Trim maintain their grip on the Jubilee Cup despite being reeled in by a strong Kildalkey finale at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon.

Trim .....................1-16
Kildalkey ............. 1-16

While this finale wasn't as dramatic as the 2020 SHC semi-final, it's high in the rankings of local hurling championship games for drama and excitement..

In the end, it took a stoppage time Mark Healy point to level matters. Heading into added time Trim had moved five points clear. A Noel Kirby point followed by an Evan Fitzgerald goal threw Kildalkey a lifeline.

Add to the mix a line ball decision that infuriated some of the Trim contingent - from the stand the lineman appeared to make the right call.

The leveling score was the last act of the hour. While Kildalkey remain on course for the knockout stage, had 14-man Trim lost their reign would be over after six weeks..

It seemed like a Sunday suanter for Kildalkey, especially when they were a man up and seven points clear just before half-time.

If Paddy Conneely was the main marksman in the first-half,  Trim's James Murray took over the mantle after the break. He posted three points on the bounce in the third quarter, the highlight being a wonderful executed sideline cut into the town goal in the 46th minute.

Conor Quigley pulled back another point for the champions before the water break when Kilalkey led 0-12 to 0-10.

Trim maintained momentum after refreshments were served and Mikey Cullen might have goaled but for the timely advance of Kildalkey 'keeper Mark McCormack.

Joey Cole's 51st minute point leveled matters for the first time since the ninth minute. With Mikey Cullen's goal two minutes later Trim seemed set to prevail. James Toher's 59th minute point left them five clear.

Then came Kildalkey's rally which ensured both sides garnered something from this fixture. 

Kildalkey took about 10 minutes to settle during which time the scores were tied twice. Before the water break the team in blue tagged three points on the bounce to lead by 0-5 to 0-2.

Kildalkey moved seven clear by the 27th minute, their final score of the half being an excellent Paddy Conneely from play. Around this time, Trim endured a setback with the dismissal of Sean Magee on receipt of his second yellow card.

Two Alan Douglas points from play in first-hall stoppage time left Trim five points, 0-4 to 0-9, off the pace at the break.

Within a minute of resumption, a Conor Kearney point moved the team in blue and white six clear. They were still six clear, 0-12 to 0-6,  by the 44rd minute when the Trim rally took hold with the aforementioned trio of James Murray points.

Scorers: Kildalkey - Paddy Conneely 0-8 (7fs); Evan Fitzgerald 1-0; Noel Kirby, Mark Healy, Nicky Potterton 0-2 each; David Harmon, Conor Kearney 0-1 each.

Trim - James Murray 0-8 (4 fs, 2 sls); Mikey Cullen 1-0; Joey Cole, Alan Douglas 0-2 each; James Toher, Conor Quigley, Brian Dowling, Dylan Farrell 0-1 each.

Kildalkey - Mark McCormack; Brendan McKeon, Gary Kelly (C), David Conneely; Mairtin Doran, David Harmon, Conor Fitzgerald; Patrick Potterton, Martin Healy; Brian Conneely, Paddy Connelly, Kevin McKeon; Nicky Potterton, Mark Healy, Evan Fitzgerald. Subs - Conor Kearney for P Potterton (27), Noel Kirby for B Conneely (48).

Trim - Charlie Ennis; Gerard Dwane, Luke Moran, Ben Holden; Diarmuid Higgins, James Toher, Conor Quigley; Mark Molloy, Dylan Farrell; Ian Bermingham, James Murray, Alan Douglas; Brian Dowling, Sean Magee, Joey Cole. Subs - Ciaran O'Rourke for Holden (ht), Mikey Cole for Dowling (ht), Mikey Cullen for Molloy (35), David Murtagh for Bermingham (58).

Referee - Kevin Brady (Louth)

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