Trim 0-15 Dunshaughlin 0-14

It was a blustery Sunday afternoon in Dunsany where unbeaten Trim faced a Gourmet Food Parlour sponsored Dunshaughlin side fractured in defence, missing several well-known names through injury. The fans, the faithful and the families turned out in their droves to watch the reigning champions fight to keep their campaign alive.

Referee Kieran Orwell got proceedings underway, and Charlie O’Connor rose highest to palm the throw-in to Matthew Costello, who surged forward and was fouled. Luke Mitchell stepped up and nailed the opening score, a fine two-pointer from outside the arc.

Tadhg O’Dushlaine then slipped a clever pass into Aaron Murphy for another score, before Murphy turned provider for Conor Gray to make it four without reply. Dunshaughlin were on top early, but Trim soon found their rhythm.

Ciaran Caulfield opened Trim’s account, followed by two scores from the lively Aaron Lynch. Then came a point and a superb two-pointer from David Lernihan to put Trim in front. Aaron Lynch extended the lead from a free before being denied a goal by Dunshaughlin keeper Timmy O’Sullivan. Just before the break, Costello split the posts to keep his side in touch.

Half-Time: Dunshaughlin 0-5 Trim 0-7

Dunshaughlin made their first change at the break, with Danny Quinn making way for Fursey Blake.

It was Trim who struck first through Aaron Lynch, before a Luke Mitchell free once again brought the deficit back to two. Trim responded with the next two scores, stretching their advantage to four.

Adam Hanley was then introduced in place of Ben Duggan, who was struggling after an earlier clash. From the moment he entered, Fursey Blake brought energy and tenacity, linking up brilliantly with Matthew Costello. Costello’s goal chance looked destined for the net, only for the Trim goalkeeper to pull off a fine save.

The next score came from Ruairí Kinsella, who opened his account and reduced the gap to three. Then came a moment of inspiration ,Tadhg O’Dushlaine cutting inside to land a superb two-pointer, leaving just a single point between the sides.

But Trim hit back. A Dunshaughlin infringement under the new 4v3 rule gifted Trim a free, which Aaron Lynch converted. Kinsella replied to close it again, but Lynch, this time from a 45 with the wind behind him restored Trim’s two-point cushion.

Dunshaughlin kept battling, with Ruairí Kinsella firing over a long-range effort. Yet Trim always seemed to have an answer, adding two more scores to move 0-14 to 0-11 ahead.

With time slipping away, Dunshaughlin rallied once more. Kinsella, outstanding in the closing stages, hit a sensational two-pointer into the breeze to leave just one between them. Aaron Murphy then stepped up with the equaliser, and the black and amber faithful cheered with belief.

But in the dying seconds, Trim landed what proved to be the winner, toppling the 2024 senior champions by the narrowest of margins.

And yet....... the story wasn’t over. As the final whistle blew in Dunsany, word began to filter through from Páirc Tailteann. In a nail-biting finish between Meath Hill and Rathkenny, a late two-pointer from Meath Hill left all three sides , Rathkenny, Meath Hill, and Dunshaughlin level in the group standings.

The Twist in the Tale

On score difference, it was Dunshaughlin who emerged top of the mini-league, their championship hopes surviving by the finest of margins. The Fans , faithful and families could finally breathe the defence of their title lives on.

 

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