Two Sundays in late October gave Summerhill's supporters plenty to cheer about. First came a victory over Oldcastle that secured the senior team's survival in the top flight and a week later the Junior 'B' side completed a memorable campaign by winning their particular championship, defeating Walterstown in the final. That victory brought all the joy and satisfaction that comes with winning a championship, but relief was the most powerful emotion after the 'Hill survived another serious scare in the Senior Championship. Just what it means to hold onto senior status was demonstrated at Kells as Summerhill walked a tight rope for the second successive year and survived. Having endured the torture of a do or die match against Navan O'Mahonys in 2001, the 'Hill had to go through the very same agonising experience all over again as they faced Oldcastle in the Senior Football Championship relegation final on a wet and bitterly cold day. The quality of the football was always going to suffer in those type of conditions, but the sheer intensity of the exchanges meant it was a gripping and pulsating encounter as two thoroughly committed teams battled with ferocious tenacity to hold onto their senior standing. Summerhill, just as they had done a year earlier against once mighty O'Mahonys, came through in a tight match, winning by 1-6 to 0-6 thanks in no small way to a brilliant performance by county player Mark O'Reilly who operated at centre half-back, having played previous championship matches at full-forward. John Loughrey's goal 12 minutes into the second half was the crucial score as it pushed Summerhill five points clear and on such a miserable day, with scores hard to come by, that looked like an unassailable advantage. Or so the 'Hill supporters might have thought. But nobody told Oldcastle and they battled back courageously, before Summerhill held out under severe pressure as referee Seamus McCormack played in excess of five minutes of injury time before eventually sounding that long whistle which confirmed that Summerhill had survived again. What followed was a mixture of elation and relief. Summerhill treasure their senior status, something they have held for three decades, and with football very strong in the club at the moment the last thing they want is to lose it now. Donie Mooney, part of the great Summerhill side which won four Meath senior titles in succession between 1974 and '77, as well as becoming the first Meath club to win the Leinster Championship in the latter season, was as relieved as anybody from the club after that victory over Oldcastle. "To have lost our senior status in either of the last two years would have represented a huge disappointment for Summerhill," said their 1975 Meath SFC-winning captain. "Football has never been stronger in the club. We field three adult teams, one of which won the Junior 'B' title this year, and we are competing in the top grade in all under-age competitions. "The reality is that if you slip out of the senior championship, it can be desperately hard to get back up. I believe that the relegation system is a wrong situation. The whole championship is being run on an expediency system and because of the small groups there is no margin for error whatsoever." But, on a positive note, he is optimistic that the future will be bright for a club that won its last senior title in 1986. "It has to be appreciated that Summerhill lost three of their best players in recent years in Mick, Paraic and Terry Lyons," Mooney added. "You can't replace players of that type who were so important to the team. "But I firmly believe the club has enough players there to be a force at senior level. We have county players at a variety of levels from senior down and that has to be looked upon as a good and positive sign." The defining moment in Summerhill's divisional campaign came when the final whistle sounded at the end of their match against Dunboyne in Dunsany. Victory would have kept them in the title hunt and who knows what might have happened after that? But they lost by a point (2-8 to 0-13) and found themselves in the relegation dogfight instead of planning for the business end of the competition. Earlier, they had lost heavily (3-12 to 0-8) to defending champions Dunshaughlin, but bounced back very well to score a comfortable 2-12 to 1-4 victory over Gaeil Colmcille. All those results meant they ended up bottom of Div. D on two points, one behind Dunboyne and Gaeil Colmcille and two adrift of group winners Dunshaughlin. A relegation play-off followed against Cortown when the 'Hill suffered a shattering defeat as substitute Packie Henry pounced