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A special thank you to Martin Bourke for providing such excellent reports during the League and Championship campaigns literally bringing the field of play to our supporters .  Míle Buíochas Martin 

The clash of neighbouring clubs in a championship match always sparks an extra bit of rivalry and tension, and this match in Pairc Tailteann on Sat evening was no exception. All predictions suggested that this would be a tight affair with the experience of Summerhill being finely balanced by a well-coached Trim team who came through the early stages with full marks. Unfortunately for the crowd in the stands, the fixture, like the weather, was a dour affair. Despite the teams going in at half time separated by the barest margin of 1 point this soon changed on the restart. Summerhill, playing with a slackening wind, turned the screws on the Reds and had notched up an impressive 1-04 to a mere 2-point reply by Trim within the first 9 minutes. With the light fading and the rain falling Trim never really looked like taking charge. Summerhill built much of their play from impressive performances at midfield and effectively closed down proceedings in the 54th minute with a well taken goal by Conor Lyons.  Summerhill march on to the semi finals while Trim have the winter to reflect on what has been a very good season that, unfortunately for them, ended just a little too soon.

Playing with a wicked wind blowing from left to right, Trim launched the first meaningful attack on the 3rd minute when a high ball from David Lernihan in midfield dropped towards the back post where Sean Foley rose but the fist failed to connect. Summerhill gathered from their own kickout and opened the scoring when Liam Shaw slotted over for the first score of the game. Immediately from the kick out Trim surged to get the ball again to Foley who this time made certain to secure his first of the game. Wing forward Harry Purcell for Trim got his day going well when, moments later, he delivered a fine pass to David Lernihan who slotted the ball between the posts to put Trim ahead with 8 minutes gone. However, despite the favourable wind, Trim were struggling early on to win their own kickouts with Summerhill’s McDonnell and Flanagan impressing in midfield.  The experienced Eoghan Frayne for Summerhill took up free taking duties when he got his tally up and running with a free in the 13th minute that was cancelled out soon after by another free conversion by Trim’s Aaron Lynch.  Summerhill looked overall like the team that had settled into an early rhythm of attacking Trim kickouts and spreading the ball to start patient build ups. Trim defenders James Toher, Conor Quigley and Gerry Dwayne repeatedly had to work hard to thwart the fast-moving Fraynes. Eoin Sweeney, who has played very well for Trim throughout the season was called upon for a critical interception in the 16th to turn danger into attack only to see the ball fall short and travel back down to Summerhill’s Jamie O Shea who struck over from a very acute angle to level the game. By the 18th minute Trim had struck 4 wides and were noticeably failing to capitalise on the very favourable wind when Conor Frayne wormed his way through a gap in the Reds defence to easily slot over to retake the lead. Things could have been much worse for Trim moments later when Liam Shaw bore down on the Trim goal only to be denied by a wonderful save from Eoin O Reilly in the Trim goal – a feat that this man has pulled off for Trim many times during the season. Unfortunately for Trim, the Hill were not to be denied for long when frees for Muddiman and Frayne saw them opening up a 3-point lead with 22 minutes gone. Trim needed to respond, and respond they did when Quigley went on a jinking run to drive the ball low over the Summerhill crossbar for a much-needed point. Feeling the increased momentum by Summerhill, Trim management brought on big Sean Fitzgerald in an attempt to strengthen the middle third of the field and, within moments, he did this with a few really good touches. But another man that could show good touches was Summerhill’s midfielder McDonnell who struck his first point on the 25th minute. Aaron Lynch for Trim was being very closely marked by Summerhill – hardly surprising as he was one of the highest scorers in the championship so far this year – when he narrowly missed an excellent 2 point shot on the 26th minute - only to step up moments later and strike a lovely shot from outside the 40-metre arc to raise the orange flag and bring Trim back within a point. Great pressure from both Fitzgerald and McGinley for Trim in the dying moments of the half was a clear indication that, despite the mere 1-point margin, Summerhill were looking the more comfortable, and Trim were probably happy enough going in only 1 point down. 

