Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, Trim Senior Hurling Championship, Semi Final
Full Time: Trim 2-19; Kildalkey 2-13
Trim are just one step away from reclaiming the Jubilee Cup after a hard fought, but well deserved, victory over champions Kildalkey at Pairc Tailteann. This was a wonderful team performance throughout as they outmanoeuvred a stunned Kildalkey side in almost every area of the pitch. A feature of the game was the amazing talent shown by Trim centre forward James Murray who found the target no fewer than four times from immaculate side line cuts.
The Reds were first off the mark in the fourth minute when Dimmy Higgins found his target following direct play from ‘keeper Charlie Ennis and corner back Danny Coleman. By the end of the first quarter Trim had eased into a comfortable lead of 1-4 to 0-1, following another side line effort from James Murray, a well taken goal from the same player, and a point from Pa Ryan. Kildalkey’s solitary score coming from a Nicky Potterton effort in the fifteenth minute.
It could be argued that Kildalkey’s misfiring, with a total of eleven wides in the opening half, was a significant reason for their downfall but, in truth, those efforts were forced from long range as they were constantly thwarted by a well drilled defensive line out with James Toher marshalling operations from his centre back position.
Kildalkey were denied a real goal opportunity when a frenzied attack ended with a mishit shot and the chance was gone. Trim continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over and Mikey Cole showed his speed and accuracy with two well taken points supplemented by further scores from Davy Murtagh and Mark Molloy. Kildalkey, who were struggling for scores, did find the target from a second Nicky Potterton score and another from David Harmon.
With the half almost up, Kildalkey were handed a lifeline when Nicky Potterton raised a green flag in the second minute of injury time
Half Time: Trim 1-8; Kildalkey 1-3
Kildalkey were much quicker out of the blocks on the resumption and Paddy Conneeley reduced the deficit within thirty seconds of the throw in. James Murray had another Trim score before Kildalkey had a brace of scores through Niall McNally and Nicky Potterton. They were also foiled of a couple of goal opportunities thanks to the vigilance of Trim ‘keeper Charlie Ennis.
That third quarter certainly belonged to the Village team and by the sixteenth minute the difference between the sides was reduced to the bare minimum. In between, Trim’s tally of scores came from the stick of James Murray, two of those efforts, amazingly, from side line cuts.
This was the wake-up call that Trim needed and four successive scores from James Murray, Mark Molloy, James Toher, and Davy Murtagh put them back in control. A goal from Mikey Cole and a pointed effort from long distance traveller Alan Douglas gave them a comfortable cushion as the clock edged closer to the final whistle. However, a speculative long-range effort from Kildalkey’s Niall McNally evaded an otherwise sound Trim defence and gave a glimmer of hope for an, otherwise, unlikely looking comeback.
Trim finished out the scoring with further scores from Alan Douglas (2) and Kyle Ennis and now march into an October 13th showdown with Ratoath.
Final Score: Trim 2-19; Kildalkey 2-13
Trim: Charlie Ennis, Danny Coleman, Gary Fleming, Ben Holden, Dimmy Higgins (0-1), James Toher (0-1), Conor Quigley, Joey Cole, David Murtagh (0-2), James Andrews, James Murray (1-6, 1f, 4 sl), Pa Ryan (0-1), Mark Molloy (0-2), Josh Harris, Mikey Cole (1-2).
Subs used: Alan Douglas (0-3), Kyle Ennis (0-1), Eoghan Ryan
