No joy for Longford senior champions Killoe as Summerhill gradually assert superiority

After holding a slender one-point lead (1-11 to 1-10) at the break with Mickey Quinn creating the goal for Larry Moran in the 27th minute of a highly entertaining first half, Killoe lost their way on the changeover in ending up losing by the wide margin of 9 points in the Leinster Club Senior Football Championship first round clash at Pairc Tailteann in Navan on Sunday. 

Summerhill (Meath) . . . 2-22     Killoe Emmet Og . . . 1-16

The Meath champions Summerhill appeared to be in some trouble when they trailed by six points (1-10 to 0-7) in the closing stages of the first half but they refused to panic with their cause helped considerably by a soft goal that should have been prevented in the 28th minute. 

Meath senior star Eoghan Frayne got the vital touch to direct the ball into the path of Jamie O’Shea who deflected the ball into the back of the net and that was a real sickening blow for Emmet Og who were were now under  pressure against the wind in the second half. 

Boosted by a brilliant start to the second half which yielded consecutive scores from Kevin Ryan, Eoghan Frayne (two-pointer), goalkeeper Sean Muddiman (‘45) and Diarmuid McCabe, Summerhill were motoring on their path to a quarter-final showdown against Athy.

While there was a slight reprieve for Killoe when they registered their first score in the second half from a free converted by Paddy Moran in the 43rd minute to leave the scoreline at 1-15 to 1-12, their hopes of springing a surprise result were dashed when midfielder Adam Flanagan scored the second goal for Summerhill.

The fist of the powerful Flanagan planted the ball past the Killoe keeper Micheal Hughes who certainly could not be faulted for the defeat as he produced three excellent point-blank saves up until the killer blow of the goal in the 45th minute.

Another two-pointer quickly followed from Adam McDonnell, also prominent in giving his side a decisive edge in the midfield battle, and 12 different Summerhill players got their names on the scoresheet including substitutes Conor Lyons and John Lavelle.

Killoe were restricted to just four more scores during the remainder of the match through Paddy Moran (2 frees), James Moran and substitute Ronan McGoldrick with Longford clubs failing to win a game in the senior provincial series since Mullinalaghta were crowned the historic Leinster champions in December 2018.  

SUMMERHILL (Meath): Sean Muddiman (0-2, ‘45s); Ben Moran, Ronan Ryan, Iarla Hughes; Jack Bannon, Ross Ryan, Jamie O’Shea (1-2); Adam McDonnell (0-4, 1 two-pointer play), Adam Flanagan (1-0); Diarmuid McCabe (0-2), Kevin Ryan (0-1), David Larkin (0-1); Conor Frayne (0-1), Eoghan Frayne (0-5, 1 two-pointer play), Liam Shaw (0-2).

Subs:- Padraig Geraghty for J Bannon (42 mins); Conor Lyons (0-1) and John Lavelle (0-1) for J O’Shea and I Hughes (both in the 48th minute); Barry Dardis for C Frayne (55 mins); Kevin Lyons for D Larkin (56 mins).   

KILLOE EMMET OG: Micheal Hughes (0-2, two-pointer free); Liam Hughes, Darren Moffett, Ryan Moffett; James Moran (0-2), Niall Farrelly, Gavin Farrelly; Mickey Quinn, Ronan Keogh; Paddy Kiernan (0-2, two-pointer play), Cian Farrelly (0-1), Danny Mimnagh; Larry Moran (1-0), Paddy Moran (0-7, 4 frees), Mark Hughes (0-1).

Subs:- Ronan McGoldrick (0-1) for L Moran (43 mins); Cian Dooner for P Kiernan (50 mins); Evan Farrelly for Cian Farrelly (55 mins); Gavin Hughes for R Keogh (56 mins).

Referee: Alan Coyne (Westmeath).