Half time:   Trim  0-06 Summerhill      0-07  

If Pairc Tailtean had floodlights they’d probably have been turned on at half time as big black clouds gathered and the gloom descended. But unfortunately for Summerhill their anticipated wind advantage also disappeared as the strong, first half wind dropped and the flags pitch-side wilted. Fastest out of the traps on the restart was young James Murray for Trim who cooly secured possession out on the right wing and calmly slotted the ball over the bar with barely a minute gone. But before Red hopes could rise, Summerhill’s McDonnell who was having a great game in midfield gained possession and without flinching, drove the ball from almost 50 metres out, up and over the bar for a monstrous 2-point reply for the Hill. Trim rallied with Sweeney securing the ball and passing to Daire Lynch - who passed to brother Aaron who duly returned to Daire who calmly slotted over the Summerhill crossbar to bring Trim back to within a single point. But Summerhill were totally unfazed when a minute later Shaw narrowly shot wide only to make amends immediately after with Frayne converting a free in front of the posts.    It’s said that goals win games and in the 8th minute Summerhill’s Eoghan Frayne secured the ball and popped a pass to Flanagan who buried the ball low to the net leaving Trim goalkeeper O Reilly with no chance. A minute later a Summerhill-converted free suddenly say the gap open up to 6 points and Trim now clearly beginning to struggle.  The rain was falling, the sky was dark, autumn was here and things were looking sombre for Trim. Despite another point for Trim in the 11th minute, and excellent running from Caulfield and blocking from Fitzgerald, Summerhill were not to be stopped and bagged another point to restore their 6-point lead. The upright saved Trim from further punishment when an excellent 40 metre shot saved them from a 2 pointer. Fitzgerald bravely tried to rally the Trim troops and drove the ball over from 30 metres.  Tom Carmody took up the rallying cry and delivered a great pass to Sean Foley who darted down the wing onto the end line to draw a free that was ably converted by Aaron Lynch.  But Summerhill never once lost composure when on the 17th minute Muddiman narrowly missed wide for a potential 2 pointer. Summerhill made sure minutes later when they converted a free. Trim now were a team that were struggling to keep pace with the game but still not prepared to concede defeat.  But that ‘never-say-die’ spirit was severely dented on the 24th minute when David Larkin for Summerhill capitalised on a breaking ball and delivered a pass to Conor Lyons who buried into the back of the Trim net to effectively end the contest. 2 further points from play for Summerhill’s Ben Moran and John Lavelle made sure of a comfortable 10-point win.  This was a deserved win for Summerhill who will now go on with equally deserved confidence to the penultimate round of the championship.

Trim can have absolutely no quibbles about the outcome. They fought hard – they never quit – they merely came up against a better team on the day. But what Trim must now do is to reflect on a wonderful season that saw them win the Division 2 league and gain promotion into Division 1 for next year. They also must take considerable pride in a championship campaign that saw them win 3 games out of 3 to see them into the knockout stages. As a dual club with several key players also lining out with hurling duties, these are considerable achievements. Particular credit for this wonderful season must be given to the team on the sideline who shaped and prepared these players. What has been very apparent from the start has been the sense of camaraderie and mutual respect instilled in these players by Des Teeling, Fergal Lynch and Kevin Walsh. The man who oversaw this was Ken Robinson. The players played for him, the supporters supported him and the club is proud of him.

A job very well done Ken – be proud – feet up now for a few months!!  

Trim:  E O Reilly; C McGinley; G Dwayne; B Holden; J Toher; C Quigley (0-01); E Sweeney; D Lernihan (0-01); J Murray (0-01); H Purcell; C Caulfield; D Lynch (0-01); S Foley (0-01); T Carty; A Lynch (0-05) 

Subs: S Fitzgerald (0-01) for H Purcell; J McGowan for C McGinley; T Carmody for T Carty; D Murtagh for S Foley