Fade

Dunshaughlin v Summerhill

(Páirc Tailteann, Tomorrow, 3.30)

DRAMA -- if not rip-roaring quality -- was in no short supply when these teams drew on points a fortnight ago but it was Dunshaughlin who feel most aggrieved with the final parity of the scoreline.

Despite Summerhill taking an 0-4 to 0-1 lead and making all the early running, Dunshaughlin powered back to string together a run of points which, given their general scarcity, might well be described as a 'spree', and edged into a half-time lead.

And so Dunshaughlin should have had a famous win but the past two weeks will doubtless have been filled with the learning of valuable lessons in composure and discipline.

Holding a one-point lead as the clock ticked into added time, one of their most experienced players, Richie Kealy, played the ball on the ground as they scrambled to clear their lines. To compound the blow, referee Cormac Reilly brought the free in closer for dissent before Brian Ennis converted and there was time for one more attack.

Summerhill won possession from the kick-out and intelligently worked centre-back Richie Hatton into a shooting position only for his shot to fade wide.

If neither team deserved to lose, Summerhill still look the more likely champions. In David Dalton (son of former Kildare star, Davy) they have one of the best man-markers in Meath while Conor Gillespie was central to most of what was good about their play.

Provided Summerhill can find greater cohesion in attack, the Dublin champions await in the Leinster club SFC first round on November 13.

VERDICT: Summerhill