Trim 0-12
St Colmcilles 1-6

Trim Intermediate footballers gained two valuable points from this second round championship match against East Meath Side St Colmcilles at Seneschallstown on Friday evening last.

These two points gained, supplements the one point from their first round draw and leaves them joint top of the table on three points and level with Longwood. Trim played against the strong breeze in the first half. Nevertheless they looked the better side from the 'get go' and hit three unanswered points in the first quarter. Then a bizarre own goal from the Trim defence in the nineteenth minute seemed to give the Bettystown side a fillip as they hit three points on the trot to go three up but Trim gained a point back on the stroke of half time.

Both sides swapped points in the early minutes after the restart. Colmcilles forced the pace but they were guilty of poor shooting when they hit three wides between the fifth and eight minute that really let the Trim lads off the hook. But then the wind assisted Reds took control of the game and in a seventeen minute period up to the twenty seventh minute hit seven points to their opponents one to enter the final minutes four points up. Colmcilles got a consolation point at the end to leave three points between the teams.

Frankie Murphy gained possession from the throw in and he passed to his mid field colleague James Toher who hit a long ball into the corner to Eoin McGrath. His advance was stifled by the sticky Colmcill's defence but the in-running Toher took the return pass and was fouled twenty meters out from goal. Michael Lowther made no mistake with the resulting free. Colmcilles then hit two wides before Ronan Fitzsimons gained possession from a break in mid field. The on-running full back Robbie Brenan took the pass and advanced out of defence, flicked the ball on the James Toher who in turn found Paul Flanagan on the right wing. He found Eoin McGrath with a long ball to the right corner. The rampant corner man was fouled while trying to turn his man and the left footed Toher planted the ground free from thirty meters. For older aficionados of the game it is refreshing to see a young player as James Toher taking the frees from the ground, a skill, unfortunaltely lost to the game. It brings back great memories of Down's Paddy Doherty, Galway's Cyril Dunne, Meath's Tony Brennan, Mayo's Joe Corcoran of the 1960's, Meath's Mickey Fay, Offaly's Tony McTeague, Dublin's Jimmy Keavney and Kerry's Mickey Sheehy of the 1970's, Offaly's Matt O'Connor, Meath's Brian Stafford and Cork's Larry Tomkins of the 1980's and Meath's Trevor Giles of the 1990's. Trim's other corner forward Neill Heffernan was fouled in the fourteenth minute after being prodded with a pass from the industrious mid fielder Toher. Michael Lowther nailed the resulting free.

The Trim lads, at this stage looked in total control but an own goal from their defence in the nineteenth minute brought Colmcilles into the game and they took good advantage of the gift as they hit three unanswered points to forge ahead by three. After some good advancing play by the Reds up the right wing Michael Lowther fisted a well worked point just on half time to leave the his team trailing by two at the interval.

Colmcilles were first to strike after the restart with a point in the third minute but Trim responded immediately with a James Toher points free after Frankie Murlhy, who made a long run was fouled on gaining possession thirty meters out. The East Meath'ers then his three wides in quick succession but from the tenth minute onward the Trim lads took control of the game and hit seven points to Colmcille's two. The first of these was a successful Michael Lowther free after corner forward Eoin McGrath was fouled. Neil Heffernan, Trim's other corner man was fouled in the eleventh minute and James Toher pointed the free and three minutes later he hit another free to put his side in the lead.

Colmcilles gained parity with a point in the eighteenth. Both of Trim's free takers were successful again coming up to the twentieth to push the town side ahead by two points. One minute later Damo McGee swept up the breaking ball in the middle of the field. He hit a long accurate cross field ball to Neil Heffernan and the corner forward hit a peach of a point on the run from forty meters out. Eoin McGrath was again fouled for the umpteenth time in the twenty third minute and Michael Lowther did the honours with the free. Eoin McGrath capped a great personal when he got a point from play with three minutes left and Colmcilles had the last say with a point just before the long whistle.

Trim's full back line of Colm Flaherty, Robbie Brennan and Maudi Power were sound throughout and were well capable of handling the Colmcille's led Graham Reilly full forward line. Ronan Fitzsimons and Paul Flanagan were constantly prodding forward from the wing back position with centre half Stephen Farrell sweeping and mopping up to great effect. As would be noticed from the previous account the Trim midfielders of Frankie Murphy and James Toher ruled that sector. Wing forward Shane Kennedy with his fielding capabilities contributed to the mid field fetching, while the other wing, Mark Gilsenan was ever present playing a defensive role behind midfield. Corner forward Damien McGee played most of his game from the forty to the mid field line and was in the mix for many breaking balls.

A valuable but hard fought win from the Trim lads who never really got away from a resilient Colmcill's side who on another day, if Graham Reilly fires will be difficult to beat.

The Trim team was: Brendan Murphy, Colm O'Flaherty, Robbie Brennan, Maudi Power, Paul Flanagan, Stephen Farrell, Ronan Fitzsimmons, Frankie Murphy, Shane Kennedy, James Toher (0-2), Michael Lowther (0-3), Mark Gilsenan (0-1), Neil Heffernan, Eoin McGrath (1-2), Damien McGee.
The Trim scorers were:
The Trim subs were: Ciarán Joyce, Darryl Phelan, Keith Hamilton, Shane Lenehan, Shane Downes, Seán Mac Donnacha, Gary Clarke, Niall Murray.

The Trim scorers were: Michael Lowther 0-6, james Toher 0-4, Neil Hefferan 0-1, Eoin McGrath 0-1. Tweet

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