IFC: Trim use their get out of jail card
April 20, 2015
Trim's James Toher and Evan Stephens Dunderry contest the high ball during the Meath IFC game at Cortown.
Trim 1-9 Dunderry 1-8
If you were looking for drama on Friday night last then Cortown was the place to be as the local football derby between Trim and Dunderry unfolded. For fifty eight minutes the game was not endowed with excitement or great skill but with a minute and a half left to play the drama unfolded. With Dunderry three points in front their corner forward worked his way to the right hand side of the Trim square and unleased a screamer of a shot across the goalmouth to see his shot go inches wide of the post. A hugh sigh of relief came from the Trim supporters realising that they had got out of jail.
From Peter Farrell's kickout, the Trim lads in desperation worked the ball down the field where it ultimately reached full forward Owen McGrath. He had been outstanding all night and had won every ball that came his way. This one he won again and was jostled to the ground. He managed to arise and found a gap among the crowded goal mouth and squeezed the ball through to the Dunderry net. With time up in the thirtieth minute Trim had miraculously drawn the game. From the kickout Trim gained possession in the middle of the field. They worked the ball forward and earned a free forty five meters out. Some Dunderry dissention at the referees decision afforded him the decision to move the ball forward to thirty five meters out. With Trim and Dunderry hearts in their mouths James Toher stepped up to take the free. A pressure kick to say the least. Cool hand James made no mistake. He split the posts. Trim went in front for the first time in the game with one minute of extra time played. The final whistle was blown just after the Dunderry kickout.
Dunderry settled quicker and had two points on the board by the seventh minute. A nervy Trim got their first point in the tenth from a James Toher free after Owen McGrath was fouled thirty meters out. Dunderry planted two more unanswered points in the eighteenth minute to move three points in front. Toher was on target with a free for Trim in the twenty first. He had won the free himself after fielding a long Frankie Murphy pass to the edge of the square. Dunderry forged five points ahead when they netted in the twenty fifth minute but James Toher kept the Reds in contention with his third pointed free one minute later.
Half time score Trim 0-3, Dunderry 1-4.
The half time talk seemed to work well for Trim as they had two points clocked up just six minutes after the resumption. The first of these was a cracker from Mark McCormack who fired over from the left had side while moving at speed from his wing back position. The second was from a Toher free earned by centerfielder Luke Moran as he advance towards goal at speed. Dunderry scored again in the tenth minute to keep in front by three. In the following ten minutes and the finishing line in sight the intensity increased but neither side could gain ascendency. Three points apiece were scored in this period thus leaving Dunderry three points up with seven points left. It was stalemate then until the cusp of full time when the drama unfolded.
Final score Trim 1-9, Dunderry 1-8. A character laded recovery from Trim.
Best for Trim were left corner back was Rory McGrath who had an assured game in front of goal backed up with some fine high fielding. Centre fielder Alan Douglas continuously spliced the Dunderry defence with his piercing runs from mid field while up front full forward Owen McGrath was unmanageable. His art of winning difficult ball under pressure caused havoc to Dunderry in front of goal. James Toher kept his side in the game with his ever accurate frees and his contribution in general play was also enormous. Frankie Murphy led the attack from centre forward and his fine fielding around the centre of the field kept Trim spirits from flagging.
The Trim team was, Peter Farrell, Colm O'Flatherty, Eoin Kelly, Rory McGrath, Shane Downes, Cian Downes, Mark McCormack, Alan Douglas, Luke Moran, Ciaran Joyce, Frankie Murphy, James Toher, Shane O'Connor, Owen McGrath, Robbie Kenny.
The Trim subs were, Neil Heffernan, Ciaran O'Rourke, Ciaran Giblin, Robert Brennan, Eoin O'Connor, Darryl Phelin, David Foley, Karl O'Dwyer, Michael Cullen , Richard Murphy, Stephen Doyle, Paul Munnelly, Conor McMorrow.
The Trim scorers were: James Toher 0-8 (all frees), Owen McGrath 1-0, Mark McCormack 0-1.
