Carmody's late, late show secures dramatic victory for Trim

Champions survive despite defeat

Trim...0-1-13 (15)

Dunshaughlin...0-3-8 (14)

The TG4 cameras were in place in Dunsany on Sunday for this SFC showdown - and according to a long-standing club stalwart that was a first, making it something of an historic day for the host club.

The match was recorded as part of that station's GAA highlights package and they had enough dramatic material from this Group C fixture to match any soap opera on prime-time TV.

A big crowd showed up and it's surely a safe to assert that no-one left early because this was a contest that gripped the attention right to the end.

All afternoon it had ebbed and flowed one way then the other before six minutes into added time Trim's Tom Carmody produced a Hollywood moment for the ages when he took a pass from Ciaran Caulfield who had just rampaged down the field.

The tension was intense when Carmody won possession, because the sides were level at 0-14 apiece. He had a micro-second to compose himself before he took aim and arrowed the ball between the posts from about 30 metres out. Almost immediately after that dramatic intervention referee Kieran Olwell blew for time.

Trim had sealed their place in the quarter-finals. Dunshaughlin, the champions were out, or at least that's what many thought.

However, the afternoon's drama wasn't over as a few minutes later it was confirmed that Meath Hill had pulled off a shock victory over Rathkenny in Navan with the help of a last-gasp two pointer. Instead of bowing out Dunshaughlin had survived.

On a well-manicured Dunsany pitch both sides had spells when they were on the front foot. Dunshaughlin started well, raced into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead before Trim hit back to lead 0-7 to 0-5 at the break.

After 60 minutes Ken Robinson's Trim side led by a point. At one stage in added time they were in front by three but the reigning champions hit back to level matters. Then hotshot Carmody made his decisive intervention.

Trim's statement victory was built around some outstanding individual displays from the likes of Caulfield, Aaron Lynch, James Toher, David Lernihan, Tadgh Carty but collectively, as the team the men in red were resilient and focused throughout - and confident in what they were doing.

Lynch was at times irrepressible, his free role suiting him down to the ground. He finished with seven points, including four sweet scores from play that really helped to fuel his team's momentum. Lernihan was an strong, yet mobile, presence in Trim's forward division and he contributed three points with Conor Quigley, Caulfield, Eoin O'Connor, Sean Foley and, of course, Carmody others to raise white flags.

Dunshaughlin, helped by two pointers from Ruairi Kinsella, Luke Mitchell and Tadgh O Dushlaine, were never far behind their rivals. They too showed real grit by retrieving that three-point deficit in added time but they also spurned some very decent chances, especially late on.

They were also denied a goal on 47 minutes when a sharp, incisive move ended with Mathew Costello shooting from close range. We waited for the net to dance but Trim 'keeper Eoin O'Reilly made a super, reflex save.

That moment alone demonstrated how this latest success, which maintains Trim unbeaten run, was a victory for team effort. Trim are now a real force to reckoned with. Dunshaughlin, somehow, are still in contention.

Trim - Eoin O'Reilly; Conor McGinley, Gerry Dwane, Ben Holden; Conor Quigley (0-1), James Toher, Eoin Sweeney; Tadgh Carty, James Murray; Ciaran Caulfield (0-1), Aaron Lynch (0-7 two frees, one 45), Daire Lynch; Eoin O'Connor (0-1), David Lernihan (0-3 two pointer), Harry Purcell. Subs - Sean Foley (0-1) for Purcell 45m, Tom Carmody (0-1) for O'Connor 51m, Jack McGowan for Holden 56m, Davy Murtagh for D Lynch 60m.

Dunshaughlin - Tim O'Sullivan; Fiach Hartigan, Danny Quinn, David Fildes; John McDonagh, Adam Kealy, Ben Duggan; Conor Gray (0-1) Charlie O'Connor; Conor Duke, Ruairi Kinsella (0-5 one two pointer), Tadhg O Dushlaine (0-2 two pointer); Luke Mitchell, (0-3 two pointer), Adam Murphy (0-2), Mathew Costello (0-1). Subs - Fursey Blake for Quinn half-time, Adam Hanley for Duggan 44m.

Referee - Kieran Olwell (Moynalty).