(c) Meath Chronicle (www.meathchronicle.ie/2024/09/07/summerhill-survive-stern-test-to-maintain-defence-of-keegan-cup)

With their grasp of the Keegan Cup slipping Summerhill reached up from the depths to maintain their hold on the Meath SFC as they saw off Donaghmore/Ashbourne by 1-13 to 1-11 in a thriller in Pairc Tailteann this evening.

Leading by three points at half-time, the outstanding Eoghan Frayne extended Summerhill’s lead to five within 90 seconds of the restart and the champions looked in the box seat.

However, there has been something different about Donaghmore/Ashbourne this year and when their character was questioned they responded superbly with the introduction of Andy Tormey key to a recovery that saw them get back within a point.

Within a minute of his arrival Tormey reacted quickest to Darragh McGovern’s effort that came off the upright and as he shot for goal Iarla Hughes stuck out a boot. Donaghmore/Ashbourne claimed a foot block and Clubber TV video evidence suggests they had a decent claim.

Moments later Eoghan Frayne kicked another brilliant point, his fourth of the half, to make it 1-11 to 0-8, but Donaghmore/Ashbourne refused to buckle. Conor Carton’s centre/point attempt from the right hand side dropped over Tormey’s head and his perfectly timed right hook make connection with the leather and sent it to the top corner – game on.

Fifty-five seconds later Tormey added a point and the deficit was down to two.

The final quarter was pulsating.

After Eoghan Frayne converted a free, Darragh McGovern also landed a placd ball as Hughes fouled Jack Doran in the corner of the referee’s eye and before the 50th minute there was only the minimum between the sides as Jamie Browne kicked his third score.

However, that proved to be Donaghmore/Ashbourne’s final score as Summerhill defended superbly in the closing stages and the Moores panicked a little, hitting wides from efforts they had stroked over earlier in the game.

A draw would have done Donaghmore/Ashbourne in their pursuit of a place in the last eight, but when Eoghan Frayne converted a mark which was claimed by Barry Dardis (who was injured in the process) it put two between the sides and left Donaghmore/Ashbourne chasing the goal that never came.

Such a tight finish also looked on the cards in a strategic, tactical opening half during which Summerhill adopted a more direct, counter-attack style, while Donaghmore/Ashbourne were patient in their build up.

It took until the sixth minute for Conor Frayne to open the scoring for Summerhill and less than a minute later Diarmuid McCabe tapped over.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne sat deep and when they did turnover possession they were methodical in their build up. Michael O’Sullivan benefitted from decent movement to claim and convert a mark in the eighth minute. Darragh McGovern added a free and in the 12th minute Jamie Browne edged them in front.

John Lavelle was denied a goal by a smart svae from Andy Colgan and David Larkin hit the upright as Summerhill laboured. James Redmond extended Summerhill’s lead to 0-4 to 0-2, but that advantage lasted 90 seconds and they never got their noses in front again.

A sublime shimmy from Conor Frayne left Donaghmore/Ashbourne for dead and he fired to the top corner for a brilliant goal to restore Summerhill’s lead and a minute later Barry Dardis added a pointy to make it 1-3 to 0-4.

The closing nine minutes of the half was tit-fot-tat. Browne and Lavelle traded scores before Conor Frayne and McCabe made it 1-6 to 0-5. Two long range frees from Colgan closed the deficit to two, but the last word of the half went to Adam McDonnell who scored a brilliant point to ensure a 1-7 to 0-7 interval lead.

After a relatively quiet opening half Eoghan Frayne turned on the style as his six magnificent points proved to be decisive and nullified the impact of Tormey and it’s Summerhill who go marching on.

Summerhill – Sean Muddiman; Iarla Hughes, Ronan Ryan, John Lavelle (0-1); Adam McDonnell (0-1), Ross Ryan, Jack Bannon; Adam Flanagan, Micheal Byrne; David Larkin, Diarmuid McCabe (0-2), Kevin Ryan; Conor Frayne (1-2), Eoghan Frayne (0-6 one free, one mark), Barry Dardis (0-1). 

Subs – Podge Geraghty for Ronan Ryan half-time, Kevin Lyons for K Ryan 41m, Willie Ryan for Bannon 44m, Jamie O’Shea for Dardis 59m.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne – Andy Colgan (0-2 frees); Aaron McLoughlin, James Redmond (0-1), Conor Carton; Evan Quinn, Shane Melia, Cillian Hegarty; Sean Curran, Jamie Browne (0-3); Bryan Menton, Darragh McGovern (0-2 frees), Thomas McGovern; James Crumlish (0-1), Dylan Brady, Michael O’Sullivan (0-1 mark). 

Subs – Sean Tyrell (0-1) for McLoughlin 33m, Andrew Tormey (1-0) for Brady 37m, Jack Doran for O’Sullivan 46m, Steven Carton for Crumlish 55m.

Referee – Andrew Smith (Dunshaughlin).