Reilly expecting toughest test

MANAGERS VIEW

Coming in as a new manager into a club that had lost out in the last two IFC finals can't have been easy for Trim boss Kevin Reilly, but he appears to have embraced the challenge and is looking forward to his first championship final in charge.

Reilly was part of the Meath u-20 management team in 2020 and had also managed his own club Navan O'Mahonys, but the challenge of trying to take an clearly talented Trim side to a third successive final was one he relished.

"I'm really enjoying my time in Trim. This is a big club with huge potential and massive expectations, the challenge here is to be successful straight away," Reilly told the Meath Chronicle

"That is huge pressure coming into a club, but the players have been brilliant and the club have been hugely supportive of everything we are trying to do. In fairness to the committee they have left no stone unturned to help us on our way.

"Brendan Murphy did an great job before me. Getting to two successive county finals is no mean feat, so he left the team in great shape.

"For me it was just about coming in and putting my stamp on the team. I studied Trim long before getting the job and felt that with just a little change here and there then their luck could change, but the attitude from the players has been the key.

"It would have been very easy for the players to drop their heads after losing two finals in a row, but from day one they have been positive and enthusiastic. They want to win the intermediate championship and have worked hard all year to get here.

"Last year's defeat was a tough one to take, but the way they have bounced back is impressive. We have had massive numbers at training and they have bought into everything we have tried to do. You can see the hunger there."

Trim have only won one SFC crown in their history, but until 2010 they were a long established senior side with great pedigree.

Relegation from the top table was a huge blow for the club, but they have been knocking on the door of success for a few years. However trophies have been scarce, and for that reason Reilly put a heavy emphasis on trying to win the Corn na Boinne this year and create a winning atmosphere.

"We have set out to win every game we play. We have set standards that are expected to be met and if those standards fall below where we want them to be then that is what we work on and address," said the manager.

"Winning the Corn na Boinne was a huge step for us. The club hadn't won an adult trophy at first team level for 18 years, so it was great to get that monkey off the back.

"The aim has always been to win the championship, but we knew from the outset that was always going to be difficult.

"Everyone talks about Trim being the favourites just because they were in the last two finals, but favourites don't just show up and and have a divine right to anything.

"Because we are perceived as favourites we have had a target on our back. Everyone sees us as the big scalp, so we have had to dig deep in many games because other sides have really challenged us.

"Credit to the players, they have been able to win games impressively and also mix it by winning the scrappy, tight games. I think that shows the spirit and determination of the lads to get what they have been working so hard for."

So what type of challenge will Oldcastle bring next Sunday? Last year the north Meath men were embroiled in a relegation scrap just 12 months on from being in the semi-finals, so they are clearly a determined side and Reilly is well aware of just how tough the final will be.

"Next Sunday's final is another massive test for the players, but they are focused on the job in hand," he said.

"The semi-final win over Walterstown was far from perfect and there are certainly areas we have been working on at training.

"Oldcastle will bring another massive challenge and their hunger to succeed will be huge too.

"They endured a tough championship last year, but showed their class to endure those tough times and they are undoubtedly a very good side. They will bring so many challenges that we haven't faced before this year, but we will try to cope with that.

"We are well aware of just how hard we will have to work to achieve our goal next Sunday, but the players are ready for that challenge. Ourselves and Oldcastle are two good footballing sides, so I'm sure it will be a good game, and we are hoping to come out on the right side of it," concluded Reilly.