While the scoreline of 6-12 to 1-16 looks comfortable it belies the fact that there was only four points between the sides as the game entered the final quarter as Seneschalstown came out after half time to harry and harass Trim and reduce their half time eight-point deficit. But Trim rallied strongly to run out worthy winners in what was a lively and interesting encounter.

From the start Trim were intent on wiping out the memory of a very poor performance against St Patrick’s a fortnight ago and quickly showed that intent when Patrick Quigley passed to Davy Murtagh who found the net in the first minute. Mikey Coley followed shortly afterwards with a fantastic 2 pointer and shortly afterwards Trim were unlucky not to get a second goal thanks to a last gasp save from the Seneschalstown goalie. 

Seneschalstown responded when their goalkeeper scored the first of six two pointer frees in the 6th minute. Sean Fitzgerald nullified this immediately afterwards and Trim extended their lead with a Daniel Murray goal and a further Trim point when Ben Holden took the ball from defence and pointed it. 

Seneschalstown came more into the game at this stage and scored five points on the trot in a period of predominance that had Trim rattled.

Trim steadied the ship with a point from Mikey Cullen and a Patrick Quigley goal. Mikey Cullen scored a fantastic point from an acute angle as Seneschalstown got another 2 pointer to stay in touch. Mikey Cole finished the Trim first half scoring in the 24th minute when he took a pinpoint Daniel Murray pass and crashed the ball to the opposition net. Seneschalstown finished the half with yet another two pointer to leave the half time score at 

HT Trim 4-7 Seneschalstown 0-11

It was clear from the throw in that Seneschalstown were intent on pressurising and harrying Trim to try to disrupt the smooth and fast-moving play that was a feature of the first half. They were successful in the opening twelve minutes of the half as they registered five points without reply from a clearly rattled Trim outfit. However, some of the experienced Trim players asserted themselves and steadied the ship.

 The experience of Sean Fitzgerald, Cian Downes, Ben Holden, James Cullen, Mikey Cullen and Mikey Cole began to tell and gradually Trim reasserted themselves as Fitzgerald pointed and Mikey Cole goaled in the 20th minute. Daniel Murray added to his total with a fine point in the 22nd minute and Sean McKiernan announced his introduction with a point. 

The game was decided a minute later as Mike Cole converted a penalty after a red card tackle on Cian Downes which saw him having to leave the field.  Seneschalstown narrowed the gap with a goal in the 25th minute but Trim finished the scoring with further points from Cole and McKiernan for a final score of 6-12 to 1-13 to see Trim through to the final against Wolfe Tones in two weeks. 

This was a great return to form for a very good Trim team. They learned well from the drubbing by St Pat’s. The entire defence was rock solid throughout and Sean Fitzgerald and Daragh Heffernan dominated midfield for long periods. The attack was fast moving and fluid and caused endless problems for the Seneschalstown defence. 

While the experienced players in the Trim set up were important in responding to the pressure there was some great displays from the younger team members most notably Alex Fox, Charlie O’Connor, Cormac Slattery and Daniel Murray.

The final will take place in two weeks time. 

Panel David Boyle, Alex Fox, Neil Sweeney, Conor McKeown, Sean Fitzgerald, Cian Downes, Sean McKiernan, Charlie O’Connor, Daniel Murray, Mark Murray, Caoimhín O’Neill, Mikey Cole, Mikey Cullen, Daragh Heffernan, Daryl Phelan, Ben Holden, Aonghus Shortt, David Carey, Gearóid O’Donnell, Ruairí McCaffrey, James Cullen, Tadhg Foley, Patrick Quigley, Conall McGrenra, David Murtagh, Adam Donoghue, Cormac Slattery, Declan Greene, Tadhg Carty