They say that goals win games and such was the case in this latest renewal of the Hurling Championship.

As much as it was about the amount of goals achieved by Kilmessan, it was also about the ones which Trim failed to convert, for one reason or another.

Trim began on a high note and Alan Douglas raised the first green flag within two minutes of the throw in, to cancel out Lorcan Byrne’s pointed effort for the opposition, in the first minute. The trend of the game was going nicely in Trim’s favour and by the end of the first quarter they were comfortably in front with a scoreline of 1-6 to 0-3. James Murray had accounted for five of those points, two from frees, while Joey Cole chipped in with one of his own following a clever intervention from Kilmessan ‘keeper, Sean Power’s, clearance.

In the seventeenth minute, Kilmessan’s Mark Horan found himself in space to raise the first of his side’s green flags, and ‘Man of the Match’ Sean Doyle, who finished with a tally of 2-7, added another point to reduce Trim’s advantage to two. James Murray added another three points to his tally before the half time whistle sounded but, in between, there was another point from Sean Doyle and a goal and point from Darragh Horan. Trim would have been in a more comfortable position if it wasn’t for a double wonder save by Kilmessan ‘keeper Sean Power from efforts by Mikey Cole and Kyle Ennis. 

However, there were ominous signs in that first half as Kilmessan were guilty of ten wides with a number of those missed chances attributable to the aforementioned Sean Doyle.

 Half Time: Trim 1-09; Kilmessan 2-06

Following excellent team play, David Murtagh opened the second half scoring with a well taken point. Kilmessan added two, from Kevin Keena and Cian Maguire, before what was possibly the turning point of the game. Sean Power, way out on the right touchline played a speculative shot goalwards which deceived Trim goalie Eoin O’Reilly and squeezed in, between crossbar and upright, much to the delight of the Kilmessan supporters.

James Murray pointed from a free before Kilmessan replied on the double, the second, from Darragh Horan, which was disputed but subsequently awarded when referee Kevin Brady consulted his umpire.

Alan Douglas and James Murray, who was to end up with an astonishing fifteen points, pulled two back for Trim but Sean Doyle countered with two of his own to leave five between the sides with twelve minutes remaining. Trim were piling on the pressure and there was an exchange of a couple of points before Alan Douglas fired to the Kilmessan net only to find that referee Kevin Brady had already called play back and awarded a free to Trim instead.

There were further goal chances for Trim but firstly Mikey Cole followed by brother Joey saw their respective efforts strike an upright and then the angle of the crossbar and upright and bounce harmlessly wide

Another Trim goal chance was cleared by the Kilmessan defence and Sean Doyle, once again, found himself in space and, with the Trim defence fully stretched, rifled his shot past a defenceless Eoin O’Reilly. 

Trim did pull a couple of points back through Ben Holden and James Murray but it was Sean Doyle who had the last say before Kevin Brady sounded the final whistle much to the delight of the Kilmessan bench and, no doubt, the rest of the Senior Hurling group.

Trim’s remaining group matches will be against Kiltale, who had a surprise win over Ratoath, on Sunday 30th August, Dunganny 4pm, and Ratoath on Sunday 13th September, Dunganny 3pm. The final series of matches will decide who tops the group, earning a direct place in the Final, while the second and third placed teams will play a semi final, to decide the other finalist.  

Trim: Eoin O’Reilly, Danny Coleman, Gary Fleming, Ben Holden (0-1), Eoghan Ryan, Mark Molloy, Ian Birmingham, Joey Cole (0-1), Dylan Farrell George Douglas, James Murray (0-15, 6f, 3 ’65s), David Murtagh (0-1), Kyle Ennis Alan Douglas (1-1), Mikey Cole.

Subs: James Andrews, Pa Ryan, Darragh Heffernan.