Ben Hoey's 54th minute goal from a penalty was central to Simonstown Gaels narrow win over Trim in this SFC opener on Saturday evening at Pairc Tailteann

Simonstown ........ 1-7
Trim ...... ....... 1-5

Hoey accounted for half of his side’s total, putting 1-2 to his name.

Unlike the SFC fixture at this venue 24 hours earlier this was a contest but was lacking in quality.

Both teams were wasteful in front of the posts with Simonstown marginally more economical.

Even allowing for the blustery wind and the sun, this was a poor fixture. It remains to be seen how Trim recover from this defeat with Dunboyne and Seneschalstown still to come.

Simonstown lost corner-back Mark Devlin in the 51st minute, just before Trim’s goal, but had the resolve to ride out this setback.

Simonstown were stronger on the pitch and off it with their subs making a bigger impression overall.

Having endured three losses in the round robin stage last year and having to come through the relegation series with their status intact, it is a postive start for Gordon Ward’s side.

Both halves produced seven scores with Simonstown building on their interval advantage before Cullen’s goal.

Successive brilliant points, Brian Conlon’s effort from an acute angle followed by James Toher’s one from play were two of the few highlights of the hour.

Toher’s second score of the game turned out to be Trim’s last point in this fixture as they struggled to turn the elements to their advantage.

A Hoey pointed 47th minute free proved to be the Gaels final white flag of the hour.

One Trim sub, Mikey Cullen seemed to give Trim the edge with a 51st minute goal, punched home at the town goal, at the second attempt.

That left it 1-5 to 0-7 with Trim in front for the first time since Alan Douglas’ opening score.

Despite playing with the elements, the wind and sun, Trim didn’t score again, but not for the want of trying. The Simonstown defence proved resolute in the final moments. With Devlin’s return they were able to see out five minutes of added time.

The opening quarter yielded just three points with Trim taking an early lead through Douglas before Simonstown responded with two Padraig McKeever frees.

With both sides passing up chances, the next score didn’t arrive until the 25th minute when a Ben Hoey effort from distance left Simonstown 0-3 to 0-1 ahead.

The sun and blustery wind made it difficult for players but Trim got back on level terms by the 29th minute following points from Mikey Cole and James Toher (free).

In the first minute of added time Padraig McKeever registered his third point of the half with a free from 45 metres to leave the Simonstown 0-4 to 0-3 ahead at the break.

Scorers: Simonstown - Ben Hoey 1-2 (1-0 pen, 0-1f); Padraig McKeever 0-4 (4fs); Brian Conlon 0-1.

Trim - Mikey Cullen 1-0; Alan Douglas 0-2; James Toher (1f) 0-2; Mikey Cole 0-1;

Next, round two, Sat Aug 12, at Bective - Trim v Seneschalstown. Sun, Aug. 13 at Walterstown - Simonstown v Dunboyne;

Simonstown - Robbie Burlingham; Mark Devlin, Stephen Moran (c), Mark Gardiner; Brian Conlon, Josh Carolan, Aaron Chinchilla; Shane Barry, Michael Gavin; James Heaney, Padraig McKeever, Brian McGrath; Luke Caffrey, Sean Conlon, Ben Hoey. Subs - Aaron Farrelly for Caffrey (25), Sean Tobin for Heaney (ht), Andrew Kearney for Chinchilla (38), Eoghan Gough for S Conlon (44).

Trim -  Peter Farrell; Eoghan Ryan, Ger Dwane, Eoin Sweeney; Daire Lynch, Conor Quigley, Jack McGowan; James Toher, Rob Bourke; Ciaran Caulfield, Alan Douglas, Sean Fitzgerald; Tom Carmody, Aaron Lynch, Mikey Cole. Subs - Ciaran O'Rourke for Sweeney (44), Mikey Cullen for Cole (47), David Murtagh for D Lynch (59), Declan Dowling for McGowan (60). 

Referee - Patrick Coyle (Curraha).

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