Summerhill trounce St Colman’s to claim first ever hurling honours
SUMMERHILL COLLEGE ST COLMAN’S COLLEGE 6-14 1-11
SUMMERHILL College senior hurling team made history last Wednesday at Toreen Hurling Club in County Mayo as they beat St Colman’s College Claremorris by 18 points to claim the Senior B title.
This is the college’s first hurling title at any grade.
The conditions were ideal for hurling. St. Colman’s opened the scoring shortly after throw-in but following a few missed chances from both sides, the Sligo side took the lead with Kieran Prior scoring a great goal and a stylish point in quick succession.
Colman’s back line had no answer to Prior’s quick movement and clinical finishing.
Summerhill weren’t long establishing their dominance.
They quickly gained a comfortable lead with goals and points from Roan Conneely and Kieran Prior.
Tom Armstrong delivered a sturdy display at wing forward while points from Liam O’Kelly-Lynch and a goal from Fionn Connolly left the score at 4-8 to 0-5 in Summerhill’s favour at half-time.
A hard-working St Colman’s started the second half eager to make amends but the Sligo lads upped their work-rate and excellent defending by Niall Feehily and Sean Ballantine kept the Mayo lads at bay.
Summerhill defended well throughout despite the fact that one of their strongest defenders, Donal Hanley, was unavailable for selection as he is currently recovering from a cruciate ligament injury.
A second goal from Roan Conneely and a great 65-yard free from Niall Feehily stretched the lead further.
Colman’s responded. They scored 4 points in a row before winning a 21-yard free. The free was struck low and hard at goal but goalkeeper Shane Brenan got down well to make the save.
Alexander Cadden and Alan Scanlon were brought on for Summerhill midwaythrough the second half, and both made valuable contributions to the cause.
Cadden scored a goal and Scanlon showed great resolve in defence.
Tom Armstrong added a fine point in the closing minutes and Gary Golden, making his Summerhill hurling debut, scored a superb point just before the final whistle.
The final score was 6-14 to 1-11. Captain Shane Brenan accepted the shield on the team’s behalf and acknowledged their hard work and dedication throughout the year.
Great credit must go to Hurling Development Officer Benny Kenny and to Summerhill teacher Shane Reynolds. We look forward to seeing future Summerhill hurling teams build on this success.
Summerhill College: Shane Brenan, Paul Gallagher, Sean Ballantine, Donal Keaveny, Darragh Cawley, Niall Feehily (0-1), Niall Campbell, Fionn Connolly (1-0), Tristan Gilligan, Tom Armstrong (0-1), Roan Conneely (2-3), Michael Munnelly, Liam O’Kelly-Lynch (0-2), Kieran Prior (2-6), Fergal O’Kelly-Lynch.
Subs: Alan Scanlon, Alexander Cadden (1-0), Daire Muldowney, Jamie O’Carroll, Fionn Sheridan, Donal Hanley, Gary Golden (0-1). A late change of venue to Lisbellaw didn’t distract Sligo hurlers as they overcame Fermanagh on Sunday on a scoreline of 3-13 to 0-15.
First-half goals from Tony O’Kelly-Lynch and Kevin Gilmartin had the Yeats men ahead 2-4 to 0-9 at the break.
The free-taking of Shea Curran and John Duffy was chiefly responsible for the home side’s scoring.
A second goal from full-forward O’Kelly-Lynch midway through the second-half had Sligo in a commanding position.
Kevin Banks also scored four points from play in the second-half, as Sligo piled on the misery on the winless Erne men.
Sligo: L Comerford; T Brennan, C O’Mahony, M Comerford; J Weir, D Collery, D Keown; E Comerford, G Cadden; J McHugh, R MacNamara, B Shannon; K Gilmartin, T O’Kelly-Lynch, K Banks. Subs: A Morrison for M Comerford 39, E McDonagh for Shannon 48, C Jordan for McHugh 62, R Brennan for MacNamara 65.
Fermanagh: C McTeague: D Russell, M Slevin, A Breslin; C Rafferty, M Teague, D Bannon; J Duffy, R Ó Buaigh; A McShea, JP McGarry, S Curran; T Cleary, F McBrien, B Duffy.