Cian Rogers' goal was key as holders Ratoath proved to good for Summerhill in this SFC semi-tinal at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday evening. 

Ratoath ............... 1-14
Summerhill ........... 1-9

Rogers sent Summerhill 'keeper Tony McDonnell the wrong way with his kick into the town goal to leave the board reading 1-11 to 1-6 midday through the second-half. 

For the concession Summerhill had John Lavelle sinbinned at a crucial time in the game. Even though they matched the champions on the scoreboard thereafter, Ratoath's physical and numerical superiority told. 

Playing against the diminishing breeze, Ratoath got men behind the ball from the resumption and had outscored last year's runners-up by 0-4 to 0-1 to that point in the second-half. 

Ratoath's strength-in-depth was another feature of this fixture. This was a much tighter affair than last year's SFC final between the sides, a game that yielded 5-28 overall. 

Brian Farrell's men had a greater spread of scorers with Summerhill hugely reliant on Barry Dardis for scores. 

The outcome might have been different had Summerhill captalised on the number of times Ratoath coughed up possession. 

Points from Bryan McMahon and sub Connell Ahearne moved Ratoath 1-13 to 1-7 clear by the 54th minute. 

Dardis (free) and Diarmuid McCabe cancelled them leaving four points the 'Hill four points off the pace heading towards stoppage time. 

In between those scores, David Dalton's close range goal attempt was blocked by Ben Wyer and with it Summerhill hopes were gone. 

It took the holders just 14 seconds to get off the mark when Jack Flynn pointed. By the fourth minute Ratoath were 0-3 to 0-1 ahead with Andy Gerard and Conor Rooney pointing. 

That sequence was interupted briefly when David Larkin leveled matters for Summerhill. 

Ratoath remained in front until stoppage time but struggled to convert possession into scores. A well structured Summerhill defence kept the holders at bay.

Cian O'Brien's well struck point was the highlight of the second quarter for Ratoath. Jack Flynn's 30th minute effort was also noteworthy, will Bryan McMahon assisting.

After Dardis was badly wide with a scoreable free, Summerhill got a considerable boost when a foul on John Lavelle led to a penalty brilliantly netted by Barry Dardis in added time to leave Declan McCabe's charges ahead by the minimum at the break, 1-5 to 0-7.

Either side of the interval, Dardis was wide with a couple of seemingly scoreable frees, further diminishing Summerhill hopes of a surprise win. Ratoath may not have been overly impressive but responded well when their title was on the line.

Scorers: Ratoath - Cian Rogers 1-0 (pen); Jack Flynn, Bryan McMahon (3fs), Conor Rooney (1f)  0-3 each; Daithi McGowan 0-2; Cian O'Brien, Andy Gerard, Connell Ahearne 0-1 each..

Summerhill - Barry Dardis 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-3 fs); John Keane, Diarmuid McCabe, David Larkin, Kevin Ryan, Conor Frayne 0-1.

Ratoath - Shane Duffy; Ciaran O Fearraigh, Conor McGill, Ben Wyer; Jack Gillespie, Gavin McGowan, Andy Gerard; Ben McGowan, Darragh Kelly; Daithi McGowan, Cian Rogers, Conor Rooney; Cian O'Brien, Bryan McMahon, Jack Flynn. Subs - Keith McCabe for Kelly (ht), Connell Ahearne for O'Brien (49), Emmet Boyle for Gillespie (52), Brian O'Connor for Gerard (57), Jack McGowan for Rooney (60).

Summerhill - Tony McDonnell; Iarla Hughes, Ronan Ryan, John Lavelle; Jack Bannon, John Keane, Ross Ryan : Diarmuid McCabe, Micheal Byrne; David Larkin (0-1), Liam Shaw, Kevin Ryan'; David Dalton, Barry Dardis, Conor Frayne. Subs - Paul Larkin for Shaw (54). Black card - John Lavelle (44-54). 

Referee - Cormac Reilly (St Mary's)

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