Míle Buíochas to Kevin Coleman for the frank and on point match reports during the League and Championship campaigns making sure that all supporters were part of the teams' 2025 Season.  Bualadh bos mór to our wonderful supporters who attended the games and maybe we even captured you making memories.  

In the space of three minutes, with 10 minutes remaining, Trim went from having a one point advantage, and 15 men on the field, to a deficit of five points and 14 players remaining, as Ratoath pulled away to book their place in this year’s SHC final. The final score in no way reflected the overall game and Trim were left to reflect on what might have been in an enthralling contest and a huge display on their behalf.

Ratoath had entered this contest as warm bookies favourites but it was Trim who brought the game to their opponents and belied their generous odds all over the field of play. Even though they did not capitalize on the advantage of a stiff breeze in the opening half, they still held a three point cushion, midway through the second period, before a Ratoath goal, against the run of play, levelled matters at the start of the final quarter.

Ratoath opened the scoring in the first minute as referee Sean Stack penalized Trim corner back Danny Coleman for what he considered to be a throw ball. In fact, in those opening couple of minutes he awarded two frees, in that regard, and then, amazingly, could not see a similar offence for the remaining fifty four minutes of the game. 

Cian Rogers added a second Ratoath score before James Murray opened Trim’s scoring in the third minute. Further Trim scores from Daragh Heffernan, James Murray (3), and James Toher, to Ratoath’s three point reply, left Trim marginally ahead by the end of the first quarter. A Bryan McMahon goal followed by two points in quick succession changed the complexion of the game in Ratoath’s favour, but Trim’s response was equally decisive. A brilliant solo effort by Mikey Cole was followed immediately by another James Murray score, following a lovely through pass by James Toher. James Murray added another, from his signature sideline cut and George Douglas pounced on the resultant Ratoath puck out to land Trim’s fourth in a row. A single response from Ratoath was followed by further Trim scores via Kyle Ennis and Mikey Cole as Trim saw out the first half in the ascendency albeit by the narrowest of margins.

An early score by Ratoath’s top scorer Cian Rogers, his final tally being 2-6, was cancelled out by a James Murray pair of frees, but Padraic O’Hanrahan levelled matters with two converted frees by the eight minute. This was the signal for Trim to introduce Alan Douglas replacing Kyle Ennis in the process. Dougie was barely a minute on the field when he was floored by a heavy Ratoath challenge.  It was generally felt that the culprit involved was very lucky to remain on the pitch and this was further highlighted later on when James Murray saw red for a similar robust challenge.

James Murray converted the resultant free and further scores from Conor Quigley, James Murray (3, 2f), and Mikey Cole, following fine interplay between James Toher and David Murtagh, to a meagre two point Ratoath response, left Trim with a relatively commanding three point cushion by the fifteenth minute. 

 A Padraic O’Hanrahan goal, totally against the run of play, levelled matters in the sixteenth minute, but a fine George Douglas response edged Trim in front again. Another Ratoath effort was cancelled out by a James Murray converted free and with ten minutes remaining the team in red were holding their own. The final nine minutes was stuff of nightmares for this fine Trim team, their mentors, and supporters. Two quick Ratoath goals, that red card for Trim’s James Murray, and a further goal and three points, without a Trim response, left a total bewildering look to the scoreboard by the time Sean Stack blew the final whistle.

A defeat is difficult to take at the best of times, but to be so much in the ascendancy for much of this encounter makes matters even more difficult to understand and accept. There is no doubt that this Trim outfit will be back in the years to come, particularly, considering their age profile with twelve of the starting line up being twenty-four or under, and four or five of those eligible to line out for the forthcoming U21 Championship, along with many of those among the subs.

It was a disappointing end to a fine campaign and huge thanks to Declan Murray, C J Murtagh, Alan Smith, Ollie Henry, and Ronan McGrath, and everyone who helped out over the year.

Trim:  Eoin O’Reilly, Gary Fleming, Ben Holden, Danny Coleman, Eoghan Ryan, James Toher (0-1), Mikey Cole (0-2), Joey Cole (0-1), Mark Molloy, Darragh Heffernan (0-1), Conor Quigley (0-1), David Murtagh Kyle Ennis (0-1), James Murray (0-13, 7f, 1 sideline-cut), George Douglas (0-2)

Subs : Alan Douglas for Kyle Ennis, 38m, Daniel Murray, Luca Taheny, Cormac Slattery, Mark Murray, Cathal O’Reilly. Colm McGrath, Darragh McLoughlin, Adam Donoghue, Alex Fox, Daniel Fox, Ian Birmingham, Padraig Walsh