A badly depleted Trim team fought bravely but eventually succumbed to a lively St Colmcille’s team in Trim on Friday (29 May 2026). The standard of football belied the Division 6 status of the teams and it was only in the last twenty minutes that Colmcille’s took charge to run out 2-14 to 1-11 winners.
The very warm evening took its toll on players and while Colmcille’s could call on at least eight subs Trim only had three to call on and these were used to replace players who were required for the Division 1 match the following day.
The first half was a lively affair with Trim getting off to a great start with Neil Sweeney registering the first point within 30 seconds of the start. Colmcille’s replied in the third minute, but this was followed by a breakout from defence by Ben Holden who passed to Mikey Cole to register a monstrous two pointer. Neil Sweeney extended the lead with a point following a great pass from James Cullen.
Trim continued to press and were unlucky not to get a major boost after a great move started by David Boyle in the Trim goal was saved at point blank range by the Colmcille’s goalie. Two points from Colmcille’s in the 10th and 11th minutes were cancelled by points from Mikey Cole and a brilliant Neil Sweeney point from an acute angle. Shortly afterwards Mikey Cole was denied another point by the upright.
Colmcille’s fought back and began to exert a little more pressure and Trim had a narrow escape when Aonghus Short’s brilliant tackle thwarted a certain goal. They continued to press and added three points without reply over the next ten minutes. Neil Sweeney had two points in the 24 and 26 minutes to restore a two point lead but Colmcille’s responded just before half time to reduce the deficit to a minimum.
Half Time: Trim 0-8 St Colmcille’s 0-7
Colmcille’s showed they meant business by opening their account with a point within 30 seconds of the restart. Trim held steady and Neil Sweeney converted a free and Cormac Slattery followed this with another point in the 7th minute. Trim then had to withdraw Mikey Cole, Ben Holden. Padraig Walsh had to withdraw at half time and while Ben Gaffney and Declan Greene did well on introduction the changes upset the rhythm of the team. Further problems arose when James Cullen had to withdraw due to injury which resulted in both teams having to reduce to 14 men.
Colmcille’s took control from then and added 2-5 without reply from Trim until the 21st minute when Caoimhín O’Neill scored a brilliant individual goal. The remainder of the match saw Trim fight hard to register scores but their only reward was a point in the 30th minute after some quick thinking by Max McGowan in response to a 28th minute Colmcille’s point to leave the final score Trim 1-11 St Colmcille’s 2-14.
Panel David Boyle, Gearóid O’Donnell, Ben Holden, Aonghus Shortt, Cormac Slattery, Pádraig Walsh, Karl O’Dwyer, Adam Donoghue, Mark Murray, James Cullen, Sean McKiernan, Max McGowan, Neil Sweeney, Caoimhín O’Neill, Mickey Cole, Ben Gaffney, Declan Greene, David Carey
