Rathkenny came away from Pairc Tailteann on the wrong side after losing by a single point to Trim in this Fairyhouse Steel sponsored Meath Senior Football Championship Group D Round One game played last Saturday evening, August 10th.

Rathkenny 2-10 Trim 1-14

After a minute’s silence following the passing of Rathkenny stalwart Tommy McKeever, referee Andrew Smith threw in the ball and Rathkenny with the aid of a first half breeze attacked the town goals in the opening half. The men in Black and Red had a great start with two points inside two minutes as Keith Curtis popped over Rathkennys opening point quickly followed by another point from his cousin David Curtis. The teams were level on seven minutes as Trim sent over a brace of frees from the boot of Tom Carmody. Donal Keogan fisted over the ball following a surging run to put Rathkenny back in front on twelve minutes. It got better for the Raths ninety seconds later as Ciaran O’Hare gained possession and ran at the Trim defence before passing to David Curtis who did well to find the onrushing James O’Hare who finished smartly to the net. Keith Curtis sent over a free on eighteen minutes and followed that up with a point from play a minute later. Trim responded with a point from David Murtagh as the clock reached twenty minutes. Rathkenny went six in front again when David Curtis scored from play with eight minutes remaining in the half. Trim replied with their last point of the half through Tom Carmody. Rathkenny then registered three wides before corner forward Noah Jenkinson sent over from play to leave it Rathkenny 1-7 Trim 0-4 at the break.

Rathkenny almost goaled within thirty seconds of the restart but Trim netminder Paul Munnelly blocked Joey Curtis’ goal attempt. A minute later Keith Curtis sent over his fourth point of the evening. Trim responded with three points in three minutes, Carmody from play and then a free followed swiftly by a point from Tadhg Carty. Trim saw a goal chance go over the bar from Conor Quigley and there was now three points separating the sides. Rathkenny substitute Oisin Cummins-Fuller was quickest to react on forty-two minutes when a pointed effort hit fell just short as the Trim netminder pushed the ball against the crossbar. The Rathkenny man gained possession and sidestepped the advancing goalkeeper moved a couple of yards along the endline and buried the ball in the far-right corner, leaving six between the sides once again. Trim replied within a minute, once again through Tom Carmody before Ciaran O’Hare added Rathkennys ninth point of the game at the tree quarter stage.

Trim sent over the next two points from play as the clock ticked past fifty minutes. Keith Curtis sent over a free with eight minutes of normal time remaining. It proved to be Rathkennys final score as Trim notched up 1-3. The goal coming on fifty-four minutes when Ciaran Caulfield found Tom Carmody who sent the ball to the net leaving two points in it. Trim substitute David Lernihan reduced the gap to a single point before Tom Carmody levelled matters with ninety seconds of normal time remaining. In the second minute of four injury time minutes, Rob Bourke put Trim in front for the first time. Next up for Rathkenny are Skyrne in Simonstown on Saturday August 24th.

Rathkenny - Charlie Cullen; Sean O'Hare, Adam Byrne, Niall Branigan; James O'Hare (1-0), Ross Gore, Padraig McKeever; James Macken, Donal Keogan (0-1); Ciaran O'Hare (0-1), Joey Curtis, Christy Meade; David Curtis (0-2), Keith Curtis (0-5 two frees), Noah Jenkinson (0-1 free). 

Subs - Oisin Cummins-Fuller (1-0) for Joey Curtis 38m, Daniel Gavagan for Christy Meade 44m, Corbin Jenkinson for Niall Branigan, Eoghan Heavey for Noah Jenkinson both 52m, Jack Gore for James Macken 60m

Trim - Paul Munnelly; Jack McGowan, Brian Bolger, Ben Holden; David Murtagh (0-1), Declan Dowling, Eoin Sweeney; Rob Bourke (0-2), Tadhg Carty (0-1); Conor Quigley (0-1), James Murray, Ciaran Caulfield; Kyle Ennis, Ian Byrne, Tom Carmody (1-8 three frees).

Subs - Sean Fitzgerald for Murray 39m, Eoghan Ryan for Dowling 44m, David Lernihan (0-1) for Holden 52m, Daire Lynch for Murtagh 55m,

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