Third quarter blitz seal success for Trim

Leading by just two points at half-time after playing with a slight breeze Trim looked under pressure in their SHC clash with Na Fianna at Dunganny on Friday evening - but that all changed very quickly.

Within the space of seven minutes after the restart last year's finalists put the issue beyond doubt with a devastating spell that saw them bag two goals and ease 11 points clear.

To Na Fianna's credit they didn't buckle and they continued to bring the fight to Paul Kelly's side with Rory Fagan in particularly outstanding form for the Enfield/Baconstown side who matched Trim throughout, apart from that seven minute spell.

Trim were still without seven of the side that started last year's SHC final and they were dealt a further blow after eight minutes when midfielder Conor Quigley picked up a knee injury.

With Quigley out of the game Trim welcomed back Dimmy Higgins and he had a fine game alongside the excellent James Toher at centre-back, while Joey Cole was outstanding throughout.

However, Na Fianna caused Trim plenty of problems with Ethan Devine benefitting from Quigley's absence in midfield to ensure plenty of supply for the pacy Patrick Jordan and the ever-dangerous Slevins, Mark and Peter.

However it was the magnificent Fagan that caused Trim most problems and ensured Na Fianna stayed in the game.

The sides shared the opening 10 points in a frantic first 12 minutes with Kyle Ennis (two), George Douglas, James Andrews and a monster effort from Toher cancelling out scores from Fagan (two), Mark Slevin (Two) and Peter Slevin.

A brilliant point from Ian Birmingham gave Trim the lead for just the second time in the 14th minute and a minute later Mikey Cole was given the slightest sniff of a goal chance and he buried it beyond Adam Farrell to make it 1-6 to 0-5.

Jordan responded with a point for Na Fianna, but Trim had their tails up and forced Farrell into a fine stop to deny Mikey Cole again before Darragh Heffernan and Joey Cole extended Trim's lead to five points.

Dissent from Trim cost them two tap over frees from Mark Slevin either side of a Devine point as Na Fianna narrowed the deficit to 0-9 to 1-8, but again Trim responded well with points from George Douglas and David Murtagh before Birmingham was denied brilliantly by Farrell at the expense of a '65' which Murtagh converted.

However a third spell of three points in succession brought Na Fianna right back into contention as Fagan (two) and Mark Slevin (free) made it 0-12 to 1-11 at the break.

Whatever was said in the Trim dressing room at the break certainly had the desired effect.

A brilliant move finished with a goal for Douglas after just 14 seconds of the restart. By the fifth minute of the half Joey Cole, Douglas and Heffernan added points to stretch the lead to 2-14 to 0-12.

Fagan stopped the onslaught with a super score from midfield, but another Heffernan point was followed by a trademark Mikey Cole goal as Trim opened up an unassailable 3-15 to 0-13 lead with 23 minutes remaining.

The remainder was all about game management and Trim were cool, calm and collected despite finishing with a tally of 18 wides for the second successive match.

After two frees from Murtagh and one from play from Birmingham in reply to scores from Peter Slevin and Fagan Trim led by nine, but a fine goal from Peter Slevin did narrow the gap and gave the scoreline a fairer reflection of the intensity of the contest.

Trim continued to press home with two points from Mikey Cole. After Fagan brought his tally to seven from play Murtagh hit two more frees before Johnny McCloskey had the last word for Na Fianna in a brave but ultimately fruitless battle against a determined Trim.

Trim - Eoin O'Reilly; Luca Taheny, Ben Holden, Danny Coleman; Cormac Slattery, James Toher (0-1), Darragh Heffernan (0-3); Conor Quigley, Joey Cole (0-2); David Murtagh (0-6 four frees, one '65'), James Andrews (0-1), George Douglas (1-3); Kyle Ennis (0-2), Ian Birmingham (0-2), Mikey Cole (2-2). Subs - Dimmy Higgins for Quigley 10m, Daniel Murray for Birmingham 54, Mark Murray for M Cole 56m.

Na Fianna - Adam Farrell; Finn Witchlow, Stephen Slevin, Cian Doherty; Anthony Healy, Luke Boggan, Eoin Bright; Ethan Devine (0-1), Sean Coffey; Rory Fagan (0-7), Ronan Byrne, Peter Slevin (1-2); Michael Heffernan, Mark Slevin (0-5 three frees), Patrick Jordan (0-1). Subs - Johnny McCloskey (0-1) for Boggan half-time, Shane Walsh for Jordan 42m, Oisin Bright for M Slevin 51m.

Referee - Ciaran Flynn (KIlmessan).