with a dramatic late goal to give Cortown a 1-7 to 0-9 victory and leave Summerhill back where they were a year earlier, with one final chance to secure their survival. To their great joy and relief they achieved it against Oldcastle, but such occasions can't be good for the health of their supporters and they will certainly hope to avoid a similar situation in 2003. In the All-County 'A' League Summerhill had a mixed bag of results in Div. 1, winning five games, drawing one and also losing five to finish on 11 points from as many outings. MEMORIES Back to 1977 and what glorious memories for Summerhill. They defeated Seneschalstown in a replayed final to complete the fabulous four-in-a-row of senior titles, having won the finals of the previous three years against Bohermeen (1974), Navan O'Mahonys (1975) and Walterstown (1976). Further proof of what a strong panel and what a hungry bunch of players Summerhill possessed at that time can be gauged from the fact that they reached six successive finals, losing to Walterstown in 1978 and O'Mahonys a year later. They also had the distinction of becoming the first Meath club to win the Leinster Championship, defeating the mighty St. Vincent's team from Dublin in the 1977/'78 final at Newbridge - the same St. Vincent's who had demolished Connacht champions Roscommon Gaels to the tune of 17 points in the '76 All-Ireland decider. It's an era that Donie Mooney recalls with tremendous satisfaction a quarter of a century later. "It was a fantastic time for the club," he added. "Winning those four Meath senior titles in succession was great and I have particularly happy memories of the 1975 final when we beat O'Mahonys, not just because I was captain, but because it was achieved against such a great club like O'Mahonys. "And, of course, we won the Leinster title in '77, beating a St. Vincent's team that included so many outstanding Dublin players in the final. That's another great memory among so many great memories." Busy 'B's The senior team's relegation final victory over Oldcastle, which secured their status in the top grade, undoubtedly provided a timely boost for the Summerhill side which contested the Junior 'B' FC final against Walterstown at Dunsany a week later. Walterstown were well fancied, but Summerhill, jointly managed by Declan McDonnell and Noel Young, and with their blend of youth and experience, turned in a highly committed performance which enabled them to win by 1-9 to 1-6 and it was a delighted 'Hill captain Conor Martin who accepted the cup from County Board treasurer Colm Gannon after the final whistle. Summerhill adapted best to the atrocious conditions and moved the ball forward with accuracy. They also took some fine scores and that was reflected in their 1-6 to 0-2 half-time lead after they had played with the advantage of the blustery wind. That advantage might have been even more healthy, but Walterstown goalkeeper Ken Reilly produced a brilliant save from Declan Martin during first-half injury time. But the all-important goal, which had boosted Summerhill to that healthy seven-point interval cushion, came after 23 minutes when Tommy Lynch did well to punch to the net after Stephen McDonnell sent in a probing free. Walterstown were always going to come back in the second half with the elements in their favour, but Summerhill defended stoutly and experienced goalkeeper Willie Ryan produced a very important save from Martin Mohan at a time when the Blacks looked capable of assuming control. It was significant that Walterstown didn't score from play until the 43rd minute when former Meath senior panelist Alan Browne fisted to the net to reduce the deficit to four points. Summerhill had to defend with serious passion in the tense closing stages. They had heroes all over the field, with full-back Nigel Thompson and centre half-back Jarlath Hughes epitomising their courageous attitude. Boosted also by that save from Ryan, at a time when Walterstown were just three points behind, they never allowed the Blacks to play a successful game of catch-up. Walterstown did reduce the deficit to two points, but the impressive Lynch pointed for the 'Hill, before Walterstown's final point from Ronan Conaty came too late to matter. It was the perfect end to a perfect week for Summerhill. The Summerhill team in the final was - W. Ryan; C. Ennis, N. Thompson, C. Martin; E. Loughrey, J. Hughes, M. Fagan; S. Gray (0-2), J. Farrell (0-1); P. Rispin (0-2), T. Lynch (1-2), B. Ennis; D. Martin, E. O'Neill (0-1), S. McDonnell (0-1). Subs - D. Gannon for O'Neill, B. Rispin for D. Martin. Tweet

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