Orange flag delight as Summerhill claim league crown in style

Six two-pointers decisive as Div 1 table toppers denied in pulsating finish

Summerhill ..........................0-6-6 (18)

Ratoath ..............................1-1-11 (16)

The heavyweights of Meath football produced a pulsating battle in Dunganny on Friday night with Summerhill's two-point kicking the key to securing a knockout out victory over Ratoath in the FL Div 1 final at Dunganny.

Having earned their place in the final with their respective semi-final wins over Gaeil Colmcille and Wolfe Tones just 72 hours earlier Summerhill and Ratoath locked horns in another major final and it didn't disappoint, especially in a dramatic final quarter that seemed destined to lead to extra-time.

Ultimately it was Summerhill's ability to convert two-point chances and Ratoath ill-discipline that gifted Sean Muddiman three free-kicks from outside the arc which he landed with aplomb.

Leading by four at the break Ratoath looked in a strong position as their pace on the counter-attack was causing Summerhill problems, but the Keegan Cup champions never panicked and despite falling five points behind two minutes after the restart they steadied their defensive ship and landed two-pointers from Eoghan Frayne and Muddiman (from 49 metres) to close the gap to the minimum.

A couple more two-pointers from former Meath hurler Jack Regan and the excellent David Larkin edged Summerhill two ahead, but Devon Burns, Ratoath's Kerry recruited goalkeeper, landed a two-point free of his own to restore parity in the 50th minute.

The remainder was tit-for-tat as the sides traded points and exchanged the lead before Summerhill finished with an injury-time two-point free from Muddiman and a fisted score from Barry Dardis to seal the win and spoil Ratoath's unbeaten record in the league. Their disappointing evening was completed by Liam Kelly's late dismissal after picking up two yellow cards.

While half of Summerhill's scores were two-pointers, and they needed everyone of them, they still managed to produced a composed, professional display.

There were times when the tide looked like turning against them, but every time they looked under pressure Muddiman made a crucial save, David Larkin made a brilliant block, Jamie O'Shea made an excellent interception, Jack Bannon and Ben Moran cleared danger, Eoghan Frayne won breaking ball, it was an excellent team display and sign of more to come from the senior champions who were missing a number of players including Conor Frayne, Ross Ryan and Adam Flanagan and also lost Ronan Ryan to injury at half-time.

The opening half was pedestrian. It was like a sparring match, a couple of months out from the big fight.

Adam Ducie opened the scoring for Ratoath, Muddiman replied with a two-point free before Larkin pointed from out on the left. Cian O'Brien countered with a decent score, but at the end of the tame opening quarter it was only 0-3 to o0-2 in Summerhill's favour.

The half limped along in that fashion. Jack Bannon got forward to restore a two-point lead for Summerhill before Ducie cut it to one again from a free.

Cian Rogers was denied a lucky goal as Muddiman scrambled to his back post to tip the dipping shot onto the woodwork and away to safety.

Kevin Lyons made it 0-5 to 0-3 in the 24th minute, but then the game sprung into life as Kelly's quick break from defence set up Rogers who applied a perfect finish to give Ratoath the lead with the only goal, 1-3 to 0-5.

Ducie stretched the lead to two before Jamie O'Shea was denied by Burns excellent smother at his near post. In the lead in to the break Rogers and Bobby O'Brien added points to ensure a 1-6 to 0-5 interval lead for Ratoath.

Ducie stretched that lead after a late hit on Rogers, but then Summerhill went on their blitz as their next four scores were two-pointers from Frayne, Muddiman (free), Regan and Larkin to open up a 0-13 to 1-8 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Burns' two-point free settled Ratoath and restored parity and even though Summerhill opened a lead to 0-15 to 1-11 with points from Jamie O'Shea and Dardis either side of a Rogers point, they couldn't put Ratoath away.

Kelly and Rogers looked to have won it for Ratoath as they led byn one in the 59th minute, but with four minutes of injury-time declared Summerhill remained patience.

That patience was rewarded with both Adam McDonnell and Dardis were fouled in the same move and Muddiman landed the free from 50 metres to edge Summerhill ahead in the 62nd minute.

Tempers frayed on both sides in the closing stages and several yellow cards were dished out with Kelly picking up his second before Dardis made sure the Mooney Cup returned to Summerhill with a 66th minute fisted point that drew a huge cheer from the big crowd.

Summerhill - Sean Muddiman (0-6 three two-point frees); Jack Bannon (0-1), Ben Moran, Iarla Hughes; Ronan Ryan, Kevin Lyons (0-1), Jamie O'Shea (0-1); Declan Byrne, Jack Regan (0-2 two-pointer); David Larkin (0-3 one two-pointer), Adam McDonnell, Bobby O'Shea; Liam Shaw, Eoghan Frayne (0-2 one two-pointer), Manny Mango. Subs - Kevin Ryan for B O'Shea, Barry Dardis (0-2) for R Ryan both half-time, Ben McQuaid for Mango 37m

Ratoath - Devon Burns (0-2 two-point free); Callum Brady, Conor McGill, Liam Kelly (0-1); Rob Hayes, Ben Wyer, Gavin McGowan; Oisin Kelly, Ben McGowan; Cian O'Brien (0-1), Daithi McGowan, Paddy White; Bobby O'Brien (0-1), Cian Rogers (1-3), Adam Ducie (0-4 two frees). Subs - Eamon Wallace (0-1) for G McGowan, Glen O'Reilly for C O'Brien both 37m, Joey Wallace for B O'Brien 40m, Brian Daly for Hayes 46m, Padraig Byrne for White 49m,

Referee - Robert Purfield (St Patrick's).