St Colmcille's conjured up a strong third quarter to overcome Summerhill and clinch the MFC title and the Delany Cup at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday. 

St Colmcille's .....2-10
Summerhill ...... 1-11

David Bell had a big impact on the outcome, finishing with 1-8 to his name.

Six points in arrears with 25 minutes gone, St Colmcille's rallied to hit the front by the 42nd minute, where they remained to the go one step further than last year.

Two incidents around this time had a big bearing on the outcome. Summerhill captain Jamie O'Shea had his underhit penalty saved by Cilles 'keeper Jakub Kula. 

Then in the 46th minute Endy Ehichoya nettted at the town end with help from Adam Daly and Sean O'Donoghue. 

That left it 2-9 to 1-8. With the blustery wind behind them, it was reasonable to believe that the east county side might kick-on.

However, spirited Summerhill played their way back into contention and but for some poor shooting might leveled matters. 

Full-back Liam Stafford showed up very well in a vigilant St Colmcille's rearguard. 

David Bell completed his tally of 1-8 with a 49th minute free. Summerhill posted three points in the time remaining that included over six minutes of stoppage time. 

The most important intervention in that period was when Kula parried O'Shea's drive at the expense of a 56th minute point. 

Summerhill saw out the game with composure but St Colmcille's can feel a bit aggrieved at some of the decisions that went against them, but not the awarding of that penalty. 

The only gripe with Summerhill was the difficulty in identifying some of the players in the sunlight. On the plus side were the efforts of Eoghan Frayne and Adam McDonnell. 

His scoring exploits apart, Frayne was central to the late Summehill rally while McDonnell's three points from play were complimented by a number of fine fetches. 

St Colmcille's outscored Summerhill by 1-5 to 0-3 after the break to claim the honours for the first time since 2016.

Two Bell points (one free) saw St Colmcille's - playing into the wind - hit the front twice in the opening six minutes. Eoghan Frayne second point tied matters for the second time. 

Summerhill moved four clear courtesy Frayne who pointed before netting at the end of a move started with an Adam Byrne block in midfield.

The 'Hill kicked-on and were six clear  by the 25th minute when Frayne set up Jamie O'Shea to leave it 1-7 to 0-4.

Bell's 28th goal - a well-taken low shot - was the highlight of the half for last year's runners-up. Summerhill led by 1-8 to 1-5 at the interval. 

St Colmcille's upped their game from the restart and might have goaled within a minute of resumption

St Colmcille's - Jakub Kula; Matthew Weir, Liam Stafford, Caolan Nulty; Sean Collier, Conor Power, Mark Harris; Endy Ehichoya (1-0), Sean O'Donoghue; Ciaran White, Cian Flynn, Ben Wilde; Adam Daly (0-1), David Bell (1-8, 0-5 fs)s, Godfrey Ehichoya (0-1). Subs - Sean Horan for Collier (48)

Summerhill - Luke Byrne; Ben Moran, Eoin Grehan, Oisin Hussey; Kevin Mulligan, Adam Byrne, Darren Chapman; Gavin McVann, Donal Matthews; Adam McDonnell (0-3), Jamie O'Shea (0-2) (C), Luke Moran; Sean Mulligan, Sean Mulligan, Sean Hughes, Eoghan Frayne (1-6, 4fs, 1 45). Subs - Darragh McVann for Mulligan (40).

Referee - Joseph Curran (St Michael's)

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