Husqvarna Centre - PR Coyne - Adult Football League - Division 1
Trim 0-18 Wolfe Tones 1-17
A trip for Trim to the far side of Navan and to the den of league leaders Wolfe Tones was always going to be a difficult task and that’s what it transpired to be. Wolfe Tones who already had 3 wins under their belt were probably already thinking of the summer and championship football while Trim, with a very respectable league start of one win and 2 draws, knew that they had to first attempt to establish themselves as a deserved place holder in Division 1. Despite hard chasing, Trim found themselves trailing a 5-point margin at half time that soon extended to an impossible 11-point margin at the 40-minute mark. But ‘impossible’ is not a concept recognised by this Red team. Under the leadership of Conor Quigley, Trim slowly and patiently started the claw back that saw them score 9 unanswered points in the final 18 minutes. In the final minutes of the game a brutal ‘tackle’ on Trim’s man of the match Cathal O Reilly saw Wolfe Tones reduced to 14 men but, unfortunately for Trim, the final whistle brought their resurgence and the game to a finish – and a narrow 2 point loss.
Playing with the wind, Wolfe Tones went into a 2-point lead in the first 2 minutes with a free and an easy, uncontested point before Tom Carmody got Trim on the scoreboard with a competently struck point in the 4th minute that was quickly cancelled out by the home team with a near 40 metre free kick. From the kick out, Sean Fitzgerald for the visitors released Daire Lynch who laid the ball off to Carmody who calmly fisted the ball over the bar for his, and Trim’s second score. But in a game that was quickly into a fast rhythm, Wolf Tone’s struck a beautiful 2 pointer that signalled real intent from them and saw the opening up of an early 3-point margin. Trim defenders Mc Ginley and Ryan were called into early action to repel a very dangerous Wolf Tones forward line who looked sharp. But sharp too was Eoin Sweeney for Trim who in the 9th minute pounced on a loose ball in the half back line and did his very familiar surge forward that resulted in him being brought down on the edge of the small arc allowing Carmody to again convert the resultant free. Both teams were now freely attacking and counterattacking. One moment Eoin O Reilly in the Trim goal was called upon to pull off a great save at the feet of a Wolfe Tone forward while moments later Sean Foley shoots narrowly wide of the home side’s goal from an acute angle. On the 12th minute, Trim’s Quigley secured the ball to release Eoin O Connor who slotted the ball over the bar with ease. Minutes later, Quigley did it all himself by launching a great solo run that saw him pierce the Wolfe Tone’s defence and secure the point that brought the teams level at 5 points each. In the face of a very determined Wolf Tones attack Trim were being called upon to defend hard. Cathal O Reilly – though not the biggest man on the pitch – was relentless in his tackling and his constant runs forward. Trim’s Brian Bolger at centre back stood tall against 2 very impressive marauding home side midfielders. On the 17th minute Tone’s constant pressure paid off with a well-taken point from play to put them ahead. Not for long though when Trim’s David Lernihan got the ball in mid field and drove through the heart of the Tone’s defence to get his first and level the game again. Back came Wolfe Tones who struck 2 more points to once again regain the lead. A critical move in the 25th minute saw Trim patiently moving the ball calmly across the middle of the field and, just as they threatened the Tone’s goal, were dispossessed. In a blink of an eye the home side swept down the field and hit the back of the Trim net – a harsh lesson on Division 1 football for the Reds. Moments later the Trim goal was again under attack but this time a super block by Bolger gave temporary relief. Eoin Ryan was next called up for duty by Trim when he disposed a Tone’s attacker and delivered a lovely pass to O Reilly who was brought down to allow Carmody to convert the free. But the home side were not going to let Trim gain too much momentum when they struck a beautifully converted 2 pointer to open the margin to 4 points. Moving towards the break, Trim’s Quigley released Ian Birmingham for a nicely taken Trim point only then to be cancelled out by a converted free at the other end of the pitch. Exactly on the half time whistle Cathal O Reilly, who was having a magnificent game fired the ball to Fitzgerald who converted to the sound of the whistle. Half time and the home team with a 5-point lead and Trim beginning to look like 2nd best.
Half time: Trim 0-09 Wolfe Tones 1-11
From the restart Trim freshened up its attack with the introduction of Davy Murtagh but it was Tone’s who started at a merciless pace that saw them hit an excellent 2 pointer free on the 3rd minute followed by 2 more points – one which came from a free from Trim indiscipline. In fact, this was something that Trim needed to take notice of – the referee was very keen to use his whistle at the slightest hint of foul play. By the 11th minute Tones had opened up an almost insurmountable 11-point lead and the game looked certainly over for Trim………but nobody told Trim that the match was over. Despite the constant sound of the referee’s whistle, Trim gathered pace and rallied. Lernihan converted a free on the 12th minute and moments later the fist of Carmody did likewise. 2 more points followed from frees from the ever-reliable Carmody and Lernihan – the margin was down to 7 points with 9 minutes left on the clock. A very fit looking Josh Harris came on for Trim to give an exhausted Carmody a break. But no break for Quigley who gathered in midfield, surged and struck a beautiful 2 pointer from well outside the 45-metre line to close the margin to 5 points with 3 minutes on the clock. Still impossible?? 2 minutes later a very brutal tackle on Trim’s O Reilly reduced Tone’s to 14 men and halted play for urgent treatment for a player who had an outstanding game. On the restart, and with Trim’s Ben Holden replacing O Reilly, the ball was fired out to Lernihan who was superb throughout……who calmly stroked the ball over the bar from outside the 40-metre mark for a wonderful 2 pointer. The margin was now a mere 3 points and Wolfe Tones were now in full defensive mode. On the 32nd minute James Murray further reduced the margin to 2 points with his well taken point. Fortunately for Wolfe Tones, and disappointingly for Trim, the referee brought matters to an end with a well-practised blast of the whistle. Despite an excellent final quarter, Trim were beaten by the clock and what proved to be an unassailable lead built in the middle third by Wolf Tones.
There are 2 things that any impartial observer will take from this match. Wolfe Tones will have a long league and Championship ahead where they are likely to be in the final shake up of both competitions. Trim, although beaten on Wednesday night, are every bit a Division 1 team. They never gave up despite an 11-point lead at one stage. The resilience and character that they displayed in this match – and the evident leadership from the sideline – means that there are far more positives than negatives from this game. These 60 minutes will stand to the team from Trim when things inevitably get tough during the warm summer months.
Well done to all.
Trim: E O Reilly; C McGinley; J McGowan; E Ryan; C O Reilly; B Bolger; E Sweeney; C Quigley (0-03); D Lernihan (0-05); I Bermingham (0-01); S Fitzgerald (0-01): D Lynch; S Foley; E O Connor (0-01); T Carmody (0-06)
Subs: D Murtagh for S Foley; J Murray (0-01) for I Bermingham; J Harris for T Carmody
