Horgan's high-flying heroes overcome incredible odds and make history
Trim Celtic have three players sent off yet still hold out to win Leinster Junior Cup
Founded in 1967 Trim Celtic have won many trophies over the years but surely none were claimed with the same dramatic flourish as Robbie Horgan's side bagged the Leinster Junior Cup on Sunday.
Brian Faulkner displayed his long-established goal-poaching skills to bag the only goal of the game in the opening half - but it was the events of the final few minutes of the contest that will stay long in the memory of those who witnessed it, especially those who were sporting the green and white of the Meath club.
The home of Home Farm FC in Whitehall was bathed in pleasant summer sunshine for this well-attended, engaging contest with the story of this final unfolding like something out of Roy of the Rovers.
Trim Celtic won despite having THREE men sent off. Callum Ennis, who had come on as a substitute, was the first to make the long lonely walk after just 70 minutes after he was shown a second yellow for a foul. Aaron Williams was next on 76 minutes, again a second yellow after an off-the-ball incident.
It all meant Trim Celtic were under a relentless siege for much of the second half. They survived a few scares and their problems were further compounded when Sean Fitzgerald was also shown red in the first minute of injury time for handling the ball on the goal-line. Not only that Gorey Rangers were awarded a penalty. The contest looked destined for extra-time, at the very least.
Step forward Conor Gilsenan. The goalkeeper has only played a handful of games for Trim Celtic after coming out of retirement.
With goalkeeper coach Kevin Connick proudly watching on he dived to his right diving full length to save Stephen Kinsella's well-struck penalty kick. The ball came back out to but was driven over the bar by another Gorey player. Instead of redemption Gorey's chance had gone.
Instead the save sparked incredible scenes of joy among the Trim Celtic fans who spontaneously broke into a chant of "Super keeper, super keeper." Seldom was a chant so accurate.
Those fans had to endue another minute or so of excruciating pain as Gorey attacked again but there was to be no second chance for the Wexford team.
Trim Celtic had done the impossible. Another chapter had been written in the history of the club set up by a group of local soccer enthusiasts all those years ago. One of those, Christy Ginnerty, was present today and he could have been forgiven for reflecting back on those days.
The victory was an incredible achievement for the Trim Celtic manager Robbie Horgan and his management team who won the NEFL Premier and Challenge Cup double last season. Horgan has taken the club to new heights introducing a level of professionalism that has borne rich dividends.
No Meath club has won the Leinster Junior Cup and they didn't create many chances in this clash. The goal arrived against the run of play. Mark Leavy floated the ball into the Gorey box. The defence struggled to clear. Instead the ball fell to Faulkner who instinctively flicked the ball with his head to the net.
Just before the break Gilsenan made a super, low save from one of Gorey's chief marksmen Paul Brennan. Then the pattern of the second-half unfolded Gorey Rangers attacking relentlessy.
Adam Fox had a shot that flew just over for Trim Celtic but the traffic was one way. Despite losing three players the Trim Celtic held out in heroic fashion to create history.
Trim Celtic - Conor Gilsenan; Ger Murphy, Ciaran O'Connell, Sean Fitzgerald, Conor Walsh, Dean Courtney, James Goggins, Adam Fox, Brian Faulkner, Mark Leavy, Aaron Williams. Subs - Callum Ennis for Courtney 54 mins, Wesley Gibbons for Faulkner 82m.
Gorey Rangers - Conor Kinsella; Ryan Callan, Glenn O'Brien, Paul Murphy, Sean Murphy, Stephen Kinsella, Conor Casserly, Stephan Moloney, Cormac Breslin, Gavin O'Brien, Paul Brennan. Subs - Mark Woods for O'Brien, Killian Cushe for Breslin both 85th min.
Referee - Nathan Bannon.