SHC semi-final: Podge's stoppage time point ousts Trim
September 30, 2023
Gavin McGowan gains possession for Ratoath as Trim's James Toher, Ciaran O'Rourke and Dylan Farrell close in during the Meath SHC semi final at Pairc Tailteann
Padraig O'Hanrahan's stoppage time free dethroned Trim after an exciting SHC semi-final at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday evening. PHOTOS
Ratoath .......... 2-17
Trim ............... 1-19
O'Hanrahan's 10th point of the hour came from free on the terrace side of the ground about 40 metres from the old swimming pool end and earned their ticket to a second SHC final on the bounce.
Both sides conjured up some excellent scores with Dylan Farrell's 37th minute point from his own 65 being the pick of the Trim scores.
Trim led for most of the way until the final quarter when boosted by Niall McLarnon's 47th minute goal that put Ratoath in the driving seat. It left the board reading 2-12 to 1-14 and the east county side were never headed again. The scores were tied on five occasions subsequently.
A Ratoath goal in each half had a major bearing on the outcome. The first arrived in the 20th minute courtesy of Gavin McGowan's close range effort. They had fallen 0-3 to 1-5 in arrears before the full-forward struck.
Trim's fourth minute goal was their first score of the game and came from Alan Douglas' well-struck penalty following a foul on the holders' top scorer. It sustained Jimmy Canty's men until the final quarter.
The wet and blustery conditions seemed to favour Ratoath while Trim were without Dimmy Higgins, Ger Dwane and Conor Quigley. Trim rarely threatened Gearoid Crowley's goal while his opposite number made a brace of outstanding saves.
Charlie Ennis did brilliantly to kept out Padraig O'Hanrahan's 32nd minute penalty awarded for a foul on Gavin McGowan. It left Trim 1-9 to 1-6 to the good. Joey Cole close the firsr half scoring leaving the champions 1-10 to 1-6 ahead at the break.
Mikey Cole's charges halved the deficit with two minutes of the restart with points from sub Cian Rogers and Padraig O'Hanrahan (free). The margin was down to the minimum following Gavin McGowan's 35th minute point.
Trim's positive response was to outscore Ratoath by 0-4 to 0-1 over an eight-minute spell.to lead by 1-14 to 1-10 in the 41st minute. Two O'Hanrahan points from placed ballls but the gap to two points midway through the half.
McLarnon's goal - after he cut in from the right wing - seemed to lilt the balance Ratoath's way as it earned them a slender lead, 2-12 to 1-14. The sides shared 10 points over the remainder the fixture, but Trim were chasing the game over the remainder of the fixture.
Scorers: Ratoath - Padraig O'Hanrahan 0-10 (5fs, 2 65s); Gavin McGowan 1-2; Niall McLarnon 1-0; Ciaran O'Hanrahan 0-2; Cian Rogers 0-2; Sean Corbett 0-1.
Trim - Alan Douglas 1-12 (0-10 fs (1-0 pen); David Murtagh 0-2; Mikey Cole 0-2; Dylan Farrell 0-1; Mikey Cullen 0-1; Joey Cole 0-1.
Ratoath - Gearoid Crowley; Tomas Corbett, Conor McGill, Sean Murphy; Tom Fadden, Ben McGowan, Liam Kelly; Ciaran O'Hanrahan, Niall McLarnon; Daithi McGowan, Jack McGowan, Cian Rogers; Padraig O'Hanrahan, Gavin McGowan, Sean Corbett. Subs - Padraic Byrne for S Corbett (27), Padraic Byrne for S Corbett (45).
Trim - Charlie Ennis; Gary Fleming, Ciaran O'Rourke, Eoghan Ryan; Ben Holden, James Toher, Pa Ryan; David Murtagh (0-1), Dylan Farrell; Alan Douglas, James Andrews, Mikey Cullen; Mikey Cole, James Murray, Joey Cole. Subs - Caelum Casserly for M Cole (50), Ian Birmingham for Murray (59).
Referee - Bernard Heaney (Clann na nGael)
