At half time of this Division 6 senior football league match in Trim on Friday night (26/6) few people in attendance would have given Trim a chance of victory as they trailed a lively Seneschalstown team on a 0-4 to 1-6 having played second fiddle to them throughout the first half. The fact that they were aided by a of a very strong wind and failed to capitalise on it in that half also made the signs look very ominous.
Seneschalstown were first out of the blocks with points in the 3rd and 6th minutes despite Trim having most of the possession in that period. However, they slowly got to grips with the conditions and registered their first point in the ninth minute from Karl O’Dwyer. Sustained pressure saw them add points from Sean McKiernan and Daryl Phelan.
It seemed that Trim was getting into their rhythm during this period but were rocked two minutes later with a well worked goal following several defensive laps from Trim. Seneschalstown were buoyed by this major and added a further point in the 16th minute and a two pointer shortly afterwards to leave a five point margin between the teams.
Try as they might Trim could not gain a foothold or take control of the game and despite many efforts, they only registered one point in the remaining ten minutes of the half to cancel a further Seneschalstown point to leave the score Trim 0-4 to 1-6 at half time.
Despite the poor tally with the wind in the first half the Trim lads were positive at half time analysing the first half shortcomings and working a strategy to counter the Seneschalstown approach and the elements. They opened the second half with a few early attacks before Ben Gaffney slotted over a good point. Seneschalstown responded almost immediately but the signs were there that Trim were beginning to believe in themselves.
In the fifth minute, recently returned, Ciarán O’Rourke pointed and Conor McKeown marked his arrival on the pitch as he crashed the ball to the back of the Seneschalstown net a minute later to leave the minimum between the sides. Caoimhín O’Neill levelled matters with a great free but once again Trim were dealt a body blow when a speculative Seneschalstown lob into the Trim goal ended up in the net. Just before the water break Trim responded with a great point from Gary Fleming who was causing the Seneschalstown defence all sorts of problems.
Seneschalstown added to their tally when they were awarded a free after a technical breach, but this spurred Trim on and from then they played the type of fast open football they are capable of and left Seneschalstown wondering what hit them. A brilliant five man move saw Ben Gaffney finish the ball to the net to leave the minimum between the sides.
Strong pressure yielded a close in free which Alex Fox converted. The sides were level, normal time was exhausted but Trim were not content to hold the ball for the draw. They went in search of another score and were rewarded when a good move from midfield saw the ball reach Gary Fleming who shrugged off a few heavy tackles before placing the ball outside the reach of goalie and defenders to secure a Trim 3-9 Seneschalstown 2-9 victory.
This was a victory forged out of hard work and resilience. The second half performance was a good example of all that is good in Trim football, swift fast-moving passing and great support from teammates. On the night everyone was a hero but the performances of Cian Downes, Ciaran O’Rourke, Gary Fleming, Ben Gaffney, Caoimhin O’Neill, Daragh Heffernan, Max McGowan and Sean McKiernan deserve mention
Panel Conal McGrenra, Ben Holden, Cian Downes (Capt), Alex Fox, Ciaran O’Rourke, Daryl Phelan, Karl O’Dwyer, Darragh Heffernan, Caoimhín O’Neill, Max McGowan, James Cullen, Rian Collins, Gary Fleming, Daniel Fox, David Boyle, David Carey, Conor McKeown, Gearóid O’Donnell, Patrick Quigley, Ben Gaffney, Sean McKiernan
