With the thermometer showing an incredible 24 degrees and a wind blowing straight across the field with a slight bias for Trim, the 2026 football championship got underway with an early point from Na Fianna’s halfback Sam Jordan followed quickly by a series of wides from Daniel Queeney and Michael Farley - only time would tell as to how important those early missed chances might be. The real impact however of those misses was to galvanise Trim into action. From the kick out big midfielder David Lernihan rose to catch the ball and off load to James Murray who released Aaron Lynch to record his, and Trim’s first point of the game with 7 minutes gone. Moments later, and what was already a fascinating midfield duel between Trim’s Lernihan and Na Fianna’s Anthony Healy, the ball was again won by Lernihan and again found its way out to Lynch who effortlessly stroked the ball over from far out on the left wing for his first 2 pointer of the game. Moments later another point followed by the same Lynch but this time out on the right wing. But Trim weren’t having it all their own way and Na Fianna launched swift attacks from their half back line that demanded Padraig Walsh and Brian Bolger be alert to the real threat from the onrushing Queeny and Ethan Devine. But footballing skill is hard to stop and Devine struck an absolute cracker of a 2 pointer to close the gap to a mere point with 11 minutes gone. Devine must have thought he had retaken the lead a minute later when he struck a rasper of a shot that was brilliantly saved by O Reilly in the Trim goal who immediately launched the ball down the field to the scurrying Trim half forward Eoin Sweeney who was brought down for a free some 43 metres out from the Na Fianna goal. Up steps Lynch to curl the ball high, from left to right, to claim his second 2 pointer of the day. The Lynch tally could have been even higher moments later when Carmody secured the ball and released to the Trim corner forward only for him to see his shot whistle narrowly wide. But in this tight match mistakes were always going to be punished and this is exactly what happened from the kick out when too many Trim men rose in the midfield only to see the ball break to a grateful Na Fianna man who calmly punished with another well taken 2-pointer to once again close the gap to a single point. And 2-pointers were becoming the order of the day when, on the 21st minute, Daire Lynch who was working hard across the half back line for Trim delivered a lovely ball to brother Aaron who incredibly delivered his 3rd 2-pointer of the afternoon. Not to be outshone, the other Trim forwards were now asserting themselves through the hard work of James Murray and Sweeney who, despite the close attention of Cian Doherty and Farley, found Eoin O Connor whose shot was narrowly deflected wide. As the clock ticked down towards the break, both Trim’s Sweeney and Na Fianna’s Oisin Bright exchanged narrow wides before Reds’ Carmody slotted over his first to put Trim ahead by 4 points as the teams headed to the dressing room. Although a close game, there was a feeling that the game hadn’t really ignited yet.
Half time: Na Fianna 0- 05 Trim 0-09
With Conor Quigley and Luke Kelly coming on for Trim and Na Fianna respectively the action restarted with a swift attack from the men in yellow that was superbly broken up by full back Brian Bolger who was having a great afternoon for Trim. The counter attack saw Lynch and then Murray sweep up the field in a promising attack that could only be stopped by a foul. The free just outside the 40-metre arc was confidently struck over by none other than Lynch to secure his fourth 2 pointer with things now beginning to look a little bleak for Na Fianna. Moments later a superb attack by Trim saw county man Caulfield burst from defence to find county colleague Lynch who laid off to Douglas who shot across the goal only to see O Connor’s diving effort deflect narrowly wide in an effort that surely would have closed out the game. But Na Fianna were proving themselves resilient opponents when Queeney demonstrated that he too could kick 2-pointers with a well converted free in the 8th minute followed shortly after with another point from the ever-threatening Devine to narrow the margin to 3 points and still 21 minutes left on the clock.
On to the field for Trim came Ciaran O Rourke who immediately tackled the on-rushing Na Fianna forward to release Caulfield who delivered to Lynch who flicked the ball to Murray straight in front of goal. Full credit to Shane Geraghty in the Na Fianna goal who stood tall and saved at point blank range. The resultant 45 however was smoothly slotted over by Lynch to open the margin to 4 points. But the men in red were not having it their own way and now forward Carmody was back helping in defence to repel waves of attacks from Na Fianna. Eventually Trim got their chance to break out with the ball driven up to Caulfield who slotted over for a much-needed point. A minute later it was the same Caulfield who found himself back on the Trim goal line executing a perfect diving block to deny Na Fianna a goal and a chance to come straight back into the game. The defensive display by Trim was fast becoming the highlight of the game. McGinley, Bolger and Walsh were letting nothing by and when they needed reinforcements they arrived in numbers.
On the 18th minute the ball fired out to the Trim left-hand wing where Carmody was prowling – he gathered the ball and made towards goal only to stop, cut back and very casually stroke the ball over the bar from a distance of 45 metres. 3 minutes later, brilliant fielding by Lernihan who was now battling against Na Fianna substitute Jamie Queeney, saw the ball again travel to Carmody who this time claimed the more modest single point to really suck the energy out of the men in yellow. Their response of a well struck free on the 23rd minute felt just a little short of what was now needed with them still trailing by 7 points. A further point by O Connor was met with a well taken 2-point response from Na Fianna before Caulfield and Lynch closed out the day’s proceedings with a couple of extra points. Despite a black card to Na Fianna in the dying minutes referee David McGoldrick kept this game flowing.
This match was a real championship opener with both teams cautiously taking the measure of their opponents in the first half. But it was the wonderful 2-point kicking by both teams that gave the very respectable crowd their money’s worth with Trim’s Aaron Lynch claiming the supreme title. Na Fianna never let go of this game and really battled to stay in it to the end. Surely the highlight for Trim must be the performance of their full back line of man of the match Conor McGinley, Bolger and Walsh. One local wag was overheard on the way out saying ‘if those three were in the bloody Strait of Hormuz there’s not a tanker that would get by’…………high praise indeed. Early days yet.
Well done to all
