SFC Group D: Sub Dardis cameo sees 'Hill finish on a high
September 04, 2022
Summerhill's David Larkin, Conor Frayne and Liam Shaw close in on Conor Downey Na Fianna during the Meath SFC clash at Pairc Tailteann
Two pointed Barry Dardis frees in the later stages enured Summerhill saw off a dogged Na Fianna challenge in this round three clash at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon
Summerhill ................ 2-9
Na Fianna ................. 0-12
Both are through to quarter-finals but winning is a momentum worth maintaining. Summerhill prevailed having overcome a slow start to bag their third win of the campaign with a goal in each half.
A stronger bench meant that Conor Gillespie's men secured the spoils here with sub Dardis making the most significant contribution.
The game was marred by the sun combined with blustery conditions that affected both sides.
Na Fianna faced into the second-half a point in arrears, 1-4 to 0-8, but their hopes of a third win of the campaign were lifted by Shane Walsh's accuracy from placed balls.
However, a couple of misplaced passes saw at least two goal chances go astray. Summerhill took two of theirs with Conor Frayne netting his side's second goal within a minute of the resumption.
That left it 2-4 to 0-8 and Summerhill held the whip hand from there to the finish. Walsh was unfortunate to see a his 25-metre free, from a central position, go wide in the 37th minute. Had he landed it, just two points would have separated the sides.
A trio of Walsh frees saw Na Fianna regain parity by the 52nd minute, 0-12 to 2-6. Conor Gillespie's side closed out the hour with a trio of points to settle matters.
Na Fianna sprung from the traps with four points in five minutes with Shane Walsh posting three of them. Ethan Devine got the fifth.
The pendulum swung Summerhill's way. Having pulled two points back through Conor Frayne (two frees), another free from the number 22 was directed to the net by Davy Dalton in the 19th to put the 'Hill in front for the first time, 1-2 to 0-4.
Frayne then placed Kevin Ryan for another Summerhill point, 1-3 to 0-4 with 21 minutes gone. Na Fianna finished the half with a flourish. Sean Rafferty's solo score being the highlight.
Two Oisin McCloskey points closed the first-half scoring with Na Fianna 0-8 to 1-4 ahead at the break after Luke Kelly was wide with a late goal attempt.
With the rain of the previous day passed, the breeze blew from different directions, making scoring difficult.
Scorers: Summerhill - Conor Frayne 1-4 (fs); Davy Dalton 1-0; Barry Dardis 0-2 fs; Kevin Ryan 0-1; David Larkin 0-1; Padraig Geraghty 0-1.
Na Fianna - Shane Walsh 0-7 (6fs); Oisin McCloskey 0-2; Sean Rafferty 0-1; Dan Queeney 0-1; Ethan Devine 0-1;
Summerhill - Tony McDonnell; Iarla Hughes, Ronan Ryan, Padraig Jennings; Padraig Geraghty, Ross Ryan, Adam McDonnell; Jamie O'Shea, Adam Flanagan; David Larkin; Diarmaid McCabe, Kevin Ryan; Davy Dalton, Conor Frayne, Liam Shaw. Subs - John Lavelle for Jennings (ht); Michael Byrne for O'Shea (46), Barry Dardis for Dalton (46), Caolan Young for K Ryan (60).
Na Fianna - Shane Geraghty; Sean Rafferty, Michael Farley, Michael Baldwin; Oran Smullen, Sean Martin, James Geagan; Owen McDonnell, Jamie Queeney; Oisin McCloskey, Conor Downey, Ethan Devine; Dan Queeney, Luke Kelly, Shane Walsh. Subs - Ronan Byrne for Geagan (14), Sean McDonnell for L Kelly (45), Mark Slevin for D Queeney (47), Dean Hosey for Downey (61).
Referee - Bernard Heaney (Clann na nGael)
