By taking a first MFC in 62 years and adding the ACFL Division 1 title later in the year, Summerhill's future has never looked brighter. Involvement in the senior championship relegation scenario invariably makes for a disappointing year especially for a club of Summerhill's stature. That they managed to preserve their place in the top grade was a source more of relief than joy and yet, 2004 could well mark a turning point in the club's fortunes. The Blue and Golds have been involved in three relegation finals in recent years and have achieved a remarkable hat-trick of condemning three town teams to the intermediate grade, O'Mahonys, Oldcastle and Gaeil Colmcille. More significantly their minor team emerged as championship winners and towards the end of the year the seniors proved that relegation should be the least of their worries when they beat championship runners-up Simonstown Gaels in the All-County Football 'A' league Division 1 final The minor success follows last year's under-21 championship victory and when the two are viewed together the conclusion is that Summerhill have as fine a crop of young players as any other club in the county, if not the finest. Vital then that senior status was preserved and that the youngsters will eventually progress to the senior grade rather than intermediate. The club has an enviable underage structure but the minor title had proved elusive since 1942. To outsiders, this is an amazing statistic, but club members were scarcely burdened by it. Every year is a new year and most members of the club would have been unaware of how long it had been since the title rested in the south Meath village. It is always important to win the first round game and it's a huge help to have home advantage. Round Towers were the visitors in early April and Summerhill came out on the right side of a 1-11 to 1-8 scoreline. Willie Milner scored 0-2 despite lining out at centre-half-back, Connie McGrath, Gary McDonnell and Tommy Walsh each scored two points, Paul Carton got the goal, Stephen Kennedy scored three points. Blackhall Gaels provided the opposition in the second round and it was the Batterstown/Kilcloon combination that came out on top, 2-7 to 1-8. The defeat was a setback but another local derby against Na Fianna provided the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways. Michael Gorman's first half goal helped Summerhill to a commanding six-point lead at the break, 1-6 to 0-3, but Na Fianna rallied in the second half and there was just three points between the teams at the full-time whistle, 1-11 to 1-8. Other scorers were: Willie Milner 0-3, Richie Hatton 0-3, Paul Larkin 0-2, Vincent O'Mahony 0-1, Gary McDonnell 0-1 and David Dalton 0-1. The fourth round opponents were Simonstown Gaels and it was a home game for the 'Hill'. It turned out to be a close encounter with Summerhill leading by two points at half-time, 1-5 to 0-6. They still had their noses ahead going into the closing stages but Simonstown were hanging in until Willie Milner struck with a goal and a point to ensure a third win in four outings. The final score was 2-11 to 0-11. Stephen Kennedy also scored 1-1, Brian Hatton, Vincent O'Mahony, David Dalton and Paul Larkin each scored 0-2 and Michael Gorman scored a point. Dunboyne was the next port of call where, after a slow start, Summerhill had their easiest game to date winning by 5-10 to 1-7. Stephen Kennedy's two first-half goals provided the winning platform and by half-time they were well in control with a 3-5 to 0-3 lead. Kennedy finished up as top scorer with 2-3, Richie Hatton added 1-1 and the other goals were scored by Gary McDonnell and Vincent O'Mahony. Paul Larkin accounted for three points while there was a point apiece from Stephen Husband, Brian Hatton and Caolan Young. The sixth round brought a second defeat, this time at the hands of Navan O'Mahonys at Brews Hill. Summerhill fielded without a number of key players because of holidays and O'Mahonys took full advantage by scoring 1-1 in the opening five minutes. The visitors were unable to recover and a missed penalty in the closing stages put paid to any hopes of a dramatic comeback. The final score was O'Mahonys 2-7 Summerhill 0-6. It was on to Dunshaughlin for the last game in the league series, against St. Martins and Davy Dalton's men hit the ground running to register an impressive 3-15 to 1-10 victory. They led by 2-6 to 0-6 at half-time, Stephen Kennedy scored 1-3, Paul Larkin 1-2, Tommy Walsh 0-4, Richie Hatton 0-3, Vincent O'Mahony 1-0, David Dalton and substitute James Picking 0-1 each. With ten points from their seven games played plus four from walk-overs against Trim and Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Summerhill were through to the semi-finals where they would have the opportunity of avenging their sixth round defeat by the O'Mahonys. The game was played in Dunderry and