Meath Cleaning Supplies - Premier Football Championship Division 7 - Knockout Stages Final

FT Trim 0-08 Carnaross 0-12

A bright breezy day saw Trim travel the road to Athboy on Sunday morning to settle a final encounter with Carnaross for the Division 7 title. Although down influential players David Foley and Seanie Foley, Trim still managed to field a strong team including Gerry Dwane who has served Trim so well in both codes over the years.

Playing against a cross-field wind in the first half, the veterans from Trim set about their task against a Carnaross team that was fielding some noticeably younger players. The opening minutes saw a cagey affair with Carnaross putting on the early pressure that required Trim to defend strongly with McMorrow, Duignan and Englishby being called upon. Strong running from Richie Murphy in the middle of the field eventually lifted the early pressure and released corner forward Robbie Kenny who narrowly shot wide in the 7th minute. Despite spirited running from Ciaran Joyce and Frankie Murphy in the middle third, Carnaross eventually broke the deadlock with the first score of the game with a nicely struck point from play on the 11th minute. This could have been cancelled out by Trim moments later when a razor-sharp Robbie Kenny did a wonderful flick of the ball across the Carnaross goal that just went wide of the mark. Carnaross attacked and, despite the very close attention of Dwane, won a free that they converted to go 2 points up in the 15th minute. But Trim man Kenny had been promising a score from the start and he duly delivered when he latched on to a nice Andy O Brien pass to get the Reds on the scoreboard in the 16th minute. 

Carnaross however were slowly gaining momentum when they struck their 3rd point on the 19th minute. The situation could have been worse for Trim moments later if it hadn’t been for an excellent block by McMorrow in the box to deny Carnaross a goal. But sometimes the best way to defend is to go on the attack which is exactly what Trim did minutes later when Frankie Murphy – a man who has brought great honour to Trim and the County on the football field – rose majestically to gather the ball that he laid off to Andy O Brien who, in turn, released Derek Donohoe who struck over a beautiful point to keep Trim in touch. Despite winning their fair share of ball, and repeatedly firing low and high balls into the corners, Trim couldn’t convert to raise the umpires’ flags. Carnaross took full advantage of this when, in the last 10 minutes of the half they fired over a further four points (3 from play) to go in at half time with a well-deserved 5-point margin.

Half time: Trim 0-02 Carnaross 0-07

At the restart, Trim brought on James Foley for the hardworking Adam Englishby, which immediately paid dividends when the young player slipped his marker and fired over for a point with only a minute on the clock. Carnaross replied minutes later with a well taken point to reinstate their 5-point margin. But there was now a noticeable energy in the veteran Trim players who started to produce some big tackles from Ciaran Joyce and very near misses from Kenny, Foley and Dwane followed by an excellent save by big Barry O Callaghan in the Reds goal. But Carnaross were not prepared to give up their grip on the game when, in the 9th minute, they added a further point from a well taken free kick. Trim’s Derek Donohue responded minutes later with a free that brought the Trim tally to 4 points. Although working hard now, Trim were finding it difficult to break down the Carnaross defence. Repeated attacks failed to produce a score until Joyce converted a well struck point on the 18th minute to bring the margin within 4 points - and with it a definite sense of optimism for Trim. The Trim sideline were now using their subs wisely with the latest switch seeing the very impressive centre back Joe Donoghue grimacing as he hobbled to the sideline to give way to young Harry Harland

But games can often rotate on a single incident, and in the 21st minute one such incident occurred. The Trim forwards swarmed on the Carnaross goal with an intensity of bees spotting the last bloom of summer. The ball was delivered to Derek Donohue on the edge of the square who pulled the trigger only to see his ferocious shot saved at point blank range by an outstretched Carnaross goalkeeper. A goal would have brought the Reds within the bare minimum single point – but now they had to soldier on. And soldier on they did with another well struck point from Foley followed shortly thereafter by a wide from the same young player who himself had seen glory days in Croke Park. Despite a further point by Carnaross in the 24th minute, Trim kept pushing only to see another wide this time from Frankie Murphy. On the 28th minute, Carnaross struck again with a point from a near impossible angle far out on the right-hand wing that was cancelled out shortly afterwards by the impressive Kenny for Trim with a free. 30 minutes gone on the clock. Into injury time Trim kept pushing and eventually closed the gap to 3 points with another Kenny free kick. Constantly Trim threatened and looked like they could at least secure a draw. One final kickout from Carnaross – whoever secured the ball could arguably claim the spoils – up rose the midfielders but the ball broke to a Carnaross man who hoofed the ball up the field to allow their forward slot over for the final score of the game.

While it would be difficult to begrudge Carnaross the victory, Trim could have pulled a victory from the jaws of defeat but just left themselves with too much to do in the 2nd half. It is a great development for Trim GAA to be fielding a 3rd senior team and giving some of the older players something worthwhile to be doing rather than sitting at home watching Judge Judy or worse – playing golf.

Many of the players that proudly lined out for Trim this Sunday are veterans that have served the club so well over the years. They demonstrated that there is considerable fight left in them yet.

Like many a classic car, what might be needed now is a trip down to Souhans garage for a quick oil change - a few new spark plugs - a belt of a lump hammer - and we’ll all look forward to seeing them back out next year as good as new!!!!

A great performance.

Well done to all and congratulations to Carnaross.

Trim: B O Callaghan; G Dwane; C McMorrow; O Englishby; N Duignan; J O Donoghue; R McGrath; R Murphy; F Murphy; C Giblin; C Joyce (0-01); A Englishby; R Kenny (0-03); D Donohue (0-02); A O Brien.
Subs: J Foley (0-02) for A Englishby; C Sweeney for C Giblin; B Gaffney for R Murphy; H Harland for J O Donoghue; S Doyle for A O’Brien