In what was promised to be a brilliant game trim went into Páirc Tailteann as underdogs. There to prove a point the lads in red and white rose to the occasion. Trim were first on the scoreboard when Daniel Murray calmly slotted an early free, settling the nerves. But Kilmessan responded in force. Their intensity in the opening quarter saw them win dirty ball around the middle, break down Trim attacks, and crowd out runners. Despite the pressure, Eoghan Ryan was immense in defence—reading danger early, breaking up plays, and driving ball after ball clear to relieve the siege.
Kilmessan’s pressure was reflected on the scoreboard as they moved 0-08 to 0-03 ahead approaching the 25-minute mark. Trim were battling, with Darragh Heffernan providing constant energy in mid field - chasing lost causes, winning frees, and carrying ball into contact - but it was clear Trim needed a lift before half time.
And they got it.
Josh Ayton burst onto a loose ball and let fly with a shot that dropped dangerously into the square. Daniel Murray tracked it brilliantly, reacted quickest, and tipped it past the Kilmessan keeper. The Trim supporters raised, and the whole team suddenly found a new gear.
Points were traded in the final minutes, with Heffernan again instrumental in creating scoring chances, and the deficit was reduced to just two.
HT – Áth Troim 1-05 | 0-10 Kilmessan
Trim came out after the break with purpose, aggression, and belief. Only a minute in, another long free from captain George Douglas dropped short, and who else but Daniel Murray was there to pounce. He broke through the traffic, pulled first time, and raised the flag for his second goal - putting Trim back in front and igniting the team.
From there, the game became a ferocious end-to-end battle. Kilmessan kept chipping away with points, but Trim were answering every blow, with Eoghan Ryan continuing his superb form, timing tackles to perfection and launching counterattacks with his clever distribution. His reading of the game was crucial as the intensity rose.
Further up the field, Darragh Heffernan’s work rate was enormous. He chased every breaking ball, won turnovers, and struck two valuable points - each arriving at big moments. His movement created space for others, and his relentless pressure forced mistakes from a previously confident Kilmessan backline.
With ten minutes to go, Kilmessan looked to be finding momentum, edging two points clear. But these Trim lads don’t fold. A long, hopeful ball dropped into a crowded square - red and white jerseys battling blue and white and once again Daniel Murray found the gap. He forced the ball over the line for his third goal, raising the green flag and sending Trim’s supporters into cheers and yelps again.
Kilmessan, to their credit, fought right to the end and levelled the game during the two minutes of added time. But Trim were not finished. Under huge pressure, Tadhg Foley produced a brilliant turn and struck a calm and collected point to edge Trim one ahead.
With the final puck of the game, Kilmessan earned a free that could have forced extra time. The stand fell silent. Horan struck it cleanly, but the umpire never moved. No white flag. Bernard Heaney blew the final whistle, and Trim were crowned 2025 U/21 Division 1 Champions.
Panel Eoin O’Reilly, Adam Donoghue, Cormac Doyle, Darragh McLoughlin, Alex Fox, Eoghan Ryan, Luca Taheny, George Douglas (C) (0-01), Ruairí McCaffrey, Cathal O’Reilly, Cormac Slattery, Josh Ayton, Tadhg Foley (0-01), Darragh Heffernan (0-02), Daniel Murray (3-04), Ian Byrne, Eamonn Yeates, Darragh Smyth, Leon Harris, Jesse O’Rourke, Gearóid O’Donnell, Daniel Fox, Lorcan Rogers, Dylan Buckley, Kyle Ennis, Pádraig Walsh, Charlie O’Connor, Cillian Diamond
