Celtic secure a cup final ticket

Trim Celtic advanced to the final of the Meath & District League Challenge Cup with a comfortable victory over Louth side Dromin Utd at Navan on Sunday. Trim now face a backlog of games in their quest for Premier League survival only two seasons after they reached the summit of local junior soccer on the last day of the season when they clinched the title for the first time. Now, anchored firmly at the foot of the table they are five points adrift of the safety zone, but crucially, have four games in hand on struggling Slane Wanderers and Navan Town and may have enough resources to conjure up an escape act. Sunday"s test against Dromin did not extend the Meath men to any great degree although both sides were fortunate that Dundalk referee Jim Doyle adopted a lenient approach following an exchange between the players which warranted more than yellow cards. That was an isolated incident although the Cavan / Monaghan Branch referee was also very tolerant towards dissent as the game progressed and players frequently kicked the ball away unpunished after frees were awarded and that contributed to a negative atmosphere on the pitch. Goals in each half from Colm Harte were sufficient to earn a final ticket for Trim Celtic. Paul Campbell made the opening for the first goal before the interval and Paul Gilsenan created the second after the resumption. Dromin offered very little in the form of football, but they would definitely earn an award for whingeing and are only a pale shadow of the side that challenged regularly for honours less than a decade ago. Trim Celtic are capable of playing at a faster pace than was necessary on Sunday and they could pose some problems for Glenmuir in the United Park decider on Saturday, 16th May. 'I"m happy enough with that result, we probably missed a few chances and we"ve been doing that all season, we will have to improve that aspect of our game for the final,' Trim Celtic manager Danny Quinn told the Meath Chronicle. 'We were without Derek Donohoe today, but we might have him for the final, it"s not until the middle of May anyway so we have time to get him back and he would be a big boost for us. 'Glenmuir are a strong team, but I"m confident that we can get a result against them and it would be a great way to finish off the season by winning the cup,' he concluded. Trim Celtic - Barry Callaghan; Mark Gilsenan, Keith Jones, Cyril Halton, David Conway, Aaron Newman, Paul Campbell, Michael Corrigan, Paul Gilsenan, Alan Douglas, Colm Harte. Subs - Pat Conway for Campbell, Gavin Meehan for Corrigan. Dromin - Shane Toal; Ger Cullen, Brian Sharkey, John Boylan, Michael McKeown, Simon O"Shaughnessy, neil McLoughlin, Wayne Kierans, Dean McLoughlin, Carlos Lambe, Darren Noone. Referee - Jim Doyle (Cavan / Monaghan Branch).