Newman points Trim to first Ladies final

After a couple of years of near misses Trim booked their place in the final of the Ladies Junior C for the fist time following a hugely impressive 1-15 to 1-12 victory over Seneschalstown's second string at St Loman's Park last night.

Katie Newman was in sensational form for the winners kicking nine points in a consummate display, but it was by no means a one woman show as Trim had excellent performers all over the field.

Opting to play against the stiff breeze in the opening half Trim were pinned back for long periods, but produced a dogged, determined defensive display with Kate Dunne and Seneschalstown's Ruth commons engaged in a Titanic tussle.

Seneschalstown opened the scoring, but Trim responded superbly with Newman converting a free in the sixth minute before she turned creator with a fine pass to pick out Shona White for a classy goal.

Trim extended their lead with a point from play for Newman, but after the sides traded scores it was Seneschalstown who took a firm grip on proceedings with a 1-2 blast in a five-minute spell.

The visitors continued to pile on the pressure and were awarded a penalty, but Meath minor goalkeeper Jodie Leavy produced a brilliant save and retained possession to clear the danger.

Seneschalstown did manage to pull four points clear before the outstanding Aoibhin Shortt pulled one back for Trim to leave her side trailing by 1-4 to 1-7 at the break.

After the resumption Trim used the wind to good effect with Newman (two) and Rachel McCormack closing the gap to the minimum.

Seneschalstown continued to press with Commons in particular a threat. However superb defending by Emily O'Brien, Dunne, Sophie Purcell, Ellen Dennis, Isabelle Varley and Aoife Slattery limited the dangerous Seneschalstown forwards.

Newman restored parity and in a blistering spell she added another point from play while Lauren Fagan, Sophia Maguire and McCormack all found their range to edge Trim into a four point lead.

Seneschalstown enjoyed their purple patch after the second water break and managed to claw the deficit back to just two points, but with Newman and Maguire in fine form Trim prevented the concession of a second goal and after eight agonising minutes of injury-time they held on to book their place in their first ever adult football final.

Trim will now face Kilbride in the Junior C final on Saturday 12th September, time and venue to be confirmed.

Trim - J Leavy; E O'Brien, K Dunne, S Purcell; A Slattery, E Dennis, I Varley; A Bolger R McCormack (0-1); A Shortt (0-2), L Fagan (0-1), S Maguire (0-2), K Newman (0-9), S White (1-0), A McDonnell. Subs - R Milner for Slattery, A McDermott, A Downes, H Fagan, D Fahey, M Corrish, M Tully, D Brady, S Mahon, H Dardis, H Sherry, M Dennison, A O'Brien, K Forde.