Trim complete the clean sweep

Trim completed their remarkable clean sweep of Hurling Div 1 titles when they added the u-21 HC crown to the u-13, u-15, minor and senior titles with a hard earned 2-15 to 1-9 victory over determined Killyon at Boardsmill this morning.

Considered as overwhelming favourites to retain their under-21 crown Trim were given their toughest test of the campaign by a Killyon side that ran out of steam against a physically superior and craftier opponent.

Killyon's frustrations at getting so close to Trim before being overpowered in the second-half led to a loss of discipline in the closing stages and after two selectors were booked by referee Mark Reilly for unsanctioned pitch incursions in the final quarter they lost their shape.

The game was gone by that stage and trailing by 1-9 to 2-14 Killyon lost Stefan Holzner to a second yellow card on the hour mark and then three minutes into injury-time a significant scuffle saw Conor L'Estrange, who had been substituted seven minutes earlier, receive his side's second red card for his involvement in the row.

There was still time for Shane Clarke to pick up Killyon's third red card following a late challenge on Ben Holden, but the game was long since over as a contest before those dismissals as Trim marched on.

With 10 of the 20 players Trim used on Sunday morning also playing in the u-20 FC final less that 40 hours earlier they were understandably below the levels they are capable of, but the credit for that must go to Killyon's first-half display that threatened to knock Trim out of their stride.

Justin Coyne, Clarke, Kian Douglas and Niall Smullen took to the game to Trim, but once the defending champions settled their superior stick work saw them take a firm grip of the game with Danny Coleman, Gary Fleming and Ben Holden impressing in defence, while Dylan Farrell and Joey Cole took control of midfield.

Without the services of the talismatic James Murray Trim took a while to find their range in attack, but the predatory goal instinct of Josh Harris yielded two goals, while the lively Conor Quigley, Mikey Cole and Conor McKeown also caused Killyon plenty of problems.

After taking an early lead with a couple of Joey Cole frees, Trim were pegged back by points from Killyon's Clarke and Smullen (free). Quigley restored his side's advantage, but then Killyon received a significant boost when Cathal McKeon netted.

Harris and Smullen (free) exchanged points before scores from Darragh Heffernan and Conor McKeown drew Trim level, 0-6 to 1-3 by the 22nd minute.

Justin Coyne and Mikey Cole traded points to maintain parity, but then Killyon hit a purple patch with points from Clarke, Smullen ('65') and Douglas giving them a three-point cushion.

Trim's response was emphatic with Harris finding the net after a good run by Farrell and then Joey Cole lofted over a free to give Trim an unlikely 1-8 to 1-7 interval advantage.

Smullen restored parity two minutes after the restart, but that was Killyon's last score for 21 minutes and their second last overall as Trim took over.

Harris pounced for his second goal after Mikey Cole's point attempt dropped short and by the three-quarters stage Mikey Cole, Caelum Casserly and Joey Cole (free) pushed Trim 2-11 to 1-8 clear.

After Joey Cole landed another free Killyon's frustrations with a few refereeing decisions got the better of them as two selectors were yellow carded.

Coyne did landed a huge free with seven minutes of the hour remaining, but that hope was extinguished when Farrell and James Foley stretched Trim's advantage to eight points.

After the ill-disciplined distractions it was Joey Cole who closed the scoring to ensure it was Trim's day and at the final whistle the players raced for the sanctuary of the dressing rooms with the rain pelting down at the end of an absorbing contest.

SCORERS

Trim - Josh Harris 2-1; Joey Cole 0-6 frees; Mikey Cole 0-2; Conor Quigley 0-1; Darragh Heffernan 0-1; Conor McKeown 0-1; Caelum Casserly 0-1; Dylan Farrell 0-1; James Foley 0-1.

Killyon - Niall Smullen 0-4 two frees, one '65'; Cathal McKeon 1-0; Shane Clarke 0-2; Justin Coyne 0-2 one free; Kian Douglas 0-1.

TEAMS

Trim - Eoin O'Reilly; Danny Coleman, Gary Fleming, Cormac Doyle; Oisin Hackett, Ben Holden, Harry Cottrell; Dylan Farrell, Joey Cole; George Douglas, Conor Quigley, Darragh Heffernan; Mikey Cole, Josh Harris, Conor McKeown. Subs - Caelum Casserly for Douglas 41 mins, Eoghan Ryan for Doyle 454m, Ciaran Caulfield for Heffernan 47m, James Foley for McKeown 51m, Ben Gaffney for Cottrell 60m.

Killyon - Luke Gallagher; Darren Kilcoyne, Cian Brennan, Harry Smyth; Barry Hannon, James Connolly, Justin Coyne; Kian Douglas, Aaron McElhinney; Patrick McElhinney, Niall Smullen, Conor L'Estrange; Cathal McKeon, Shane Clarke, Stefan Holzner. Subs - Gavin Quirke for McKeon 15 mins, John Tyrrell for Quirke 45m, Michael Ward for L'Strange 57m.

Referee - Mark Reilly (Kilmessan).