Trim 3-12, Castletown 2-12

Tensions were high in the Trim camp coming into this game with their side planted at the bottom of their section of the intermediate football championship. A loss would leave them staring a relegation fight while a win would leave them in contention to qualify for the quarter final stages of the competition. Needless to say the importance of this pivotal game was the motivational factor to fight for a positive result. They were never surpassed on the scoreboard at any stage during the game but any time they opened a formidable gap the resilient Castletown side fought back thus keeping supporters on the edge of their seats.

By the middle of the first half, Trim had opened up a gap of five points with four points from the ever accurate James Toher and a ripping goal from full forward Neil Heffernan to leave the score at 1-4 to 0-2. The goal was the end of a well worked moved from the Trim lads when they moved the ball from their full back line through the hands of Eoin Kelly, Robbie Brennan, Ciaran Joyce, Alan Douglas to find Eoin O'Connor on the right wing. He worked his way towards the end line and fired the ball into the crowded square where the arch goal poacher Heffernan was on hand to plant the goal. Castletown fought back with their best period of the game and hit four unanswered points to reduce the deficit to one point by the twenty third minute. Owen McGrath helped the Trim side to gain some composure when he nailed a fine point in the twenty third minute after winning the ball in the left corner and working his way into a scoring position. Castletown had the final say of the half when they fired over two points to leave the teams going in even at the break on a scoreline of 1-5 to 0-8.  

The Trim lads commenced after the break with great gusto and had a goal and point clocked up after just four minutes courtesy of James Toher, who scored both. The goal came from a penalty when Toher himself was pulled down in the square after he gained possession from Neil Heffernan who had weaselled his way through the Castletown defence and then laid on the pass. The North Meath'ers replied with two points in the seventh and ninth minutes but that was their final slavo for the following twenty minutes as the Trim side took a grip on the game and scored an unanswered 1-6 to end up at the thirtieth minute eleven points ahead on a score line of 3-12 to 0-10. The Trim points came from James Toher, (three), Alan Douglas, Owen McGrath and Robert Bourke. The goal came from Neil Heffernan who popped up for a second time of asking to hit the net.

The referee Gerry McGivney played four minutes of extra time which was significant. Castletown attacked the Trim citadel continuously during these minutes in a late attempt to pull back the deficit. They were successful in that they scored 2-1 but the Trim lads had enough in reserve to run out winners by three points.

All of the Trim backs acquitted themselves well throughout while the middle of the field was bossed by Frankie Murphy and Alan Douglas. Murphy's high fielding was complimented on many occasions by Douglas' piercing runs through the opposition defence. In the forwards James Toher amassed a total of 1-8 which signifies a player in fine form this year and his free kicking is also invaluable to keep his side's scoreboard ticking.  

Up front the Trim forwards were constantly probing while half forward Shane O'Connor put in a workmanlike performance, especially in the first half, to keep a valuable supply to the strikers.

This successful result propelled Trim from sixth and bottom position on the table to third behind Ratoath and Dunderry with all to play for in the fifth and final round before the quarter finals.

The Trim team was: James Andrews, Colm O'Flaherty, Robert Brennan, Eoin Kelly, Shane Downes, Ciaran Joyce, Rory McGrath Frankie Murphy, Alan Douglas, Shane O'Connor, Owen McGrath, James Cullen, James Toher, Neil Heffernan, Eoin O'Connor

The Trim subs were: Robert Bourke, Ciaran O'Rourke, Robbie Kenny, Ciaran Giblin, Cian Downes, Peter Farrell, Michael Cullen, Patrick Lennon, Richie Murphy.

The Trim scorers were: James Toher 1-8 (penalty and six frees), Neil Heffernan 2-0, Owen McGrath 0-2, Alan Douglas 0-1, Robert Bourke 0-1.

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