Trim overcame the concession of a goal in each half to finish strongly and claim Corn na Boinne with a minimum margin win over St Patrick's at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday

Trim  .....................0-20
St Patrick's   ......... 2-13

Trim put in a strong final quarter to see off a spirited showing by St Patrick's who put a bad start behind them to almost claim the title.

To their credit Trim were undaunted by the passing up of three goal chances in the second-half. Brian Dowling saw two attempts stopped by Pat's 'keeper Philly O'Brien early in the second-half

Later Dowling had another goal attempt superbly blocked by Dermot Quinn. Despite these misses Trim moved 0-15 to 1-10 ahead at the second water break.

Sub Liam Brennan's 50th minute goal restored the lead for St Pat's but despite the attacking efforts of Shane and Donal Landy they were unable to maintain their advantage.

A significant factor in Trim's success was the contribution of their subs with Mikey Cullen getting two points, while Rob Bourke and Ben Holden got one point each with the outcome still in the balance.

When Ciaran Caulfield completed his four-point tally in the 55th minute, it was 0-19 to 2-10. The Stamullen-Julianstown club managed three of the last four scores but a late goal attempt by sub Niall Mooney in the fifth minute of added time was blocked by the Trim rearguard and his follow up skied over the bar.

With whatever benefit the strong bustery wind offered, St Patrick's hit the front within a minute of the off when Donal Landy pointed a free following a foul on himself.

Trim responded positively with four points before Donal Landy had his second score, to make it 0-4 to 0-2 with 12 minutes gone.

Kevin Reilly's men reasserted themselves with three points on the spin, including Aaron Lynch's fourth point of the half to lead by 0-7 to 0-2 at the water break.

The break seemed to tame Trim's momentum while St Pat's stormed to the front with Neil O'Flaherty's 20th minute goal central to their push.

Ronan Kearns and Daithi Whyte's side moved three points clear on two occasions in the second quarter.and led by 1-8 to 0-8 when Dermot Quinn posted their last score of the half in the 24th minute.

Three unanswered points saw Trim regain parity courtesy of Aaron Lynch (two) and James Toher (a stoppage time free).

It was 0-11 to 1-8 at the break and no indication that the swirling wind favoured either side.

Within two minutes of resumption, Ciaran Caulfield had Trim back in front.  By the 41st minute they were a goal clear when Cullen pointed. But, there was to be another twist.

Scorers: Trim - Aaron Lynch 0-7 (3fs, 1 45); Ciaran Caulfield 0-4; Alan Douglas 0-3; Mikey Cullen James Toher 0-2 (1f) each; Rob Bourke, Ben Holden 0-1 each.

St Patrick's - Donal Landy 0-5 (2fs); Neil O'Flaherty 1-1; Liam Brennan 1-0; Dermot Quinn 0-2; Shane Landy 0-2 fs Niall Mooney 0-2 (1f)'. Kieran Lynch 0-1

Trim - Peter Brennan; Gerry Dwane, Luke Moran, Brian Bolger; Daire Lynch, James Toher, Ciaran O'Rourke; Conor Quigley, Sean Fitzgerald; Paul Munnelly, Alan Douglas, Ciaran Caulfield; Brian Dowling, Aaron Lynch, Eoin O'Connor (C). Subs - Ben Holden for Bolger (35), Mikey Cullen for O'Connor (38), Ciaran Joyce for Dowling (44), Ian Bermingham for Fitzgerald (48), Rob Bourke for Munnelly (57).

St Patrick's - Philly O'Brien; Adam Byrne, David McQuillan, Shane Byrne; Kieran Sullivan, Darren Hagan, Martin McKenna; Kieran Lynch, Padraig Nulty; Barry Mooney, Neil O'Flaherty (C), Shane Dowling; Donal Landy, Shane Landy, Dermot Quinn. Subs - Shane McGinty for McKenna (16), John Curtis for Nulty (44), Liam Brennan for B Mooney (48), Sean Baxter for Lynch (57), Kevin Cassidy for Byrne (57).

Referee - Patrick Clarke (Kilmainhamwood)

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