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A game of two halves you might say in this latest encounter between two arch rivals. However, if it was not for the concession of two late goals by Kildalkey, both halves mainly belonged to the hosts.
Prior to the start, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of the late great Nicky Potterton Snr, whose grandsons, Nicky, Patrick, and Brín (Kelly) lined out for the home side.
Nicky Potterton opened the scoring for Kildalkey in the first minute but two successive frees from the consistent David Murtagh edged Trim in front. This trend continued and by the end of the first quarter it was honours even with five points apiece. Trim’s points again coming from placed efforts from the trusty stick of David Murtagh. On a referee watch, Bernard Heaney was taking no nonsense in terms of dodgy hand passes, striking, and over carrying but it was baffling early in the second half when a missed blatant throw ball by Paddy Conneely which Niall McNally converted with little fuss.
The second quarter belonged to Kildalkey and they outscored their visitors by 1-6 to 0-2 with the unmarked Conor Fitzgerald raising the first green flag on the stroke of half time. In the meanwhile, David Murtagh had extended his tally by a further two points but Trim were facing a mountain to climb in the second half.
Half Time: Kildalkey 1-11; Trim 0-7
Paddy Conneely, for the hosts, and David Murtagh traded scores early on the resumption but the rampant Niall McNally then had four on the bounce, including one from that controversial hand pass, to leave Kildalkey in an unassailable position, and, while David Murtagh, now the sole Trim scorer, had a couple of more conversions, the third quarter ended with a comfortable home lead of 1-17 to 0-10.
The final quarter only produced five more scores with Kildalkey, understandably, probably taking their foot off the throttle but those late, late goals for the visitors from Mikey Cole and Ian Bermingham showed the fragility of taking things for granted in this particular sport.
On a positive note there was another fine performance from the consistent Ben Gaffney, in the full back line, the welcome return of Dimmy Higgins, who steadied the ship somewhat in the half backs, and the trustworthy David Murtagh who ended with a personal tally of 0-11 (8f, 1 ’65)
Full Time: Kildalkey 1-19; Trim 2-12
Trim: Eoin O’Reilly, Ben Gaffney, Gerard Dwane, Colm McGrath, Pauric Walsh, Gary Fleming , Caelum Casserley, Joey Cole, Mark Molloy, George Douglas, David Murtagh (0-11, 8f, 1’65), Ian Birmingham (1-0), Daniel Murray, James Andrews , Mikey Cole (1-1).
Subs (used): Dimmy Higgins, Cathal O’Reilly, Josh Ayton, Mark Murray.
