SFC: Nine-point win for Summerhill
May 26, 2014
Summerhill's Willie Ryan and Caolan Young with Rathkenny's Jack Gore during the hoganstand.com Meath SFC game at Walterstown.
Rathkenny 0-9
Summerhill kept their quarter-final hopes alive after a nine point win over Rathkenny in wet conditions in Walterstown on Sunday.
Corner-forward Barry Dardis scored two goals in the second half with Brian Ennis the provider on both occasions.
Rathkenny had county player Brian Meade starting at half-forward and he hit two long range points, one in either half.
Summerhill's county midfielder Conor Gillespie also returned to action after missing the first two games of the group. He was replaced late on with the game already decided.
Gillespie's midfield partner Micheál Byrne received a black card for a late challenge in the opening quarter. He was replaced by his brother Damien who would go on to dominate the middle third along with Gillespie.
Summerhill had the majority of possession in the opening half hour but took a while to translate it on to the scoreboard. David Larkin dispossessed a Rathkenny defender before feeding Kevin Ryan who hit his effort straight at the Rathkenny goalkeeper.
Padhraig Geraghty got the game's opening score. Ennis contributed three points (one free) in the first half while David Larkin, Paul Rispin and Dardis all opened their scoring accounts.
Meade's point and a free from Donal Curtis meant Summerhill were five up at the interval, 0-7 to 0-2.
Dardis' first goal came from an Ennis free. The free hit off the post and Dardis was in the right place to smash the ball into the net.
Then, Ennis' attempted point effort dropped short but Dardis was on the edge of the square to get a vital hand for his second goal.
Jack Fagan was making his championship debut for the Keegan Cup holders and despite a shaky start, he landed a superb point in the second half. Stephen Husband also scored in the second half, meaning both Summerhill half-backs were on the score sheet.
Summerhill's final two games of the group sees them up against St Patrick's and neighbours Moynalvey.
Summerhill: Tony McDonnell; Padraigh Jennings, Caolan Young, Willie Ryan; Padhraig Geraghty (0-1), Richie Hatton, Stephen Husband (0-1); Conor Gillespie, Micheál Byrne; David Larkin (0-1), Brian Ennis (0-4, one free), Jack Fagan (0-1); Kevin Ryan, Paul Rispin (0-2), Barry Dardis (2-2). Subs: Damien Byrne for M Byrne (black card), Ross Tallon for C Gillespie. Tweet
