SHC final: Toher's example leads Trim to glory
October 09, 2022
Trim's Mikey Cullen with Domhnall Rogers Ratoath during the Meath SHC final at Pairc Tailteann
Trim claimed the SHC title for the second time in three campaigns with a deserved win over Ratoath at a wet and windy Pairc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon.
Trim ............. 1-13
Ratoath ........ 1-10
James Murray's accuracy from placed balls was one the central aspects of Trim's win but the performance of centre-half-back and captain James Toher had a major bearing on the outcome.
He capped a memorable day with some well-chosen words from the podium while Murray claimed the Harry Connor man-of-the-match award.
The wet surface facilitated James Andrews' 18th minute goal. It made it 1-4 to 0-4 and Jimmy Canty's men took the lead to the finish.
Having endured a 30-year barren spell before claiming the Jubilee Cup in the 2020, they now have won two of the last three renewals.
Victory for the club in the curtain raiser helped them complete a senior-minor double
Staunch defending contributed to Trim's success while goalkeeper Charlie Ennis wasn't pressed into repeating the heroics of the semi-final, he did make a vital intervention in the 47th at the expense of a 65 that O'Hanrahan converted.
The wind and rain were the dominant features of the opening half. Trim were backed by the elements in the opening 30 minutes. They made little headway in the early stages and the sides were level three times in the opening 18 minutes while Ratoath didn't get their noses in front in this phase.
The next score was calamitous for Ratoath goalkeeper Gearoid Crowley who misjudged a James Andrews delivery from the left wing to leave the adjacent scoreboard reading 1-4. Trim outscored the team in blue and gold by 0-4 to 0-1 over the remainder of the half.
Either side of Andrews' goal, James Murray landed sidelines from opposite sides. In stoppage time Mikey Cole cut in along the endline but his goal attempt went across the square and wide.
Wind assisted Trim moved 1-8 to 0-5 clear by half time. Given the strength of the elements, it didn't seem insurmountable. Mikey and Joey Cole could have added goals within five minutes of the start.
Despite those chances, Jimmy Canty's men moved seven points clear by the 48th minute. Ratoath did not relent with Padraic O'Hanrahan's accuracy keeping the door ajar.
A defensive error almost gifted Ratoath a goal while sub Neil Heffernan's 59th minute point completed the Trim tally . In the four plus minutes of added time O'Hanrahan goaled from 20-metre free.
There was time for Ratoath to salvage their campaign but they couldn't fashion the goal that would have brought the game to extra time. Their wait for a second SHC title, and first since 1963, goes on.
Scorers: Trim - James Murray 0-10 (5fs, 1 65); James Andrews 1-0; Neil Heffernan 0-1; Mikey Cole 0-1; Alan Douglas 0-1.
Ratoath - Padraic O'Hanrahan 1-7 (1-4 fs, 0-2 65s); Darragh Kelly 0-1; Gavin McGowan 0-1; Cian Rogers 0-1.
Trim - Charlie Ennis; Gerard Dwane, Dimmy Higgins, Ben Holden; Ciaran O'Rourke, James Toher (c), Conor Quigley; Dylan Farrell, David Murtagh; James Murray, James Andrews, Mikey Cullen; Mikey Cole, Alan Douglas, Joey Cole. Subs - Neil Heffernan for M Cole (47), Brian Dowling for Cullen (51), Pa Ryan for Murtagh (60), Ian Bermingham for J Andrews (63), Gary Fleming for Holden (63).
Ratoath - Gearoid Crowley; Cian Kelly, Domhnall Rogers, Conor McGill; Darragh Kelly, Ben McGowan, Conor Ward; Padraic O'Hanrahan, Niall McLarnon; Daithi McGowan, Jack McGowan (c), Padraig Byrne; Cian Rogers, Bobby O'Brien, Gavin McGowan. Subs - Bryan McMahon for O'Brien (43).
Referee - Stephen Masterson (Kildalkey)
