Heartbreak for Summerhill in Connacht Cup final
A winning goal six minutes into injury time at the end of a pulsating contest broke Summerhill College hearts as they fell to a dramatic 4-3 defeat to Colaiste Chiaráin in the Dr Tony O’Neill Senior Connacht Cup Final at Milebush in Castlebar yesterday afternoon.
Having dominated the opening half, the Sligo side coasted into a two goal lead at the break courtesy of strikes from Steven Patton and Tyler Stallard.
The Athlone boys were quicker out of the traps in the second 45, pegging a shell-shocked Summerhill back to 2-2 within the first eight minutes of the half through Alex Francis and Calum O’Brien.
Colaiste Chiaráin took the lead for the first time in the 72nd minute as substitute Neil Macken pounced. A gallant Summerhill claimed a sensational equaliser in the fourth minute of added time at the end of the game when Stallard popped up once again.
But there was to be late pain for the Sligo college for the second year in succession. Summerhill goalkeeper Ultan McKenna spilling O’Brien’s initial effort before Sean Ryan pounced to hand the Westmeath boys the cup.
Summerhill, who also tasted defeat at the same hurdle last year, applied the pressure from the start, largely controlling a one sided first half.
Colaiste Chiaráin goalkeeper Michael Hanley struggled to deal with Paddy McDermott’s corner just three minutes in.
Winger Dylan Martin almost profiting from the mistake as he was just short of McDermott’s cross.
Hanley was almost caught out again seven minutes later.
Adam Lynch’s free-kick from the right catching the wind before it dropped behind Hanley’s far post. Summerhill opened the scoring on the quarter hour.
Patton getting on the end of Lynch’s cross before Stallard made it two as many minutes later.
Patton did well to round the keeper before a Colaiste Chiaráin defender took the ball off his toe.
Stallard was quickest off the mark to take control of the ball before firing between two defenders to push Summerhill into a comfortable lead.
Colaiste Chiaráin rallied early in the second half and halved the deficit three minutes in.
McKenna was put off by the movement of O’Brien in front of him as the ball sneaked past him from the far side from Francis’ intended cross.
Summerhill heads dropped and Colaiste Chiaráin played this to their advantage when they found their leveller in the 53rd minute.
McKenna got a hand to O’Brien’s blasted effort from the edge of the area but the Summerhill net-minder could only look on as the ball squeezed past him for the equaliser.
Summerhill were the victims of several questionable decisions from referee John Munroe on the day. The most blatant of these coming just short of the hour mark when substitute Matthew Conlon-Oates was clearly bundled over the penalty area.
The Mayo official ignoring the protests of the incensed Summerhill team and support.
Lead by Brendan Fitzsimons and Darra Bray, Summerhill were inches away from restoring their lead on 67 minutes.
Scott Lynch’s free-kick was cleared only as far as Stallard who was unlucky to see his potshot whistle past Hanley’s far post.
Colaiste Chiaráin nudged themselves into the ascendancy 18 minutes from time. Luke Reilly’s through ball finding Macken who slotted past McKenna.
The 2014 All-Ireland winners looked like they had forced extra-time in the 94th minute.
Going for broke, the Sligo boys flooded the opposition area for a late corner.
The initial onslaught was cleared before possession fell to Sligo Rovers youth Gearóid Mulligan, whose perfect cross was met with a glancing header from Stallard to set off joyous scenes amongst the Summerhill following.
But sport was at its cruellest in the 96th minute. McKenna pulled off a really smart save from O’Brien only for the ball to wriggle from his grasp and fall to the feet of Ryan who lashed home for the winner.
SUMMERHILL: Ultan McKenna, Oisin Geraghty, Paddy McDermott (Sean Wilson 82), Niall Feehily, Leo Doherty, Gearóid Mulligan, Dylan Martin (Matthew Conlon-Oates 56), Adam Lynch, Steven Patton (Kieran Prior 85), Scott Lynch, Tyler Stallard.
COLAISTE Chiaráin: Michael Hanley, Adam Hun, Paul McManus, Dylan Summer, Jaydon Tumulty, Sean Ryan, Alex Francis, Luke Reilly, Reece Moran, Calum O’Brien, Ruairi Lenahan.
REFEREE: John Munroe.