Dunshaughlin 0-13 Trim 1-6 An improved second-half showing saw Dunshaughlin overcome Trim in this Commons Hardware SFC Group C fixture at Bective on Tuesday evening to secure a last eight place by topping their section. The result also means Dunshaughlin finish the round robin phase as the only side with a 100% win record but it wasn't an impressive showing by Gordon Ward's men in a poor game on a pitch that held up well despite the recent heavy rain. Dunshaughlin trailed by 0-3 to 0-4 at the break but outscored their opponents by 0-10 to 1-2 thereafter. In a game where all the scores came from open play, former county player David Crimmins finished 0-4 to his name and had a hand in several of his side's other scores. He shared scoring honours with Trim's Conor O'Keeffe whose goal left his side 1-5 to 0-6 to the good after 41 minutes but they managed just one further score, a 56th minute point from the same player that cut the deficit to a goal, 1-6 to 0-12. Trim were greatly disadvantaged by the dismissal of wing-forward Paul Gilsenan, on the say-so of a linesman, after an off the ball incident in the 37th minute with his side leading by 0-5 to 0-4. Crimmins and Trim's Neil Heffernan exchanged points before O'Keeffe got on the end of move to net from close range and restore his side's advantage. Only a big win here and a similar result for Duleek/Bellewstown over Donaghmore/Ashbourne offered Trim a slim chance of maintaining an interest in the business of the competition. The other contenders for the knockout stages from this group drew 0-9 each at Pairc Tailteann, to bolt the door on Trim's faint hopes of advancing. All Dunshaughlin needed to do was avoid defeat and they were assured of a quarter-final place and they did just that with a string of fine points in the final quarter. The pick of them was a fine effort from another former county player, Niall Kelly, that left it 0-9 to 1-5 after 44 minutes and Dunshaughlin remained in front to the end. Despite being a man short Trim kept plugging away and were denied a goal in stoppage time when Dunshaughlin 'keeper Ronan Gogan managed a double save from Eoin McGrath and Heffernan. Points from Heffernan (two) and Gilsenan left Paddy Clarke's charges 0-3 to 0-0 in front at the end of the opening quarter. Nearly 17 had elapsed when Cillian Finn opened Dunshaughlin's account. Trim best score came courtesy of Douglas and left them 0-4 to 0-1 in front in the 27th minute before points from Crimmins and Conor Staunton left Dunshaughlin trailing by the narrowest margin at the interval Dunshaughlin - R. Gogan; T. Johnson, K. McTigue, A. Johnson; M. Ahern, C. King, D. Kealy (0-2); C. Finn (0-1), N. Kelly (0-1); T. Dowd (0-1), M. Reilly (0-1), C. Staunton (0-2); D. Crimmins (0-4), R. Maloney, C. O'Dwyer. Subs - D. Devereux (0-1) for Maloney (23 ), R. Yore for Ahern (50), M. Johnson for Staunton (54), C. Farrelly for Dowd (59 mins). Trim - B. Murphy; C. Delargy, D. Hegarty, M. Power; S. Farrell, D. Fay, R. Fitzsimons; S. Kennedy, C. O'Keeffe (1-1); M. Lowther, C. Joyce, P. Gilsenan (0-1); A. Douglas (0-1), N. Heffernan (0-3), E. McGrath. Subs - P. Flanagan for Delargy (46), F. Murphy for Joyce (50), R. Brennan for Farrell (58). Referee - J. Gordon (Walterstown). Tweet

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