Trim 3-08 Simonstown 1-10
A dreary, damp Saturday evening greeted Simonstown Gaels to St Loman’s Park for what promised to be a tough encounter with hosts Trim who were anxious to get a win under their belt after a lucky draw in their first outing of the league the previous week.
From the throw in, Simonstown gathered possession in the middle of the field and moved the ball with ease to their forward line to secure the first point of the game with a mere 40 seconds on the clock. Minutes later Sean Fitzgerald, way out on the left wing, responded by beating his marker and driving the ball high over the bar to secure a glorious 2 pointer for Trim. Both teams settled into a pattern of attack and counterattack that required Tadhg Carty and Fitzgerald to block and defend across the middle of the field while Conor McGinley repelled from the back line. On the 12th minute Simonstown, who were looking quite comfortable, quickly moved the ball from the half back line into an unmarked forward straight in front of the Trim goal, who duly slotted the ball low into the net. Poor marking by Trim and a well taken score by Simonstown.
By the 19th minute, Trim needed to score but instead had wastefully kicked at least 6 wides – a run that was eventually halted when Tom Carmody latched on to a fast ball into the goalmouth to somehow get the ball past the goalkeeper and high into the visitors’ net for a much-needed goal in the 21st minute. Minutes later trouble loomed for Trim when Harry Purcell - a man who represented Ireland with honour on the athletics field – pulled up suddenly with a recurrence of an injury that saw him being replaced by Eoin Sweeney. Before Sweeney could draw breath, Simonstown attacked down the far end of the field and secured a well taken point. In the closing minutes of the first half, despite some excellent blocking and tackling from the irrepressible Gerry Dwane, Quigley, Birmingham and substitute Sweeney, Simonstown notched up another 3 points which saw them going in at the break with a deserved 3-point lead.
Half time: Trim 1-02 Simmonstown 1-05
At the restart, perhaps as a result of a robust half time pep talk, Trim surged forward with an urgency that saw the impressive Tadhg Carty handpass the ball over the bar. But clearly Simonstown also had a chat at half time and counter attacked down the field to drive a point-blank shot from straight in front of the Trim goal that was courageously saved by Eoin O Reilly. The resultant 45’ was converted, to restore Simonstown’s 3 point lead. The game had now moved up several notches in intensity with both teams determined to secure the much-needed, early league points. Back came Trim who dropped a high ball towards the forward line only to see the red jersey of David Lernihan soar above a sea of blue to put a vice like grip on the ball. On landing, he did a swivel worthy of someone in Dancing with the Stars to unbalance his 2 markers and bury the ball in the back of the net and put Trim a nose in front for the first time in the game. There was a real sense now that the tide had turned. A minute later Lernihan again struck to pass to Sean Foley who jinked and placed a lovely left footed shot over the bar. All 15 Trim players were now up on their toes and straining at the leash in a manner that might even make that other local trainer Gordon Elliot proud! On the 8th minute Conor Quigley, who was having an excellent game converted for his first point of the game. Simonstown tried to raise their game but were thwarted by Carthy with a great intercept. Foley was now totally on fire, darting continuously down the right wing and tormenting the Simonstown defence. On the 10th minute the Trim forward got his just reward when he pounced on a loose ball and drove it low into the Simonstown net. A minute later, super team work by Trim again released Quigley to see him secure his second point. Minutes later the same man was back in possession when he sold a lovely dummy to his Simonstown marker to strike a wonderful 2 pointer over the bar to put Trim 8 points up with 9 minutes to go. Full credit to Simonstown who, despite the second half tsunami from Trim, did not stop playing and responded in the 23rd minute with a beautifully taken 2 pointer from far out the field, followed a minute later by another point. The visitors closed out the scoring with a point from a near impossible angle in the final minute– unfortunately it was too little too late - but nonetheless bravely fought.
This was an excellent game of football that completely turned at half time. Trim management should be rightly proud of the home team performance that was full of grit and promise. But one can’t help but think that if these 2 teams meet again this year there can be nothing taken for granted!!
A really good result for Trim against a very good team.
Trim: E O Reilly; C McGinley; G Dwane; P Walsh; C Quigley (0:04); J McGowan; P Quigley; S Fitzgerald (0-02); T Carty (0-01); H Purcell; D Lynch; I Birmingham; S Foley (1-01); D Lernihan (1-00); T Carmody (1:00)
Subs: E Sweeney for H Purcell; D Dowling for P Walsh; D Coleman for P Quigley; E Collins for I Birmingham; M Molloy for C Quigley
