Summerhill College

Summerhill College (Sligo) 4-08
St Jarleths (Tuam) 1-11

Match report by Joe Gorman

When the bus of the Summerhill College 2 Year Gaelic football team came into the small town of Ballaghaderreen on Tuesday the 12 of April and out the other side to the Gaelic grounds, they certainly didn't expect what awaited them. A brand new pitch and state of the art dressing rooms came out of nowhere to host what would be a close and thrilling Connacht 2 Year ‘A’ Final.

There was a strong breeze blowing down the pitch which Jarleths opted to avail of and as the ball was thrown in for the start of the match. Saint Jarlath's Tuam, worthy opponents for Summerhill, won possession and initially were the better team until Summerhill got the ball after a crunching tackle by Aaron Clerkin. He passed to captain and centre forward Aaron Flynn who set off searing run from the half way line, bringing him to the edge of the square after beating three opponents. The Saint Jarlath's keeper rushed out in vain as Flynn's beautiful lob sailed over his head and into the net.

Summerhill's early work had paid off but the lead was cut to a single point after two excellent Jarlaths' scores. The game was a hard one with late challenges and elbows flying. Flynn notched two points, one from a free and one from open play and Jarlaths kept in touch with a score. Midway through the first half corner forward Luke Nicholson got the ball near the right touchline and sent it high into the Jarlath's goalmouth. It deceived the keeper, kissed the post and nestled in the bottom corner of the net to leave the score 2-2 to 0.3.

Summerhill seemed to switch off after Nicholson's goal as Jarlath's responded with a four point salvo. Summerhill keeper, Luke Walsh pushed one of those goal bound efforts over the bar. Those Jarlath's scores seemed to wake Summerhill from their slumber who responded with points from Luke Nicholson and another, a free by talismanic midfielder, Dylan Kilgallon. Nicholson then capped a stunning first half display. A tidy finish from a tight angle past the goalkeeper produced his second and Summerhill's third goal.

But Jarlath's replied with a controversial goal just before the half time whistle, bringing the score to 3-4 to 1.7.

Summerhill received a stirring team talk from coaches Charlie Harrison, Damian Keenan and Kenny Donagher. But Jarlath's also came out fired up and scored two quick points. A Dylan Kilgallon free from fifty yards settled Summerhill nerves. The fight was not gone from the Tuam side and it required a string of last-ditch tackles from corner backs Lorcan Long and Brian Mc Gowan to keep them at bay.

Twenty minutes into the second half Summerhill were caught on the counter attack as Jarlath's scored a point to level the scores, despite the best efforts of Summerhill backs Hadi Mousa and Stephen Regan.

Summerhill tried to regain the lead. After great wing play from half forwards Alex Selby and Ciaran Stenson the ball was passed to Luke Nicholson near the sideline. A sense of deja vu was felt by the spectators as he launched another Howitzer towards the Jarlaths posts. This time the ball dropped short to Nathan Rooney whose goal effort was blocked. Substitute Connor Sweeney picked up the loose ball and lashed it towards the goal but it was scrambled away for a forty five.

With time running out Summerhill centre half back Darragh Cummins sprinted to meet a pass from Kilgallon and bisected the posts from 35 yards. The rallying cries from midfielder, Paul Mc Namara were met with a fine response. Luke Walsh, leapt like a salmon to snuff out a Jarlath's goal chance. The ball was kicked to the mercurial Aaron Flynn who won a free and then pointed it.
Kilgallon then scored a point from twenty yards after an elegant Summerhill passing movement.


In stoppage time a long range effort found its way to Summerhill's Conor Sweeney. He out jumped the Jarlath's goalkeeper and fisted the ball into the net. Shortly afterwards the referee blew the final whistle to send the Summerhill team and supporters into raptures – final score from Ballaghadereen
Summerhill 4-8,
Saint Jarlath's 1-11.

Summerhills management team would like to thank the U-16 club managers in Drumcliffe, St Johns, Calry/St Joseph, St Marys and Coolera for who were able to play their matches on the evening before the Final without the Summerhill players.

Team
Name------------Club
Aaron Clerkin------St Johns
Aaron Flynn--------Calry
Alex Selby---------St Johns
Brian Mc Gowan--St Johns
Cian Feeney-------Drumcliffe
Ciaran Stenson----Calry
Conan O Donnell--St Marys
Conor King--------St Johns
Dara Cummins----Calry
Dara Mc Cluskey--Drumcliffe
Dara O Brien------Calry
Dillon Kilgannon--St Marys
Gavin Sweeney--St Johns
Hadi Mousa-------St Marys
Jack Keegan------St Marys
Kevin Fidgeon----St Marys
Killian Gallagher--St Johns
Lorcan Long-------Tuam Stars
Luke Nichelson---St Marys
Luke Walsh-------Molaise Gales
Macdara Tinney--Drumcliffe
Nathan Rooney---St Marys
Oisin Cogan-------Coolera
Paul Gilligan------Calry
Paul Mc Namara--St Johns
Peter Patton-----Coolera
Steven Quigley--Drumcliffe
Steven Regan----Drumcliffe
Jackson Smith