Impressive start by Summerhill in the Championship
Summerhill College midfielder, Brian Smith, wins this race for possession during the Connacht Colleges Senior 'A' Championship clash with St. Murdeach's, Ballina, at Cloonacool on Wednesday last (Photo: Tom Callanan)
SUMMERHILL COLLEGE, beaten finalists for the last two years, sent out a clear warning that they are going to be serious contenders again this season with this impressive win over St. Muredach's, Ballina, in the opening round of the Connacht Colleges Senior A Championship at Cloonacool on Wednesday last.
SUMMERHILL 2-11 ST. MUREDACH'S 1-6
In ideal conditions on a splendid playing surface at the South Sligo venue, Summerhill took the game to their Ballina opponents right from the outset and, despite a slightly worrying period early in the second half, were always in control.
Captain, Eoin Flanagan, Jamie O'hehir, Conor Mcdonagh and Ben Mcgarry were authoritive figures at the back while Brian Smith had an excellent hour at midfield where he got valuable assistance from Eddie Conlon. The Summerhill forward line moved with great fluency throughout, creating and executing some fine scores. They were also very accurate from frees. Cian Breheny converted six frees while Conor Kerins scored a magnificent point from a '45'.
Playing with the advantage of a slight breeze, the Sligo boys were quick to stamp their authority on the game.
Mark Gerrity gave them the lead with a well-worked point from play and this was quickly followed by two scores from frees by Breheny. Kieran Blake added on two further points from play before the Ballina College opened their account.
Summerhill continued to pile on the pressure and were rewarded with an excellent goal in the 16th minute, Seamus Cawley finding the net with a perfectly-placed shot following great work by Gerrity and Blake.
Although Ballina replied with a goal and a point, the Sligo boys finished out the half in style with two pointed frees by Breheny and a Conor Kerins '45' giving them a 1-8 to 1-2 interval lead.
Ballina rattled over two points in a row to cut the gap to four early in the second half but a great score from play by Conor Kerins got Summerhill back on track. They struck for a second goal midway through the half and again it was the product of an incisive move as Dara Long and Cawley combined to set up Stephen Kerins, the captain of the College's juvenile team, and he made no mistake with a stinging shot to the roof of the net.
Ballina could only muster one further score by way of reply as Summerhill coasted to a convincing win. They finished out the scoring with two more pointed frees by the ever-reliable Breheny to book their place in the semifinals.
It was an encouraging start to the Championship campaign by Summerhill but manager, Mark Breheny, will only be too well aware that there are tougher challenges ahead in the College's quest for their first Connacht Senior 'A' title since 1985
