2026 Husqvarna Centre - PR Coyne - Adult Football League - Division 1 - Round 7
Trim 1-11 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 3-13
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Trim 1-11 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 3-13
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In this midtable clash both Trim and Donaghmore/Ashbourne needed a positive result to get their season back on track with a much-needed win. What they delivered was the classic game of ‘two halves’ with Trim appearing to have the upper hand in the first half until they were dealt a lethal blow with the final kick of the half when D Ashbourne rattled the ball to the top left corner of the Trim goal to go in one point up. In many ways this was to be the significant turning point in the match. On the resumption, the visitors took control of the match with fast attacks from the half back line repeatedly catching Trim on the back heel. Once again, it was the goals that finished any chance Trim had of a resurgence with the Reds’ net being struck in the 37th and 50th minute to leave them finally outgunned by 7 points in the second half and no real complaints overall.
In a beautiful afternoon and a stiff breeze sweeping diagonally across the pitch to the advantage of Trim, the game started at a frantic pace with the very young looking Donaghmore Ashbourne team surging forward to test the Trim defence. Cian Downes was first to answer the call for Trim when the full back turned over a very threatening attack to drive the ball up the field to the waiting hands of James Murray who turned and struck for a 2 pointer but to no avail. On the kick out, the visitors secured the ball and cut through the middle of the field to secure the first score on the 5th minute with a well-taken point. A minute later the advantage was doubled when Ashbourne easily converted for their second point. These early prods seemed to jolt Trim into gear. A minute later big David Lernihan secured the ball with ease and stroked the ball over the bar from 43 meters out for a wonderful 2-point start for Trim. The momentum was now in favour of the Reds with the ball being won comfortably from the kick out to allow young Daniel Murray deliver a quick pass to Eoin O Connor who got his first point of the game. O Connor was again in action moments later when Ian Birmingham delivered the pass that allowed him surge on goal only to drive the ball 6 inches over the bar - the clear intention was to deliver 6 inches lower – Trim were now up and running. So too were Ashbourne and, but for the very close attention of young Ruairi McCaffrey at corner back breaking up another attack, the visitors could have narrowed the margin. But narrow the margin they did on the 14th minute with a high ball that sailed over the bar for an Ashbourne point to leave 1 point between the teams. From the kick out Trim gathered and released Tom Carmody who had been working tirelessly from the start. His shot towards the visitors’ post dropped to O Connor who shot agonisingly off the woodwork and wide. However, on the 16th minute Trim were to make amends when magnificent fielding by Lernihan – who was having an excellent game – saw the ball drop to Daniel Murray who scooped the ball to the back of the net to put Trim into a comfortable 4-point lead. But the visitors were in no way phased and constantly attacked. Conor McGinley in defence and Birmingham who had to play very deep repeatedly broke up promising attacks by the visitors. Eventually Ashbourne got their reward in the 25th minute with a well taken point. A minute later Trim had to replace injured goalscorer Murray with Joey Cole.
Ashbourne were now constantly launching very fast attacks that saw them secure another point to bring the game level in the 27 minute. But the game didn’t stay tied for long when a minute later the ball was slipped to James Toher who swivelled and struck a beautiful 2 pointer from 42 metres out. Moments later, and on the stroke of half time a similar shot from Trim’s Carmody looked to be securing another 2 pointer only to drop into the Ashbourne goalkeeper who immediately launched a quick counterattack that saw the ball travel to the forward line and driven in to the top corner of the Trim net with 34 minutes showing on the clock. Until that moment Trim looked settled but there was a real sense that this goal could well be a turning point.
Half time: Trim 1-06 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-07
On the restart the visitors continued their assault on the Trim goal but now with renewed energy. In the 3rd minute they should have buried the ball to the roof of the Trim net but fired over instead for a point. O Connor narrowed the gap moments later with a well struck free. Indeed, the energy and movement of O Connor throughout the game was particularly noteworthy given that he also had to struggle with an awkward facemask, necessary as a result of injury, that can only have hindered his visibility. Despite the hard work of Trim substitute Slattery in midfield, the Ashbourne surge continued with an individual piece of excellence that saw their wing forward cut straight up the left wing leaving the Trim defence in his wake to strike a shot past goalkeeper O Reilly. To his credit, seconds later O Reilly executed an excellent save when Ashbourne had his goal again at their mercy. The resultant 45 was converted with ease by the visiting keeper to put Ashbourne up by 5 points. Although such a margin under the new rules can quite easily be closed there was now a sense among the home spectators that this game had firmly turned. In fact, had Ashbourne been a bit more accurate with their shooting they could have been further ahead albeit with plenty of time left on the clock. Toher’s free in the 14th minute was quickly cancelled by an Asbbourne free kick which could have been worse for Trim but for the sharp reflexes of full back Downes.
Despite their best efforts the result for Trim looked stark when Toher’s attempt at a 2 pointer went narrowly wide – only to then see the ball launched down field by Ashbourne where the ball was driven, again, to the back of the Reds net. With 10 minutes left on the clock the visitors had now opened up a 7-point margin. In the final minutes of the game a further converted free by Trim’s O Connor was swiftly cancelled out by a 2-pointer by the visitors. Toher again struck for Trim with a converted free only to see Ashbourne again travel the length of the pitch to attack the home side’s goal. If it hadn’t been for the efforts of Trim substitute Ben Holden who cleared off the goal line, the margin would have been larger. The resultant 45 brought the scoring and the match to an end.
Trim were well in this game right up to half time but were then dealt a killer blow that turned the direction of the game. Ashbourne took control in the 2nd half and never really looked threatened. Trim will rightly examine many decisions they took particularly in the first half where repeated wayward shots – often from outside the 40-meter arc - really yielded them nothing. But they will undoubtedly note that Ashbourne too were wasteful. Trim fought to the end and will now regroup.
There can be no dispute but the better team won.
Well done to all.
Trim: E O Reilly; C McGinley; C Downes; R McCaffrey; D Phelan; J Toher (0-04); D Lynch; D Lernihan (0-02); I Birmingham; S Fitzgerald: J Murray; T Carmody; E O Connor (0-05); A Douglas; D Murray (1-00)
Subs: M Cole for D Murray; B Holden for R McCaffrey; C Slattery for I Birmingham; P Walsh for D Phelan; A Donoghue for S Fitzgerald
