Trim show they mean business once more
Trim demonstrated last evening what we knew all along - that they are the team to beat in Meath when they defeated Kildalkey 2-18 to 1-16 in the A HL Div 1 final on a pristine Boardsmill pitch.
They didn't make the best of starts but once they got going the Trim attack showed a extra edge Kildalkey couldn't match with the two goals engineered by Jimmy Canty's side big factors in carrying them to victory. The first arrived just before the break.
A sweeping move involving Dimmy Higgins, Ryan, James Toher ended with James Andrews delivering a peach of a pass to Davy Murtagh who torpedoed the ball to the net. That score helped Trim go in at the interval 1-10 to 0-11 in front.
Early in the second-half Trim upped their momentum even more and on 41 minutes they struck again. Alan Douglas, who had a very productive evening, found Davy Murtagh with a pass.
He in turn picked out Andrews who finished with conviction. That put Trim 2-13 to 0-11 ahead, and in the clear. Georgie Douglas made a big contribution with three points from play with Murtagh, Toher, Conor Quigley, Pa Ryan and Peter Farrell others to point.
Kildalkey fell away after that initial burst. They played some neat structured hurling early on but they were without a string of topline regulars. Paddy Conneely's free-scoring was exemplary and he finished with 11 points, seven frees with one converted from well inside his own half.
Gary Kelly fired over three fine scores from his midfield role while the redoubtable Maurice Keogh also raised a white flag before leaving the fray.
Brian Conneely bagged a late goal for the Blues but it was a classic case too little too late as an impressive Trim side marched on.
SCORERS
Trim - Alan Douglas 0-7 five frees, one '65'; James Andrews 1-1; Davy Murtagh 1-2; Georgie Douglas 0-3; James Toher 0-2 one free; Conor Quigley 0-1; Pa Ryan 0-1; Peter Farrell 0-1.
Kildalkey - Paddy Conneely 0-11 seven frees, one '65'; Gary Kelly 0-3; Brian Conneely 1-1; Maurice Keogh 0-1.
TEAMS
Trim - Charlie Ennis; Danny Coleman, Gerry Dwane, Eoin Ryan; Dimmy Higgins, James Toher, Conor Quigley; Davy Murtagh, Dylan Farrell; James Andrews, James Murray, Alan Douglas; Mikey Cole, Peter Farrell, George Douglas. Subs - Pa Ryan for D Farrell 24 mins, Mikey Cullen for P Farrell, Joey Cole for Mikey Cole 44m, Neil Heffernan for Andrews 52m.
Kildalkey - Mark McCormack; David Conneely, Conor Fitzgerald, Brian Coffey; David Harmon, James McNally, Brin Kelly; Gary Kelly, Kevin McKeon; Paddy Barnwell, Paddy Conneely, Evan Fitzgerald; Brian Conneely, Maurice Keogh, Mark Healy. Subs - Luke Rickard for Keogh half-time, Derek Doran for McKeon 43 mins, Cian Colhoun for B Kelly 46m.
Referee - Bernard Heaney (Clann na nGael)
FULL MATCH REPORT AND QUOTES IN NEXT ISSUE OF THE MEATH CHRONICLE