Fairyhouse Steel – Senior Football Championship – Group D Round 1
📝 Martin Bourke
📝 Martin Bourke
Trim 1-14 Rathkenny 2-10
A bright sunny evening in Pairc Tailteann, welcomed Rathkenny back to the senior ranks in what promised to be a testy Championship opener against Trim. Playing with a light breeze, Rathkenny got off to the better start with 2 quick points in as many minutes to get the recent promotees quickly into their stride. By the 7th minute Trim had levelled the game with 2 confidently taken frees by the ever-consistent Tom Carmody who was resuming his scoring record after an excellent innings throughout the league. Moments later Trim could have moved ahead when a superb break by James Murray released Kyle Ennis on an attack that was only just thwarted. Ennis, who was making his senior championship debut for Trim looked like a man who was prepared to mark the occasion with maximum effort. Rathkenny, themselves were not short of effort when they surged down the field minutes later and looked clear on goal only to be denied by an excellent block by another of Trim’s championship debutants, imposing full back Brian Bolger. Back went the action to the far end of the pitch where Trim squandered a wonderful opportunity right in front of the Rathkenny goal. Trim were to regret this opportunity when Rathkenny carved straight through the Trim defence to handpass a simple ball over the Trim crossbar. A minute later Trim were again turned over in the middle of the field and fully punished with a well taken goal buried deep into the Trim net – 13 minutes gone and Rathkenny seemed to be getting the upper hand. 2 further points followed for Rathkenny who were now intent on exposing any loose Trim play and handing out summary justice. The Rathkenny momentum was temporarily slowed with some strong defensive work by Eoin Sweeney, Declan Dowling and Bolger that eventually saw David Murtagh secure a nicely placed point from far out on the right-hand side. Both sides exchanged points minutes later when Rathkenny again capitalised on Trim loose play to secure a point - answered immediately by a well struck Carmody point from a very acute angle. On the stroke of half time, Rathkenny secured another simply taken point to go to the changing rooms up by a well deserved 6 points. In what was very far from classic senior football, Trim had only themselves to blame for their predicament and would have a lot to discuss at the interval.
Half time: Trim 0-04 Rathkenny 1-07
At the restart, far from being allowed a chance to get back into the game, Trim, but for the efforts of Munnelly in goal, would have surely seen the game start to move out of their reach. Rathkenny contented themselves a minute later with a simply taken point. This score seemed to jolt Trim into a higher gear with key players including Conor Quigley, Ciarán Caulfield and Tadhg Carty upping a gear and coming more into the game. Increasingly Caulfield started to attack the Rathkenny defence and cause problems both on and off the ball. Carmody increasingly threatened the Rathkenny goal and in the 5th minute handpassed over the bar after being blocked on the line. Moments later, an excellent attack by another championship debutant Ian Byrne resulted in a free, easily converted by Carmody. A top-class turnover from Sweeney eventually saw the ball going to midfielder Tadhg Carty who confidently converted over the cross bar. Another top-drawer turnover by Conor Quigley saw him back himself and take a valuable point that just as easily could have been a goal. But Trim resurgence stuttered minutes later when a high ball into the goal mouth saw Munnelly in the Trim goal parry the ball out from what looked like a certain point only to then be rounded by a very sharp Rathkenny forward who buried the ball low into the stranded goalkeeper’s net. But Trim now seemed to have a greater air of confidence about them and were not panicking. Crucially, although chasing the game, Trim had tightened up and were making less unforced errors. 2 further points from Carmody with one replying point from Rathkenny meant that the Reds were still down by 5 points with 13 minutes of regular time remaining – but still no panic. Caulfield now was beginning to probe left and right and causing mayhem in the Rathkenny defence. Rob Bourke who had been quietly going about his business all evening in midfield, then stepped up to strike a left footed shot over the bar in the 20th minute. Rathkenny struck back with a free of their own but then, on the 24th minute, that man Carmody swooped on to a loose ball and duly buried the ball into the back of the Rathkenny net. The tension was now at fever pitch both on the sideline and in the modest Pairc Tailteann crowd. Could Trim push on - or would Rathkenny hang on to secure a glorious return to the senior ranks? There was a feeling that Trim could sense victory and continued to press. A super Trim move resulted in the ball going out to David Lernihan (yet another player making his senior championship debut) who had just come on to the field and duly slotted the ball over the bar. On the 28th minute, Carmody added another point to his tally to level the game. Approaching the 30th minute, the referee who had marshalled the game very well, signalled ‘at least another 4 minutes’. Trim got the ball and surged forwarded but Carty’s point attempt dropped just short. Would there be time for another twist in this saga, or would a draw be a ‘fair’ result. But Robert Bourke had his own ideas of what might be a fair result when he brought the ball down the left wing. The Trim forwards surged to ready themselves for the pass that might secure victory. The pass never came. Bourke, far out on the left wing and under pressure from the Rathkenny half back, launched a right footed shot that split the posts. Trim comeback complete – job done – final whistle blows.
Rathkenny will blame themselves, having held a handsome lead at halftime but then, only able to score once in the final 19 minutes. This was not a pretty match by anyone’s definition, but results matter and Trim secured the result.
The Olympic flame may now be quenched but Red embers might be starting to glow – improvement needed and a long way to go…… tús maith leath na hoibre……
Good luck to both teams.
Comhghairdeachas do Ian Byrne, David Lernihan, Brian Bolger and Kyle Ennis on their Senior Championship debuts.
Comhghairdeachas do Ian Byrne, David Lernihan, Brian Bolger and Kyle Ennis on their Senior Championship debuts.
Full time Trim 1-14 Rathkenny 2-10
Trim: P Munnelly; J McGowan; B Bolger, B Holden; D Murtagh (0-01); D Dowling; E Sweeney; R Bourke (0-02); T Carty (0-01); C Quigley (0-01); J Murray; C Caulfield; K Ennis; I Byrne; T Carmody (1-08)
Trim: P Munnelly; J McGowan; B Bolger, B Holden; D Murtagh (0-01); D Dowling; E Sweeney; R Bourke (0-02); T Carty (0-01); C Quigley (0-01); J Murray; C Caulfield; K Ennis; I Byrne; T Carmody (1-08)
Subs: S Fitzgerald for J Murray; E Ryan for D Dowling; D Lernihan (0-01) for B Holden; D Lynch for D Murtagh;