a Tommy Walsh goal helped the "Hill" to a narrow interval lead, 1-4 to 1-3. Despite sustained O'Mahonys pressure throughout the second half, Summerhill managed to keep them at bay and three points separated the teams at the full-time whistle. Walsh was top scorer with 1-1. Willie Milner accounted for 0-2 and there was a point each from Richie Hatton, Stephen Kennedy and Paul Larkin. Like Summerhill, Na Fianna had suffered two defeats in the league series but they recovered superbly and chalked up seventeen points in their impressive semi-final win over Blackhall Gaels. They also ended up with impressive tallies in their games against Round Towers, Donaghmore/Ashbourne and St. Martins, 1-14, 1-15 and 6-14 respectively. There was a strong breeze blowing in Pairc Tailteann on the evening of the final and a big crowd turned up for a unique south Meath derby. Both teams had their share of county minors, Summerhill had full-back Connie McGrath, Richie Hatton at centre-field and Willie Milner at corner-forward. Na Fianna had Dean Barrett and Rory Maguire at centre-field and James Qeeney at full-forward. Na Fianna had first use of the considerable breeze but they were unable to take maximum advantage against the tenacious Summerhill backs with Connie McGrath excelling at full-back. Na Fianna eventually took the lead but points from Tommy Walsh (0-2) and Paul Larkin put Summerhill in the driving seat despite playing against the elements. Na Fianna narrowed the gap to the minimum but Walsh restored Summerhill's two point advantage from a free. It was 0-4 to 0-3 at half-time in favour of the 'Hill". Davy Dalton and his fellow mentors would have settled for that scoreline at the outset. Na Fianna had registered a total of nine wides. The second half produced much better football and a great deal more excitement for supporters. Na Fianna signalled their intentions with an equalising point within seconds of the resumption. The game was now up for grabs and Summerhill responded superbly with points from Stephen Kennedy and Paul Larkin. But the Enfield/Baconstown combination were not done with yet and they were back on level terms at the three-quarter stage, 0-6 apiece. As the excitement increased Summerhill went ahead again with a point from the in-form Walsh. Willie Milner struck the bar with a great effort but Na Fianna were back on level terms as the game entered the closing stages. Tommy Walsh scored his fifth point but with the exchanges becoming even more hectic Na Fianna equalised yet again. With just over five minutes remaining a draw seemed the most likely outcome. Summerhill wing forward David Dalton had other ideas and his superb point went a long way to breaking the back of the Na Fianna challenge. With time ticking away Stephen Kennedy stretched the lead to two points with the last score of a marvellous encounter. The final score was; Summerhill 0-10 Na Fianna 0-8. Captain Richie Hatton was presented with the Delaney Cup and a 62-year famine at this level was brought to an end. The team lined out as follows; Stephen Lynch, Gerard O'Neill, Connie McGrath, Alan Lyons, Cathal Byrne, Michael Gorman, Stephen Husband, Richie Hatton, Willie Milner, Gary McDonnell, Vincent O'Mahony, David Dalton (0-1), Tommy Walsh (0-5), Stephen Kennedy (0-2) and Paul Larkin (0-2). Substitutes used were Caolan Young and Brian Hatton and the other members of the panel were, Paul Carton, James Picking, Aidan McGee, Raymond Comey, Michael Byrne, Michael Giles and Michael Pat Byrne. Former Kildare star Davy Dalton was the team manager and his fellow selectors were Jimmy McGee, Mick McGlynn and Mick McGovern. Senior football It was an up and down championship for the club seniors. Luckily, it was slightly more up than down as it took a relegation final win over Gaeil Colmcille to preserve senior status. Paddy Carr was in his first year as team manager and he would have been hopeful of making the knock-out stages but a narrow first round defeat by St. Patricks at Walterstown was a real setback. An encouraging win over Cortown was followed by a desperate display against Walterstown and there was further cause for pessimism when Dunderry proved too strong in the fourth round. The"Hill" would have to win their three remaining games to qualify but the one point defeat by Blackhall Gaels at Longwood was the final nail in the coffin. It was a much better performance but there was still no joy. The relegation play-offs loomed after a defeat by Seneschalstown and although they beat Kilmainhamwood in the final round it wasn't enough to ensure safety. Dunderry had also finished on four points to set up a play-off. A huge lead was lost and Dunderry preserved their status. Now it was an all or nothing clash with Gaeil Colmcille. The team survived the Kells challenge with a little to spare and the 32-year spell in the senior ranks was to go on. Minds could now be