Ennis's 15-point haul boosts Trim to u-15 title

Kyle Ennis was in sensational form as Trim claimed the Ted Murtagh Cup for the 2020 u-15 HC Div 1 with a resounding 3-22 to 0-6 victory over a Navan O'Mahonys side that played most of the second-half with just 14 players at St Loman's Park last night.

Ennis made hay in the sparkling sunshine with a flawless performance that yielded 15 points in a remarkable display which stunned O'Mahonys and left them playing second fiddle.

The 42nd minute dismissal of Sean Betson following a late strike on Eoghan Ryan had no impact on the result as Trim were already well on their way to victory.

Even though O'Mahonys made life difficult for Trim in the opening quarter it was the hosts who got off to the ideal start with Tadhg Carty and Ennis combining to set up Daniel Murray, son of Trim coach Declan, for the opening goal after just three minutes.

That goal was sandwiched between pointed frees from Ennis as Trim raced 1-2 to 0-0 clear, but then O'Mahonys settled with O'Toole converting a '65' and then hitting a massive free from well inside his own 65-metre line before Quinn also converted a free to make it 0-3 to 1-2.

Trim's response to that spell under the cosh was impressive with Ennis converting a free and a '65' either side of a super score from Heffernan to lead 1-5 to 0-3 at the water break.

Quinn and O'Toole combined again to close the gap to four points with O'Toole on target, but then Trim took over with another Ennis free followed by a brilliant goal from Carty, following a superb pass from Ennis.

Ennis and Carty stretched Trim's lead to 10 points before Sean McDermott closed the first-half scoring to leave O'Mahonys trailing by 0-5 to 2-8 at the break.

When play resumed Trim upped the tempo again. O'Mahonys managed just one further point, a Quinn free in the 45th minute, while Trim tagged on another 1-14 to ease to victory long before Derek Ryan's final whistle.

Ennis and Heffernan added two points to Trim's first-half tally before Carty followed up on a brilliant save by Rian Porter to pull a loose ball to the net to make it 3-10 to 0-5.

Heffernan, Ennis and Cormac Slattery added points for Trim before Betson was sent-off and it was Quinn who responded with the converted free to make it 0-6 to 3-13 at the second water break.

When play resumed Trim tagged on another nine points without reply with Ennis (seven, four frees), Heffernan and Carty adding significant gloss to an already hugely impressive championship winning performance.

Full match report and photographs from Friday's final in Tuesday's Meath Chronicle.

SCORERS

Trim - Kyle Ennis 0-15 nine frees, one '65'; Tadhg Carty 2-2; Darragh Heffernan 0-4; Daniel Murray 1-0; Cormac Slattery 0-1.

Navan O'Mahonys - Colm O'Toole 0-3 one free, one '65'; Jack Quinn 0-2 frees; Sean McDermott 0-1.

TEAMS

Trim - Eoin O'Reilly; Ben Gaffney, Cormac Doyle, Darragh Smyth; Braden Curley, Caelum Casserly, Padraig Walsh; Darragh Heffernan, George Douglas; Sean Murray, Eoghan Ryan, Cormac Slattery; Daniel Murray, Tadhg Carty, Kyle Ennis. Subs - Josh Ayton for S Murray half-time, Seamus Evans for Smyth, Eamonn Yeates for Slattery both 50 mins, Kevin Cantwell, Lorcan Rogers, Aaron O'Rourke.

Navan O'Mahonys - Rian Porter; Sean O'Donnell, Finn McNally, Sean Betson; Oran Lawlor, Colm O'Toole, Evan Cully; Jack Quinn, Riordan Russell; Tom Condon, Sean McDermott, Rian Breathnach; Dean Walsh, Eoghan Nugent, Colin Scanlon. Subs - Fionnan O'Connor for Scanlon 44 mins, Jack Lafford for Lawlor, Lorcan McDermott for Cully both 53m, Peter McMeyler, Sean Davis.

Referee - Derek Ryan (Na Fianna).