Summerhill……………………………0-16
Ratoath…………………………………0-13
Fairyhouse Steel SFC Final Sunday 12th October 25
Summerhill ‘Frayne’ supreme as Keegan Cup holders after Eoghan of that name kicked half their scores in this hard fought win. They were almost reeled in as Ratoath turned a nine point deficit 15 -6 with eleven to go into a nerve jangling one score game late on bringing to mind the famous quote of legendary American football coach Vince Lombardi after a narrow defeat, ‘We didn’t lose we just ran out of time.’
On reflection the new champions can thank ‘keeper Sean Muddiman for a stunning reflex save inside the first minute which helped them secure a ninth title and sees them face off with the Longford winners in the Leinster club on November 2nd. It was a game that looked to be heading back to the parish of Summerhill as it did 50 years ago.
Fairyhouse Steel SFC Final, Summerhill v Ratoath, Pairc Tailteann, Navan. Jack Flynn of Ratoath and Diarmuid McCabe of Summerhill in action. David Mullen www.cyberimages.net
Then the sting in the tail arrived with Ratoath nearly pulling a come back miracle with the goal at his mercy Joey Wallace looked to have secured an all important goal that was somehow kept out. The couple of two pointers gave Ratoath a fight chance but to Summerhill’s credit they kept doing enough over the sixty minutes to justify the win.
At half time going a scoreline of 0-10 to 0-4 put the hill on top. there was an opportunity for Jack Flynn to close the gap with the last kick of the ball and close to a two point game. It was not to be and in the early exchanges the victors led 0-7 to 0-1. Credit must go to Ratoath to fight back to bring the game to a boiling point with nerves all over the stands. Keegan Cup holders were not going down without a fight. they got as close to 0-15 to 0-13 with joey Wallace score. Fellow county man, Eoghan Frayne and Meath captain this year held his nerve to take his score from a Dardis free. He was ably assisted by his brother Connor who put four points on the board.
Fairyhouse Steel SFC Final, Summerhill v Ratoath, Pairc Tailteann, Navan. Ronan Ryan of Summerhill raises the Keegan cup
David Mullen www.cyberimages.net
Midfielder Adam Flanagan pulled of a goal saving block as Ratoath dominated late on while in the games last play Dermot McCabe caught a dangerous high ball in a crowded goalmouth as the hooter sounded. The Keegan Cup was heading south to Summerhill.
Summerhill: Sean Muddiman; Ben Moran, Ronan Ryan, Iarla Hughes; Jack Bannon, Ross Ryan, Jamie O’Shea; Adam McDonnell, Adam Flanagan; Diarmuid McCabe (0-01), Kevin Ryan (0-01), David Larkin; Conor Frayne (0-04, 1 tp), Eoghan Frayne (0-08, 1 tpf, 0-06f), Liam Shaw (0-02, tp).
Subs: Padhraig Geraghty for O’Shea 40, John Keane for Bannon 44, Conor Lyons for Shaw 45, Barry Dardis for Kevin Ryan 55.
Ratoath: Conor Rooney; Callum Brady, Conor McGill, Sean Considine; Gavin McGowan (0-02, tp), Ben Wyer, Liam Kelly; Jack Flynn (0-03, 1 tpf, 0-01 45), Ben McGowan; Cian O’Brien, Glen O’Reilly, Daithi McGowan (0-03, 0-02f); Bryan McMahon (0-01), Bobby O’Brien (0-02), Cian Rogers.
Subs: Cian Crawford (0-01) for Considine h/t, Eamonn Wallace (0-01) for Brady h/t, Joey Wallace for Cian O’Brien 43, Ronan Byrne for Bobby O’Brien 45.
Referee: Keith Sheerin (Castletown).
