📝 Kevin Coleman 📷 Eliz Payne

 

There was a disappointing end to the season when Trim hurlers failed to fully fire and Kilmessan retained their U/21 crown in front of a large crowd at Kiltale.

This was a real muddling affair in which Trim had led from the start and it wasn’t until the fifty fourth minute that Kilmessan finally got on terms. A goal would certainly have put daylight between the sides at any time during this encounter but it never materialized and Trim were left to rue a number of missed chances especially as the game ground to a conclusion.

Trim had started brightly enough and held a fairly comfortable four-point lead by the twenty fifth minute. Kyle Ennis had accounted for four of Trim’s scores and there were further scores from the lively Cormac Slattery (2), Eoghan Ryan and Joey Cole. Trim were well served during this period by Joey Cole, playing a captain’s role in the centre of the park, and Ben Gaffney whose stout defending was a feature in repelling the Kilmessan attack. 

It was fairly clear that referee Eamonn Barry was determined to let this game flow with a limited use of his whistle. Trim goalkeeper Eoin O’Reilly must have been particularly aggrieved in this regard as he was smothered by a number of opponents as he attempted at least one of his many clearances. However, a couple of soft looking frees late in the opening half enabled Kilmessan to get right back in the game. George Douglas completed the scoring to leave Trim with a three point advantage at the break.

 

Kilmessan were early on the mark after the resumption with a pointed effort from top scorer, and player of the match, Lorcan Byrne. By the end of the third quarter there were only three further scores from Trim’s George Douglas and Kyle Ennis and Kilmessan’s Finn Conroy. This left Trim’s three-point advantage intact but there were ominous signs that Kilmessan were finishing the stronger and they had five unanswered points through Lorcan Byrne (2), free-taker Mark Horan (2), and Kris Gorman. 

With only two minutes of normal time remaining, it was Kilmessan who had seized the initiative and try as they might Trim could not sufficiently bridge the gap. A late late score by Kyle Ennis was not enough and the final whistle sounded to the delight of the Kilmessan team and supporters.

It was a bitter end to a disappointing season for Trim but there will be better days ahead.

Trim:  Eoin O’Reilly, Harry Cotterell, Pauric Walshe, Ben Gaffney, Aaron O’Rourke, Alan Costello ,  Eoghan Ryan (0-1), Joey Cole (0-1), Daragh Heffernan, Daniel Murray, Cormac Slattery (0-2), Kyle Ennis (0-6, 2f), Ian Byrne Josh Harris, George Douglas (0-1)

Subs (used): Daniel Fox