concentrated on the league. The league campaign got away to an encouraging start in early February when Dunshaughlin provided the opposition. An injury time goal gave Paddy Carr the start he would have wanted as his team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on a 1-13 to 0-14 score-line. A draw with St Peters Dunboyne followed before the local Derby against Trim. A Paul Rispin goal kept the "Hill in touch and they had their noses in front as the game went into the closing stages. The concession of a late penalty which Paul Gilsenan duly converted wrapped up a narrow win for the town team. Kilmainhamwood were the visitors for a fourth round clash but they had a depleted team on duty and Summerhill cruised to an eleven point victory, 1-15 to 0-7. Paul Rispin was top scorer with 1-1. With two wins and a draw from four outings Paddy Carr's men were tucked in behind the early pacesetters. Tommy Lynch fired home two goals and added a point in a close battle with Seneschalstown. Cathal Sheridan scored six points as Summerhill headed for home with their league aspirations still intact. There were mixed emotions following the sixth round win over Walterstown, 2-12 to 2-5. A few days previous Summerhill had produced a terrible display against the same opposition in the championship. Now they had seven points to spare in the league. If only they could produce their league form in the championship! Richie Hatton and Paul Comey were the goal scorers. Another championship defeat was avenged when Summerhill made the long trip to Stamullen where they had two points to spare over St Patricks, 3-8 to 1-12. Cathal Sheridan scored 2-5 as the visitors came from six points behind at half-time. Three goals was the winning margin against fellow contenders Simonstown Gaels in the eighth round and a draw with another of the contenders, Blackhall Gaels was enough to seriously damage the ambitions of the then county champions while ensuring that Summerhill remained on course. A two point win over Navan O'Mahonys left three teams on 16 points going into the final series of games. Simonstown Gaels, Trim and Summerhill. Blackhall Gaels were on fifteen points. Summerhill's final game was against newly crowned county champions Skyrne who were out of the running. A Paul Rispin goal early in the second half turned out to be the decisive score as the home team chiselled out a narrow victory, 1-9 to 1-8. Simonstown easily beat Kilmainhamwood but Trim were the team to lose out, their one point victory over Seneschalstown wasn't enough. They needed to win by three points to clinch a place in the final. Simonstown had lost out in the county final and were keen to achieve some form of compensation for that disappointment and, in the early stages they appeared to be well on course. After ten minutes the Navan parishioners led by 0-4 to 0-0 as Summerhill struggled to get into the game. Paul Rispin and Paul Comey eventually found the range but Simonstown regained their four point advantage within minutes. The first real signs of Summerhill's potential emerged on the run-in to half-time when points from Maurice Kennedy, Cathal Sheridan and Gary Thompson left just a solitary point between the teams at the break; 0-6 to 0-5 in favour of Simonstown. Colm O'Rourke's men grabbed the initiative at the start of the second half with Shane O'Neill finished to the net. For the third time in the game Summerhill were forced to set about erasing a four-point deficit. O'Neill's goal still stood between the teams at the three-quarter stage but it was Summerhill who took the game by the scruff of the neck. Cathal Sheridan pointed from play and then from a free before Gary Rispin grabbed the equaliser. With only four minutes remaining Summerhill went ahead for the first time with a Brian Rispin point and although Simonstown battled back to equalise Paul Rispin showed great determination to set up a late winning point for Cathal Sheridan. The final score was 0-12 to 1-8 and Summerhill clubman and Co Board Treasurer Colm Gannon had the pleasure of presenting the Mooney Cup to his colleague Mark O'Reilly. O'Reilly had a fine game throughout while both Maurice and Noel Kennedy also excelled in defence. Niall O'Reilly was also solid at the back while Damien Byrne and Gary Thompson gained a vital edge at centre-field in the second half. In attack, Cathal Sheridan, Brian Ennis, Gary Rispin and Paul Comey were in fine form. The winning team was: Tony McDonnell, Colm Foley, Niall O'Reilly, Connie McGrath, Maurice Kennedy (0-1), Mark O'Reilly, Noel Kennedy, Gary Thompson (0-1), Damien Byrne, Adrian Kenny, Paul Comey (0-2), Gary Rispin (0-1), Paul Rispin (0-1), Brian Ennis (0-1) and Cathal Sheridan (0-5). It was only the second occasion for Summerhill to win the Division 1 league title. Their previous success was in 1998. Tweet

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