Áth Trim v Rath Tó - Wednesday 22nd of May 2024 at 7.45pm in Sean Eiffe Park.
Minors open their Div 2 campaign on Wednesday last in a thrilling encounter with Ratoath.
Ratoath started the quicker of the two, despite playing against a strong breeze, and opened the scoring within two minutes with a well taken point from play. Trim equalised in the 5th minute with a point from Ciara McMorrow following some excellent defending in the full back line. Ratoath continued to mount the pressure on Trim’s defence which, for the most part, dealt with well, but it was the home side who found the back of the net first to give them the lead once again. Trim didn’t let this deter them and worked the ball well up the field which lead to a superb piece of individual skill from Kate McMahon dispossessing the Ratoath goalie, blasting the ball into the back of the net. Ratoath immediately answered with a point which in turn was answered by a point from the aforementioned McMahon.
Following some wayward passing from Trim, Ratoath gained possession, once again, running at the Trim defence who conceded a free in front of the posts. Ratoath took advantage and the ball was tapped in to the. Moments later, Rachel O’Brien was unlucky when the ball narrowly went wide of goal. Sarah O’Connor was on the end of a turned over kickout and pointed a superb point from distance. Ratoath were on the attack again and popped over 2 more points. Trim gained their composure, and the midfield duo of Bláthnaid Hughes and Una Mitchell produced some great outfield movement which resulted in a point for Hughes. This was quickly followed by Ciara McMorrow scoring her second point of the evening.
HT: Ratoath 2-4 Trim 1-5
Trim made two substitutions at half time , bringing on Anna Hegarty at centre half back and Megan Carolan Flynn at full back. Trim started the second half as they finished the first with Naoise Barry finding Layla Stewart who once again showed her incredible ace as she darted across the half back line with purpose. As the pressure mounted on the Ratoath defence Kate McMahon popped up to register her third of the day. Trim’s defence worked tirelessly, with the addition of Hegarty and Flynn in the back line, they intercepted a number of Ratoath attacks, bursting out of the defence and working the ball well into the forwards. Centre half forward Sarah O’Connor kicked a pinpoint pass to corner forward Rachel Hannon who made no mistakes kicking the ball straight over the bar. Una Mitchell then hit the back of the net from a long range shot to put Trim ahead for the first time. Ratoath then scored 3 points in quick succession. Trim’s defence dealt well with the relentless attacks from Ratoath, forcing a number of wides.
Going into the last ten minutes of the game it was all even and all to play for. Then came a blow, Trim were punished for a lapse in concentration which resulted in another goal for the home side. Trim pulled one back quickly with a nice team move up the field and up stepped Hannon once more popping the ball over the bar. Trim then got a free which was kicked over by Sarah O’Connor. Ratoath scored the next two points which gave them a 3 point lead in injury time. The “never give up“ attitude of the Trim team showed as they launched one final attack and Bláthnaid Hughes found herself in front of the Ratoath net. Taking no chances, she blasted the ball, on her left, into the back of the net to draw the game.
This was a hard-fought, entertaining match, with both sides contesting every ball throughout the game. Both teams had their chances to take the win but will be happy to come away with a valuable point each.
The management and players will take many positives from the game including 26 players togging out. It was 60 minutes of hard work, determination and talent that secured a draw.
FT: Ratoath 3-9 Trim 3-9
Trim Scorers: Kate McMahon 1-2, Bláthnaid Hughes 1-1, Una Mitchell 1-0, Sarah O’Connor 0-2 (1F), Ciara McMorrow 0-2, Rachel Hannon 0-2.
Congratulations to Holly O’Donnell who has been named as the minor captain and Ciara Ryan as the vice-captain.
The U17 contingent of the team, and management, said a sad slán to exchange student Paola who spent the last number of months living with her host family in Trim and who joined the club having never heard of, or played, football in the past. As a token of her teams affection, Paola was presented with a set of Trim gear to take back home with her. Slán Paola x
Next game will be early July as the Championship is paused for the state exams. Wishing all our Minor players sitting their exams the best of luck.
Report A. Carolan Flynn
1. NAOISE BARRY 2. AOIBHE O’REILLY 3. CIARA RYAN (VC) 4. HANNAH BOYLE 5. AOIFE VAUGHAN 6. HOLLY O’DONNELL (C) 7. EIMEAR LINSLEY 8. BLÁTHNAID HUGHES (1-01) 9. UNA MITCHELL (1-01) 10. LAYLA STEWART 11. SARAH O’CONNOR (0-02) 12. CIARA MCMORROW (0-02) 13. KATE MCMAHON (1-02) 14. RACHEL O’BRIEN
15. RACHEL HANNON (0-02) 16. ANNA HEGARTY 17. MEGAN CAROLAN FLYNN 18. EMILY SLOAN 19.EABHA MCGRATH 20. ABBIE JONES 21. CHLOE GUNNING 22. EMMA MCLOUGHLIN 24. CLIONA WALSH 25. SARAH RYAN 26. AOIFE GLENNON
