Sun 23rd Sept Seneschalstown 2-11 Summerhill 0-11
Sun 23rd Sept Seneschalstown 2-11 Summerhill 0-11
SENESCHALSTOWN turned in one of their best performances for several years to deservedly defeat Summerhill in the second of the SFC quarter-finals at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday. Summerhill were the fancy of many to make a serious impact in this year`s championship and perhaps win a first Keegan Cup since 1986, but they came up short against a Seneschalstown team which possesses plenty of physical strength and which has clearly matured considerably from last year. The absence of Gary Rispin and Maurice Kennedy, who was introduced near the end, didn`t help Summerhill`s cause, but they will be the first to admit that they lost to a superior Seneschalstown team which played with passion and commitment.They also out-muscled Summerhill in many areas, including midfield where the physical presence of Robert Ruddy and Damien Sheridan was vital while Cormac Quinn marshalled his defence well from centre-back.
Joe Sheridan was another towering influence on the outcome. The full-forward scored an early goal which had a settling effect on the team and laid on another for impressive substitute David Byrne in the second-half which pointed them firmly in the direction of the winning post.
Summerhill possess a lot of talented young players and their day will most likely come, but this was a disappointing showing and when the chips were down they didn`t have the response necessary to turn things around.
Their full-back line looked stretched from an early stage as Brian Clarke and Brian Sheridan were a threat in the corners, but it was the `Hill who made the better start on the scoreboard when Brian Ennis pointed from play after 40 seconds and then added a free.
But Joe Sheridan soon demonstrated his value to the team when he caught a long ball from Mark Carey over Mark O`Reilly`s head and blasted past Billy Shaw to put them ahead. They grew in confidence after that score and were ahead by 1-2 to 0-3 after nine minutes thanks to fisted points from Carey and Brian Sheridan.
There was a lengthy stoppage for an injury to Seneschalstown`s Paul Carey, who was subsequently stretchered-off, and that broke their momentum, but they still managed to increase the advantage to 1-5 to 0-3 as Summerhill struggled to come to terms with their intensity.
However, they did find their touch briefly as Paul Rispin and Paul Larkin scored superb points from play and Ennis converted a free, but Clarke closed the half with his second point and Seneschalstown were ahead by 1-6 to 0-6 at the break. A brief melee broke out in front of the stand near the end of the first-half when Summerhill`s Michael Gorman and Seneschalstown`s Joe Cowley were booked, but otherwise the game was sporting.
Features of the second period were two stunning points from Clarke in the opening six minutes, the second from a 50-metre free, which helped Seneschalstown maintain their lead, but three defining moments followed.
Rory Donnelly had a great goal chance after nine minutes, but Seneschalstown `keeper David Lyons produced a brilliant save at the expense of a point, before Davy Dalton hit the angle of post and crossbar. And three minutes later came the goal that gave the Yellow Furze men breathing space.
Joe Sheridan turned provider when he knocked the ball down for Byrne and he finished confidently to open up a 2-8 to 0-9 lead. Colin Clarke demonstrated the confidence in the team when he stretched the advantage with a magnificent point and Summerhill were down and as good as out. An indication of their shaken state was evident in two bad misses from frees by Ennis and with the teams sharing four points evenly in the closing stages there was little importance attached to Damien Byrne`s late effort which struck the crossbar.
Seneschalstown – D. Lyons; P. Carey, A. Collins, C. Clarke (0-1); M. Carey (0-1), C. Quinn, C. Gleeson; R. Ruddy, D. Sheridan (0-1); S. Sheridan, A. McCann, J. Cowley (0-1); B. Clarke (0-4), J. Sheridan (1-0), B. Sheridan (0-2). Subs – D. Byrne (1-1) for P. Carey, S. Finnegan for Cowley.
Summerhill – B. Shaw; C. Young, M. O`Reilly, W. Milner; M. Gorman, R. Hatton, A. Kenny; C. Byrne, D. Byrne (0-1); P. Rispin (0-3), B. Ennis (0-3), S. Kennedy (0-1); P. Larkin (0-1), D. Dalton (0-1), R. Donnelly (0-1). Subs – M. Gannon for Larkin, B. Rispin for C. Byrne, M. Kennedy for P. Rispin.
Referee – Jim Smith (Dunshaughlin).
