin Ryan for K Lyons both 36 mins, Liam Shaw for Geraghty 55m, Conor Frane for S Dalton 58m.
Referee - Liam O'Brien (Duleek/Bellewstown).
NEXT UP
Sunday 12th November - Starlights (Wexford) v Simonstown Gaels, Leinster Club SFC.
Starlights bridged a 13-year gap with a 0-17 to 1-8 victory over St Martin’s in the Wexford SFC final and will now host Simonstown Gaels in the Leinster SFC.