Summerhill 2-8
St Colmcilles 2-8

Half-time score: Summerhill 2-5 St Colmcilles 1-6

St Colmcilles full forward hooked his close range injury time effort wide of the left post to give Summerhill a second day out in the U16 Division 1 Championship Final. With a lack of daylight at full-time, it was decided that there would be a replay after this exciting tussle played in Bective on Wednesday evening.

Summerhill midfielder Iarla Hughes put his team a point ahead, 2-8 to 2-7 with eight minutes remaining but they were unable to add to their lead in the closing minutes. Hughes' long range effort off the ground in the 60th minute fell into the Colmcilles goalkeeper's hands, This was one of five Summerhill efforts that fell short with Cathal Brien and Kyle Benson both dropping two balls each short.

In a low scoring second half, Summerhill hit three wides in the in addition to the five chances which dropped short. St Colmcilles had three wides also in the second period and dropped one effort short. This was the second time the two teams could not be separated this year after a group stage draw in Summerhill three weeks ago.

An early goal in the first half from Ross Ryan gave Summerhill a 1-2 to 0-2 lead after Cathal Ryan notched two points from corner forward. The east Meath outfit responded with points from their centre forward and number 10, whose shot hit the crossbar before the white flag was raised. Cathal Ryan added his third point from a free off the ground which was followed by a point from full forward Brien from a long range Hughes delivery.

Summerhill went four ahead, 1-6 to 0-5 with a point from Conor Frayne after a solo run. St Colmcilles got the next three scores of the game, number 11 sent over a free, number 15 went around Sean Larkin before firing over and their full forward put his team ahead with a well-taken goal, 1-5 to 1-6.

Summerhill were one point to the good at half time after a goal from Brien. A 45 metre free from Hughes was dropped by the Colmcilles keeper and Brien was in the right place to give his team the lead.

Cathal Ryan got his fourth point of the day with a free in the 34th minute. Four minutes later, the game was all square. St Colmcilles number 10 found the net after his attempted point fell short which Dean Morris was unable to parry away. For the next twelve minutes, neither of the two teams were able to add a score. The best chance in this scoreless period fell to St Colmcilles number 15 whose shot hit the post after a free fell short.

Substitute Jack Farrell put his team one ahead with ten minutes remaining, 2-7 to 2-6. Hughes pointed two minutes later after the Colmciles defence pushed the Summerhill attackers away from goal with good defending. The next two minutes saw Colmcilles draw level again. Their two danger men, number 11 and 14 pointed, the effort from 14 especially impressive on his left foot.

The remaining minutes saw no more scores. St Colmcilles were guilty of over carrying while Summerhill were penalised when Ethan Balfe handled the ball on the ground. In the second minute of injury-time, Colmcilles number 14 missed a glorious chance which leaves Summerhill with a second chance of winning the Benny Caffrey Cup.

Summerhill: Dean Morris; Sean Larkin, Jack Quinn, Ethan Balfe; Cian Devlin, Ronan Ryan, Jack Cummins; Ross Ryan 1-0, Iarla Hughes 0-1; Kyle Benson, Conor Frayne 0-1, Jack Bruton; Mark Donoghue, Cathal Brien 1-1, Cathal Ryan 0-4(2f). Subs: Jack Farrell 0-1 for Conor Frayne, Liam Shaw for Kyle Benson. Tweet

Most Read Stories