2026 Senior Football Championship – Group B – Fairyhouse Steel – Round 2
Trim 0-10 Ratoath 3-15
On Friday night, beautiful sunshine saw the clash of league winners Ratoath and locals Trim for a match that was always going to be a significant challenge for the men in red………and so it proved to be.
Playing into a strong, setting sun Ratoath got off to the better start with Oisin Kelly slotting over a lovely point to be followed minutes later by further points from veteran Eamon Wallace and Rob Hayes. Trim needed to get started and it was Aaron Lynch who converted a free in the 8th minute to get the Trim side of the scoreboard ticking.
Very apparent from the start was the very close attention that Ratoath’s Ben Wyer was paying to the movement of Lynch – wherever Lynch went Wyer followed – and Wyer brought at least one teammate in support.
On the 11th minute Ratoath corner forward Adam Ducie broke through and converted for a really well taken, battling point that was immediately cancelled out by Carmody who popped over for Trim to keep the reds within 2 points. Ducie was back in business moments later when he found himself straight in front of goal only to blast narrowly wide.
Relief for Trim – but maybe a warning of what was yet to come. A converted free by Lynch in the 16th minute brought Trim within a single point and battling very hard. And stay in touch they did until the 23rd minute when a lovely pass released Daithi McGowan to blast the ball to the back of the Trim net.
Although shaken, Trim rallied when, moments later, Ciaran Caulfield broke down the left wing and instead of heading towards goal, cut back to pass to Carmody who casually stroked the ball over from at least 43 metres out to claim a critical 2-pointer.
Ratoath replied with a Cian Roger’s point before Alan Douglas and Lynch (free) closed out a battling first half with points that saw the reds trail by a single McGowan goal at half time.
Half time: Trim 0-07 Ratoath 1-07
Both teams reemerged for the second half under a rain-laden, black sky punctuated by the most magnificent rainbow……..but who was to claim the crock of gold!
Carmody dropped short in his first effort followed shortly after by 2 narrow misses from Ratoath’s Glen Reilly. Now playing with the wind on the clubhouse side of the pitch, it was Wallace for Ratoath that raised the tempo and the orange flag in the 5th minute to put 5 points between the teams.
Sean Foley was now on the pitch for Trim and there was a sense that the game was slipping away unless the reds could get a few more scores. Foley obliged with a lovely run on to a Lynch pass to claim his first of the day. Unfortunately for Trim this score seemed to rally Ratoath to move up a gear.
In the space of 5 minutes, they struck 1-04 the pick of which was a very clever run by Bryan McMaho who got in around the back of the Trim defence to hit the net. Cathal O Reilly tried to lift fortunes for Trim by punching over the bar for a much needed, solitary point that was immediately cancelled out by Ducie who sent the ball high over the bar to keep the gap at 11 points and things looking ominous for Trim.
A flicker of hope emerged in the 19th minute when Eoin O Connor slipped his marker and popped a clever ball to Douglas who shot narrowly wide of the goal. Moments later Brian Bolger had to stand tall in defence when he intercepted a dangerous pass to clear the ball up the field that eventually had the referee spot an off the ball foul that allowed Lynch to convert for what was to be Trim’s last score of the game in the 21st minute.
Things could have been even worse for Trim except for the eagle-eyed reflexes of senior championship debutant Charlie O Connor who executed an excellent tackle on Ratoath goalscorer McGowan. But not to be deterred, Wallace found Paddy White who added his contribution to the scoreboard with an easily converted point.
As the game moved to a close, O Reilly in the Trim goal was forced to execute a magnificent save at point blank range from McGowan. Unfortunately for O Reilly, seconds later he was left with absolutely no chance when McGowan again attacked and laid off to Rogers who made certain with his shot to find the back of the net.
Final whistle – game over.
Trim travelled on Friday possibly more in hope than expectation and unfortunately for them Ratoath delivered to form. The men in blue and yellow were outstanding in attack and held very strong in defence. They had their homework done and executed their game plan very well. Trim will have to learn quickly from this. They now know what one of the best in the championship looks like. They will need to regroup and come out fighting the next day – but that is something that Trim do very well.
Well done to young Charlie O’ Connor on his senior debut – he’s certainly one for the future.
But no crock of gold at the end of the rainbow for the locals.
Well done to all.
Trim: E O Reilly; C McGinley; B Bolger; P Walsh; C O Reilly (0-01); C Caulfield; E Sweeney; D Lernihan; I Birmingham; T Carmody (0-03); J Murray; D Lynch; E O Connor (0-01); A Douglas (0-01); A Lynch (0-04)
Subs: S Foley (0-01) for D Lynch; C O Connor for E Sweeney; I Byrne for A Douglas
