Trim recover from tentative start to claim silverware
Trim picked up their first piece of football silverware in a decade when they proved too resourceful for Simonstown Gales with a 1-13 to 0-11 victory in the Premier FC Div 2 final at Pairc Tailteann today.
That outcome was the least likely looking result at half-time when Trim trailed by three points (1-3 to 0-9) after enduring a thoroughly frustrating opening 30 minutes.
They didn't score from play until Mikey Cole sent over in added time and they had missed numerous point and goal chances up to that stage.
Contrast that to an efficient Simonstown performance that saw the Navan side take that thoroughly deserved three-point interval lead.
It was almost too easy for the Navan men with a brace apiece from Shane McEnery (one free), Aaron Chincilla and Chris O'Neill (one
'45) with one each by Eoghan Gough, Ian O'Rourke and Eddie Nash.
For Trim, David Murtagh missed an early goal chance as Owen McGrath's 12th mniute pointed free was all they could muster for most of the half.
They got a lifeline when Paul Munnelly converted a 27th minute penalty, but then they lost Frankie Murphy after he sustained an arm injury.
Trim finished an extended half with a flourish as Cole and Patrick Quigley sent over from play.
There was only one team in it after the resumption and despite stubborn Simonstown resistance the points flowed for Trim who were ahead by the second water break, 1-8 to 0-10.
It was Simonstown's turn to miss chances and O'Neill was probably the guiltiest when he fluffed his lines in the small square with a goal on.
However, it wasn't all down to that miss and Trim's victory had more to do with a greater desire, spirit, character, determination, any or all of those were the main ingredients in this recovery.
Fionn O Hanluin and Gough managed a point apiece for Simonstown while Trim reeled off the scores, and Cole also missed a goal chance.
McGrath sent over three (two frees) points for Trim, James Cullen and James Murray (two each), Sean Foley, Mikey Cullen and Quigley ('45') were the marksmen in that second-half during which each player made a huge contribution to the victory.
SCORERS
Trim - Owen McGrath 0-4 three frees; Paul Munnelly 1-0 penalty; Patrick Quigley 0-2 one '45'; James Cullen 0-2; James Murray 0-2; Mickey Cole 0-1; Michael Cullen 0-1; Sean Foley 0-1.
Simonstown Gaels - Shane McEnery 0-2 frees; Aaron Chincilla 0-2; Chris O'Neill 0-2 one '45'; Eoghan Gough 0-2; Fionn O Hanluin 0-1; Eddie Nash 0-1; Ian O'Rourke 0-1.
TEAMS
Trim - Peter Farrell; Dylan Finnerty, Cathal Birmingham, Eoin Sweeny; David Murtagh, Daryl Phelan, Paul Munnelly; Frankie Murphy, Diarmuid Higgins; Patrick Quigley, James Cullen, Mikey Cole; James Murray, Owen McGrath, Michael Cullen. Subs - Rory McGrath for Bermingham 22 mins; Joe O'Donoghue for Murphy 33m.
Simonstown Gaels - Ronan Duffy; Mark Devlin, Dean Curran, Stephen O'Reilly; Eddie Nash, Ian O'Rourke, Shane T Gallagher; Mark McCabe, Sean Conlon; Shane McEnery, Seamus Kenny, Aaron Chincilla; Robert Reid, Chris O'Neill, Eoghan Gough. Subs - Shane Kiernan for Gallagher 22 mins, Ben Gibney for Reid half-time; Fionn O Hanluin for McEnery 40m.
Referee - Jack Gordon (Walterstown).