Summerhill make a point in title defence

Summerhill 0-6-18 (30)

St Colmcille's1-3-10 (19)

When Summerhill were asked questions they found emphatic answers as they brushed aside St Colmcille's in the second-half to maintain the defence of their Keegan Cup with an impressive statement quarter-final victory at Trim on Sunday.

There were four nervous minutes for Summerhill supporters early in the second-half when a determined St Colmcille's edged into a 1-13 to 0-14 lead, but the soldiers on the field never panicked.

They picked off score after score, including five two-pointers, as they outscored St Colmcille's 0-16 to 0-3 in the final 23 minutes.

While emphatic, there will still be plenty for manager Dave Clare to dissect as the champions allowed St Colmcille's stay in touch for three quarters of the contest and the Seasiders almost finished with a second goal when Adam Lynch rattled the crossbar.

At the three-quarter mark Summerhill's lead was just two points, 0-19 to 1-14, but there was always a sense that they had another gear, the wherewithal, the graft and guile to pull clear.

Their cool, calm approach ensured chances were plentiful and they were efficient too with their six two-pointers evidence that St Colmcille's had to be disciplined even when defending well outside their arc.

Playing into the stiff breeze in the opening half Summerhill worked their early scores well with Ben Moran, Padhraig Geraghty and Jamie O'Shea all galloping forward from defence to finish off good moves.

After sitting off and admiring Summerhill for the opening seven minutes St Colmcille's got going with Shaun Leonard picking out David Bell with a brilliant pass and Bell applied the finish to the net.

Less than two minutes later Bell fired the Cille's in front and when Eoghan McCloghan won a kickout to set up Ben Brennan the underdogs were suddenly 1-2 to 0-3 to the good.

However, Summerhill showed the nerve of champions. Barry Dardis saw his half goal chance evaporate so he laid off to Kevin Ryan for a simple point and that kick-started a run that yielded seven points in succession with a Sean Muddiman two-point free in amongst two points from Liam Shaw and scores for Ryan, Eoghan Frayne and Conor Frayne to make it 0-11 to 1-2.

Kyle O'Brien stopped the rot with a brilliant two-pointer for the Cille's and after David Larkin and Muddiman ('45') responded with scores, Eoghan McCloghan kicked another two-pointer to close the deficit to 1-6 to 0-13.

O'Shea and Ben Brennan (free) traded points, but in first-half injury-time St Colmcille's took advantage of Summerhill ill-discipline as Brennan converted a pair of two-point frees to ensure parity at the break, 1-11 to 0-14.

Oisin Brennan almost gave St Colmcille's a dream start to the second period, but Moran produced a miraculous block to deny them a goal. Andrew Beakey converted the '45' and when Liam Stafford stretched the Seasiders lead to 1-13 to 0-14 there was a sense of a shock in the air.

However, Summerhill were having none of it. Eoghan Frayne (free) and Muddiman ('45') restored parity and then after a patient attack Eoghan Frayne kicked a superb two-pointer to push Summerhill into a lead they never relinquished.

After Moran had a goal chance cleared Eoghan Frayne tapped over a consolation point and while Cormac O'Donoghue did close the gap to two points at the three-quarters stage it felt like the contenders had ran their race.

Another two-point free from Muddiman and a two-pointer from Eoghan Frayne made it 0-23 to 1-14 after 49 minutes. O'Shea clipped over his third before two more two-point frees from Eoghan Frayne continued the onslaught.

Ben Brennan and Danny Ehichoya hit consolation scores for St Colmcille's before Lynch rattled the woodwork, but it was Shaw who had the last word as he landed the 29th and 30th points to put an aesthetically pleasing look on the scoreboard for the champions who march on impressively.

Summerhill: Sean Muddiman (0-6 two two-point frees, two '45s'); Ben Moran (0-1), Iarla Hughes, Ross Ryan; Adam McDonnell (0-2 two-pointer), Padhraig Geraghty (0-1), Jamie O'Shea (0-3); Adam Flanagan, Diarmuid McCabe; David Larkin (0-1), Eoghan Frayne (0-10 one two-pointer, two two-point frees, two frees), Kevin Ryan (0-2); Liam Shaw (0-4), Barry Dardis, Conor Frayne (0-1). Subs - Jack Regan for Dardis 37m, John Lavelle for O'Shea 49m, Declan Byrne for K Ryan, Jack Bannon for Moran, Conor Lyons for McCabe all 54m.

St Colmcille's: Andrew Beakey (0-1 '45'); Adam Lynch, Eoghan McCloghan (0-2 two-pointer), Cathal Monaghan; Liam Stafford (0-1), Carl Mullen, Stephen Breen; Kyle O'Brien (0-2 two-pointer), Ruairi O'Grady; David Bell (1-1), Ben Brennan (0-7 two two-point frees, one free), Oisin Brennan; Cormac O'Donoghue (0-1), Shaun Leonard, Luke Conlon. Subs - Eoghan McBrearty for Bell 43m, Godfrey Ehichoya for L Conlon 45m, Danny Ehichoya (0-1) for O Brennan 49m, Liam Leahy for Mullan 52m, Evan Breen for McCloghan 54m.

Referee: Patrick Coyle (Curraha).