Trim hold on in frantic finish

Oh the drama in Pairc Tailteann on Sunday! In the 60th minute Trim looked comfortable with a seven-point lead and on their way to a SHC semi-final date with Ratoath, then in the space of 50 seconds Kildalkey struck two goals to set up a tense finish during which Trim survived - just about, 1-21 to 2-16.

Those goals from Conor Kearney and Nicky Potterton, either side of a Darragh Heffernan point for Trim, brought Kildalkey to within two, 2-15 to 1-20.

Kyle Ennis looked to have settled Trim with a fine score, but 10 seconds beyond the announced two minutes of injury-time Kildalkey almost snatched a winner but Dimmy Higgins dived full length to divert Evan Fitzgerald's batted effort off the line. Conor Kearney fired the follow up over the bar to close the deficit to two again.

Even though injury-time was up, referee Kevin Brady continued to play on and in a frantic goalmouth scramble one of the referee's umpires drew his attention to a Kildalkey technical foul which gifted Trim a relieving free out.

Everyone expected the final whistle, but play continued and Kildalkey launched one last attack which James Toher intercepted and that prompted the last blow of Brady's whistle.

It was heart rate accelerating stuff that Trim should have avoided. After a tight and hugely entertaining opening half, Declan Murray's side were by far the better team after the break and led by nine points on a couple of occasions.

However, with someone like Paddy Conneely in their ranks Kildalkey were always threatening and Trim were never as comfortable as their significant advantage suggested.

Despite being without the suspended Mikey Cole, the injured James Andrews and Gerry Dwane and with James Toher hobbling badly throughout Trim were impressive with James Murray outstanding and Toher, Gary Fleming and Higgins excelling in defence.

Joey Cole, Mark Molloy and David Murtagh ensured Trim dominated midfield and with Ennis providing excellent support for Murray Trim looked well in control and comfortable until those nervy four minutes of injury-time.

The game started lively with 11 of the first 12 scores coming from play. Ennis fired Trim into a 0-2 to 0-0 lead inside three minutes before points from Evan Fitzgerald and a Conneely free, either side of a Murray score, closed the deficit to 0-2 to 0-3.

Ennis's third point stretched Trim's lead, but two superb scores from Conneely restored parity at the end of the opening quarter. Then came a significant spell.

Evan Fitzgerald looked certain to net for Kildalkey, but he was denied brilliantly by Eoin O'Reilly, on the counter attack Trim struck a goal of their own with Darragh Heffernan applying the finishing touch and seconds later brilliant skills from Conor Quigley created the opening for him to make it 1-5 to 0-4.

Points from Quigley and James Murray (free) were cancelled by scores from Evan Fitzgerald and Conneely (free) before brilliant scores from Evan Fitzgerald and Luke Rickard made it 0-8 to 1-7.

Conor Fitzgerald looked to have goaled for Kildalkey, but his effort was brilliantly stopped on the line by Fleming and boosted by that let off Trim finished the half with points from James Murray (two, one '65') and Joey Cole to open up a 1-10 to 0-8 interval lead.

Another point from a '65' and one from play from Murray stretched Trim's lead to seven. Brin Kelly kept Kildalkey ticking over, but when James Murray (free), David Murtagh and George Douglas added to Trim's tally to make it 1-15 to 0-9 it looked all over bar the shouting, but there was still plenty of shouting.

Kildalkey hit three of the next four points, two from the excellent Rickard and one from a Conneely free, with Quigley replying for Trim. Mark Molloy ensured a 1-17 to 0-12 third quarter lead, but Kildalkey refused to lie down.

Niall McNally and the returning Kearney had points cancelled out by James Murray (free) and his brother Daniel, but then came the late drama.

McNally pointed in the 52nd minute to make it 0-15 to 1-19, but Trim defended well and looked to be coasting to victory. That was until Kearney pulled on a loose ball in a goalmouth scramble and found the net. Heffernan responded with a point for Trim, but then Potterton somehow managed to find a way past O'Reilly for Kildalkey's second goal.

It was frantic, frenetic stuff, but Trim held on and stay in the hunt as Kildalkey bow out with their boots on.

Trim - Eoin O'Reilly; Gary Fleming, Ben Holden, Danny Coleman; Eoghan Ryan, James Toher, Dimmy Higgins; Joey Cole (0-1), Mark Molloy (0-1); Darragh Heffernan (1-1), Conor Quigley (0-3), David Murtagh (0-1); Kyle Ennis (0-4), James Murray (0-8 three frees, two '65s'), George Douglas (0-1). Sub - Daniel Murray (0-1) for Douglas 47m.

Kildalkey - Caemerhon Smyth; David Conneely, Brin Kelly (0-1), Brendan McKeon; Gary Kelly, Martin Healy, Evan Fitzgerald (0-3); Patrick Potterton, Brian O'Halloran; Luke Rickard (0-3), Nicky Potterton (1-0), Cian Colhoun; Paddy Conneely (0-5 three frees), Niall McNally (0-2), Conor Fitzgerald. Subs - Paddy Barnwell for Colhoun 39m, Conor Kearney (1-2) for C Fitzgerald 47m.

Referee - Kevin Brady (Dundalk Gaels, Louth).