Determination saves the day for Summerhill

Summerhill had to work hard for a 2-6 to 0-10 victory in the SFC Group A second round against Wolfe Tones at Pairc Tailteann this afternoon.

This was a gritty display by a somewhat tetchy Summerhill side that collected three black cards and a red over the hour.

There was even an overlapping period early in the second-half when Summerhill were fighting the cause with only 13 men on the pitch.

And it was during that period of about seven minutes that Wolfe Tones needed to get a few points on the scoreboard.

However, they didn't hit the target at all and only managed two second-half points as they flattered briefly before the second water break.

And it gradually got worse for the Tones with the low point arriving when Shane Glynn picked up a second yellow card with about three minutes remaining and Summerhill grabbed a match-winning second goal.

Fired up would be a good way to describe Summerhill's approach to this game, they were so fired up that it actually proved costly as referee Andrew Smith dispensed those black cards, but fired up also got Summerhill out of trouble and into the winner's enclosure on this occasion.

Paul Larkin was black-carded in the 12th minute with Eamonn McDonnell next to go in the 29th minute.

Three minutes into the second-half Summerhill were down those 13 men when Michael Byrne departed on a temporary basis.

Summerhill made the best possible start with a first minute penalty goal from Barry Dardis who added a brace of brilliant points, one from each wing, while David Larkin was also on target.

That tally left Summerhill trailing at the interval by two points (1-3 to 0-8) as Wolfe Tones gradually gained the initiative despite some poor finishing.

Five pointed Tomas O'Reilly frees, two from Saran O Fionnagain and one superb effort from Niall O'Reilly had the Tones in the ascendancy at the interval.

Dardis pointed a free for Summerhill after the resumption to make it a one-point game, but the the 'Hill had to adapt to 13 men.

Tones failed to capitalise and had to wait until approaching the water break when Oisin Martin and Tomas O'Reilly split the posts - it was a dismal return as a pointed Dardis free sustained Summerhill.

After the water break Summerhill were depleted again, this time when Byrne departed on a yellow card after he collected the black card in the 33rd minute.

Again Dardis pointed a free and at the other end Tones squandered a goal chance and missed a free.

All that set up the frantic closing minutes with parity of numbers restored when Glynn's departed and then Lavelle rifled to the net for Summerhill.

SCORERS

Summerhill - Barry Dardis 1-5, penalty goal, three frees; John Lavelle 1-0; David Larkin 0-1.

Wolfe Tones - Tomas O'Reilly 0-6 five frees; Saran O Fionnagain 0-2; Oisin Martin 0-1; Niall O'Reilly 0-1.

TEAMS

Summerhill - Tony McDonnell; Ross Ryan, Ronan Ryan, Iarla Hughes; Jack Bannon, John Keane, John Lavelle; Diarmuid McCabe, Michael Byrne; David Larkin, Liam Shaw, Eamonn McDonnell; Paul Larkin, Conor Frayne, Barry Dardis. Subs - Kevin Ryan for E McDonnell 40 mins; David Dalton for Larkin 52m, Jamie O'Shea for Shaw 59m.

Wolfe Tones -Oisin Corrigan; Brughach O Fionnagain, Robbie White, Conor Sheppard; Dan O'Neill, Shane Glynn, Eanna O'Kelly-Lynch; Alan Callaghan, Niall O'Reilly; Stephen Sheppard, Cian Ward, Oisin Martin; Saran O Fionnagan, Tomas O'Reilly, Fiachra Ward. Subs - Cian O'Neill for C Ward 57m, Padraiag Diamond for O'Reilly 59m.

Referee - Andrew Smith (Dunshaughlin).

NEXT UP

Third round - Summerhill v Curraha; Wolfe Tones v Moynalvey.