2025 - Fairyhouse Steel – Senior Football Championship – Group C Round 2
Trim 2-15 Rathkenny 2-14
In an absolute thriller in Dunganny on Thursday evening, Rathkenny on the back of an amazing win against Dunshaughlin in the first round, met Trim in a match that surely will be one of the games of the championship. Generous sponsors Fairyhouse Steel should have been giving out free samples to strengthen the nerves of the very large crowd gathered in beautiful sunshine to witness a nail-biting encounter that saw two teams that were inseparable until the very last kick of the game when Aaron Lynch calmly slotted over a 45-meter kick to secure full points for Trim.
This game was a demonstration of club championship football at its best. Although some on the sideline may have thought a draw would be a fair result, Trim never contemplated such a thought and stuck to their task and got their just rewards at the death. Rathkenny were magnificent throughout and will be disappointed – but doubtless will cause heartache for Meath Hill and others before this championship is over.
Referee Patrick Coyle got proceedings underway with Trim playing with the advantage of a stiff breeze. Within seconds Trim’s James Toher, who was marking Keith Curtis – Rathkenny’s hero from the first game - got his first intercept of the match in what would be an eagerly watched match-up between wisdom and youthful talent. But on the 2nd minute it was another Meath legend Donal Keogan for Rathkenny who surged forward from midfield to strike a magnificent point to get the scoreboard ticking. Back come Trim from the kick out with Tadhg Carty securing possession and launching the ball forward to Sean Foley who turns and finds Tom Carmody standing far out on the left wing. Carmody glances once and curls the ball high and just inside the upright to get Trim moving on the scoreboard despite audible protestations from the Rathkenny mentors whose view may well not have been the best. From the kick out Rathkenny commenced a very patient build up with Robbie Garry and James O Hare linking up with Keogan and Curtis to move the ball from wing to wing – unhurried. But impatient Trim man Toher once again intercepted to release David Lernihan down the pitch only to strike the ball narrowly wide. Moments later Trim’s full back Ben Holden was called into the fray to repel another Rathkenny attack. But there was a sense that Rathkenny were building nicely when in the 9th minute the patient approach paid off when the ball flew out to Luke Kealy who tore down the right wing and cut in to hammer the ball past O Reilly in the Trim net for a very well taken goal. Trim who had the benefit of the wind needed to respond, and this they did a minute later when Sweeney secured the ball and found Aaron Lynch who launched the ball from outside the 40-metre arc to secure a beautiful 2-pointer and deliver the perfect response to Rathkenny’s goal. But Lynch was only getting started and on the 12th minute, taking full advantage of the stiff breeze, launched a mighty kick from a full 45 metres out to register another 2-pointer to put Trim into the lead for the first time. Lynch added another point from a free a minute later to help settle the Trim lads. But Rathkenny were composed and well organised and steadily built their attack to win a free in the 16th minute that saw Keith Curtis fire the ball across the goal only to narrowly miss the target. It was now Trim’s turn to be under pressure with Rathkenny being awarded another free on the 19th minute that was duly converted by Curtis. Ben Holden who was having a trojan performance at full back linked up with Ciaran Caulfield to strip the ball from the Rathkenny attackers and launched a counter attack that saw Foley at the other end shoot narrowly wide. By the 22nd minute the wind had completely flattened and the game settled into a tense game of cat and mouse. Toher was doing an impressive man marking job on Keith Curtis – a match up that could shape the eventual outcome of the game. Both teams probed each other’s defences and looked for gaps. Such a gap easily opened up in the 24th minute when an excellent Rathkenny attack saw captain Adam Byrne surge from the full back position to easily split the Trim defence and grab his first point of the game to bring the sides level. But level not for long when, moments later, Curtis converted a free to allow Rathkenny regain the lead. At this stage no quarter was been given and Daire Lynch’s serious work rate was receiving particular bruising (but fair) attention from the opposition. But this is championship football and the Lynch brothers - unlike the 2 Oasis buckos up in Croke Park – are a tight unit and work together. Composure regained, Daire secured the ball and off loaded to brother Aaron who tapped the ball over the bar – a perfect response to level the game again. All the indications at this stage were that this game could go down to the wire. On the 27th minute Trim’s Holden secured the ball and darted out of defence and popped the ball to Eoin Sweeney who released the ball to Lynch who creeped the ball over the bar to regain the lead for Trim. But Rathkenny were playing like men with ice in their veins. Very calm and very disciplined. Garry brought the ball out of defence and drove forward, and despite Trim appeals for a free, Rathkenny converted to again level the game. In the dying moments of the first half, 3 excellent intercepts for Trim’s Carty, Eoin O Connor and Toher released Trim forwards, but on each occasion, they failed to convert. Relief for a very composed Rathkenny side as the half time whistle sounded – concern for Trim that such misses, in such a tight game, could be costly.
