Douglas points the way for Trim victory

Trim recorded a hugely important victory over Kiltale in the third round of the SHC at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday evening. Kiltale went into the game with an unbeaten record, but were unable to cope with a determined Trim team that dictated throughout, to the delight of manager John Andrews who was unhappy with the pitch. "I'm happy with our performance, but the grass on that pitch is too long for hurling," he told the Meath Chronicle. "Two wins in-a-row with such a young team is very satisfying, we got a hiding from Kilmessan, but at least we are back in contention now." Andrews will be optimistic about another win in the next round when Trim tackle pointless Gaeil Colmcille, but on Sunday evening he was happy to praise his players. "We have a very young team so we still have a lot of work to do, Alan Dougles has taken on the responsibility of frees and he was good this evening. "The other two players in the full-forward line, Neil Heffernan and Dimi Higgins also made a big contribution," he added. Trim produced a solid first-half performance which was sufficient to earn a 0-9 to 0-5 interval lead. Douglas was the chief marksman for Trim with five pointed frees and two from play while Jimmy Canty and Higgins, a scratch golfer at Co Meath, completed the tally. Kiltale stayed in touch during a well-contested first-quarter and were on level terms (0-4 each) with points from Peter Durnin (two frees), Stephen Donoghue and TJ Lynch who gave them a sixth minute lead. Kiltale's scoring rate dried up subsequently with Durnin managing to convert a free in the 18th minute completing their first-half tally. Trim sustained the momentum after the break with Douglas finding the net in the fifth minute and he also tacked on two points which helped his side to a 1-11 to 0-8 third-quarter advantage. Durnin's accuracy from placed balls kept Kiltale in contention, he converted two frees and a '65' before he blasted to the net from a 20-metre free at the end of the third-quarter. That left Kiltale adrift by three points, 1-8 to 1-11, but they were rocked back to reality two minutes later when Douglas found full-forward Heffernan who finished to the net. That goal diluted the Kiltale challenge and some solid Trim defensive play created an opportunity for another Douglas point following a great clearance. Shane Ashe got on the end of the clearance and provided the final pass for Douglas who added another point to his tally before the end. Trim - B Carley; G Kennedy, B Keogh, J Lee; R Andrews, C Doyle, C Joyce; N Murray, D McGee; J Canty (0-1), S Ashe, T Farrell; A Douglas (1-11 seven frees), N Heffernan (1-0), D Higgins (0-1). Subs - J Toher for Farrell 45 mins; K Higgins for Ashe 58m. Kiltale - O Regan; W Mahady, P Donoghue, D Donoghue; S Donoghue (0-2 one free), S White, D Kane; B Dixon, I Douglas; TJ Lynch (0-1), J Donoghue, C Sheridan; P Garvey, P Durnin (1-6, five frees, one '65'), J Kelly. Sub - D Dixon for Garvey half-time. Referee - Gerry O'Brien (Wolfe Tones).