Trim topple O'Mahonys to seal A place

Impressive display seals Senior B title

Trim.............................................................2-15

Navan O’Mahonys..........................................0-8

Minutes after this Senior B camogie showdown ended on Sunday the Trim players broke into a happy song that reverberated around the splendid Boardsmill playing arena. “Trim are going up, Trim are going up, Trim are going up,” they sang.

It was an appropriate ditty to break into at that time because this comprehensive result confirmed that Trim are indeed moving up to Senior A - and on the evidence of this high-quality display they are likely to do quite well there too.

They were by some way better on this occasion than an under-performing O’Mahonys side, building up a 1-9 to 0-6 interval advantage before pushing on in the second-half to win with plenty to spare.

In the group game between these two sides Trim also won but on that occasion it was by a relatively tight seven points, 3-12 to 2-8. This time around the difference was 13 as O’Mahonys struggled to deal with the power and skill the team in red where able to whip up.

There was a brief spell in the opening minutes when O’Mahonys were able to match their opponents score for score but then with seven minutes played Trim engineered their opening goal with Grace Cullen knocking the ball to the net with her foot from close range.

The goal put Trim 1-3 to 0-3 in front and that’s where they stayed for the rest of this physically demanding encounter.

The game’s second-goal on 49 minutes effectively ended the contest as a competitive affair with Shona White firing the ball to the net with her first touch of the game.

As a way of announcing yourself on the stage Leinster rugby star White’s contribution could hardly be bettered as she had only arrived on the field as a substitute a minute earlier. Her goal also put her side 2-15 to 0-7 to the good and sealed the issue.

This was one of those occasions when one team, Trim, sparkled from the start and other, O’Mahonys, never quite got moving in the way they can.

All over the pitch Trim had players who gave outstanding displays with Ellen Murray, Amy Boyle, Rian Kearns, Alex Donoghue and Anna Foley only some of those who sparkled in red.

Murray made a huge impact from play, topping off her display with truly massive 12 points, five frees, three 45s. Cullen ended up with 1-1 while Boyle did a lot of sound defensive work yet still found time to get forward and land two points from play.

Goalkeeper Grainne Ní Laoire also played her part making a couple of smart saves most notably near the end when she blocked a goal-bound shot from one of O’Mahonys’ best performers - Isabel O’Connor.

O’Mahonys only played in fits and starts and relied a good deal on the hard work of Cara Ratty to keep them within touching distance.

Ratty finished with five points, four frees and one '45'. Lauren Donegan also converted a free for the Hoops who could only muster two scores from play from Izzy Kinsella and O’Connor. It was never going to be enough to cause O’Mahonys serious concern.

Instead a superbly fit Trim side prevailed, their margin of victory a compliment to the efforts of all the players and the management and support personnel of Anton O’Neill, Richie McCabe, Michelle Forde, Alex McCabe, Caroline Halton, Andrew Kelly and Liz Payne.

A lot of work from a lot of people went into ensuring that Trim are indeed going up.

Trim: Grainne Ní Laoire; Lauren Farrell, Leighanne Massey, Katie Holden; Amy Boyle (0-2), Julieanne Murtagh, Ellen Bermingham; Alex Donoghue, Rian Kearns; Blathnaid Hughes, Anna Foley, Ellen Murray (0-12 five frees, three '45's); Hayley Kennedy, Grace Cullen (1-1), Emma Hanifin. Subs: Emma O’Neill for Kennedy 44m, Shona White (1-0) for Donoghue 48m, Rachel McCormack for Cullen 57m.

Navan O’Mahonys: Lizzy Brennan; Megan Kinsella, Amanda Feeney, Alannah Brady; Anna Gardiner, Tara Fay, Roisin Tobin; Annie Hogan, Lauren Donegan (0-1 free); Jorja Keogh, Lauren Woods, Izzy Kinsella (0-1); Cara Ratty (0-5 four frees, one '45'), Aoibhinn Kielty, Isabel O’Connor (0-1). Subs: Saoirse O’Regan for M Kinsella 49m, Dayna Keogh for Brady 63m.

Referee : Jason O Buachalla (Dublin).