Half time: Trim 0-08 Rathkenny 1-05
Half time: Trim 0-08 Rathkenny 1-05
Disaster struck for Trim immediately on the restart when Rathkenny secured the ball from the throw in and launched a sudden attack down the left wing that resulted in a 45 metre for Curtis. The resultant kick went high across the goal where James O Hare soared to fist to the back of the Trim net. Only 1 minute gone. Moments later another Rathkenny attack produced another sweetly struck point to suddenly see a 4-point gap open up between the teams. Did Trim have it in them to respond? Yes, was the answer when 2 minutes later, powerful play by David Lernihan saw him burst past his very attentive marker to slot over a point. But Rathkenny were not to be out done when, from the kick out, they secured the ball in midfield and delivered a laser-like pass to Keith Curtis who popped the ball over the Trim cross bar to reinstate the 4-point margin. Things could have been even worse for Trim moments later when a Rathkenny attack was brilliantly cut out by Trim’s Eoghan Ryan who calmly carried the ball out of defence much to the relief of the management on the sideline. Although plenty of time left on the clock there was a clear sense that Trim needed to up their scoring rate and close the lingering 4-point gap. One man that has been dependable for a little bit of magic this season has been Sean Foley. It is said that if there’s an easy way to do something he will certainly find the complicated way. But cometh the hour cometh the man. In the 8th minute a gasp went up on the sideline when a lovely ball out to the left saw Foley infuriatingly spill the ball but in an audacious move regained control and fire the ball low into the back of the Rathkenny net to leave Trim only one point behind. What’s the point in doing things the easy way? Only 1 point now between the teams. Trim management started to refresh matters with a dual substitution of Alan Douglas and Gerry Dwane - who between them must have about 150 years’ experience!!! But Rathkenny prefer youth and Keith Curtis who, minutes later, continued his reliable free taking with another well struck point followed shortly afterwards by another Rathkenny shot that struck the upright and out wide. Not to be deterred Trim swept back into attack with Sweeney surging from the half back line to deliver a lovely weighted pass to young James Murray who, under pressure, calmly turned and claimed his first point of the game. One point gap restored.
Trim now seemed back in their rhythm and playing with a real sense of purpose. Foley was now prowling like an alley cat looking for scraps when his opportunist shot was saved on the line on what could have been a game changing goal for Trim. At this point the game was moving to boiling point.
Aaron Lynch was everywhere in attack but being marshalled by Rathkenny backs determined to try and block him out at all costs – not possible said Lynch as he collected the ball and fired over a lovely point in the 13th minute to bring the teams level once again. Not for long said Rathkenny as they immediately counter attacked with Keogan and Kealy working hard to get the ball forward where they struck a really well taken point to put their nose in front again. Supporters on the sideline were in fever pitch – some were beginning to wonder about the adequacy of their VHI cover as hearts pounded faster than an auld boy seeing the new Massey Ferguson tractor for the first time at the Ploughing. Down the pitch come Trim with Carty bursting through to release Lynch who this time was rugby tackled to the ground winning him a free and a yellow card for the Rathkenny scrum half. Lynch didn’t flinch and popped the ball over. All level again. Rathkenny continued to surge with a composure and a discipline that demonstrated how good this team has developed in the past 2 years.
A critical move in the 18th minute saw Sweeney for Trim attack out from the half back line and carry the ball deep into the Rathkenny half, off loaded and continued his run to receive back a beautifully weighted pass – there was only one thing on his mind as he swung the boot and buried the ball into the top right-hand corner of the Rathkenny net leaving Finn Moore with absolutely no chance. It now looked as though Trim had the upper hand, but true to form in this game Rathkenny had other ideas when minutes later Luke Kealy, who was having a great game, passed to Max McKenna who slotted over for a point. Seconds later Rathkenny struck again with their big mid fielder Keogan converting to bring the gap to a mere one point in favour of Trim. Down the field came Rathkenny again with a determination that showed they were not going to let this game slip. As they bore down with the Trim goal at their mercy, Conor McGinley got a critical touch to stop them retaking the lead. But they were not deterred for long when on the 26th minute McKenna, who was an inspired substitution by Rathkenny, slotted over his second point to level the game once again with only 4 minutes left - but 4 minutes can be a long time in championship football and Aaron Lynch showed what can happen in the dying moments when he struck a lovely left footed shot over the bar to put Trim’s nose back in front. But the twists and turns in this game were far from over when a minute later Trim were penalised for a technical infringement that allowed Keith Curtis convert a free with the clock almost showing 30 minutes played. All square again. The tension in the ground was palpable – at this stage the women in the coffee van had deserted their posts to watch – even the cattle in the neighbouring field looked on with interest – could these teams be separated? – 4 extra minutes said the referee. 2 weary teams squared up for one final effort.
Lynch gathered the ball on the 40-metre mark and strode forward and launched a kick so high that the solitary cloud in the sky ducked for cover as the ball split the posts to put Trim ahead once more. Surely that would seal the game, but not so again said Rathkenny when they attacked from the kick out and drew a free that was taken short to Jenkinson who calmly converted for his point. Unbelievably the teams were level for the 9th time in the game – surely inseparable now.
As the referee was about to raise the whistle to his lips Trim’s gritty Tadhg Carty got the ball in midfield and surged forward only to see his shot well blocked but critically - the ball skidding out for a 45-metre kick.
Up steps Aaron Lynch to place the ball on the white line……. memories of Sean O She’s free for Kerry in ’22 and Stephen Cluxton’s free for Dublin in ’11 drifted into the memories of the initiated. Who else would a team want at a time like this? Lynch steadied his weary legs and struck the ball high……every one in the ground – even the creatures over the fence – looked skyward in silence - time seemed to stall – until the first roar from the Trim faithful on the far side of the pitch. The white flag was raised and the final whistle was blown………a classic had ended. Like Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, these 2 teams indeed were capable of being separated. A wonderful display of football by 2 great teams.
In a match that saw excellent performances on both sides, a man of the match performance by James Toher stood out as a display of superior defending and leadership against a very tricky opponent. Trim’s Ken Robinson and his team on the sideline must be delighted with this result but must also be given full credit for excellent decision making when plotting the critical match ups on the pitch.
Well done to all.
Trim: E O Reilly; C McGinley; B Holden; E Ryan; E Sweeney (1-00); J Toher; C Caulfield; J Murray (0-01); T Carty; E O Connor; D Lynch; D Lernihan (0-01); T Carmody (0-01); A Lynch (0-12); S Foley (1-00)
Subs: D Murtagh for E O Connor; A Douglas for T Carmody; G Dwayne for B Holden; T Carmody for S Foley
