Fantastic Win For Trim Minor Hurlers

Trim minor hurlers continued a great week for the Reds hurlers when the defeated Ratoath in this pulsating minor league semi final played in a sweltering sun kissed St Loman's park on Wednesday evening. Trim started well and has three points on the scoreboard after just two and a half minutes. These points came from the sticks of Joey Cole and Ian Byrne, Ratoath replied in the fourth minute with a point from play. By the eighth minute Cole had added two more points for Trim. Ratoath then began to get a foot hold of this match and registered three points on the trot. Joey Cole then hit a wonderful 65 from the dugout side and then struck a very impressive point from play , he beat two opponents and while still under pressure changed direction to skilfully slot the ball over the bar. The people lucky enough to be attending this match were treated to a wonderful game of hurling and enjoying the sun as well. In the twenty fifth minute Ratoath scored a short range free, this was before Darragh Heffernan hit a wonderful point from play for Trim. Joey hit another free over the bar before Ratoath completed the first half scoring with another placed ball effort.

Half Time: Trim  0-9 Ratoath 0-6

All in attendance were in agreement that this match would go down to the wire and that Trim might struggle as they were missing a couple of very influential players due to injury and holidays. That line of thought would be proved incorrect as Trim notched the first point from play in the first minute of the second half from the ever lively George Douglas. This was a fine individual score as George won possession himself and headed for goal and then tipped over a lovely point from thirty five yards from an acute angle. Trim were now four in front, Joey Cole increased the reds lead to five in the fourth minute of the second half with another superbly struck 65 .Ratoath were feeling that the match was slipping away from so they launched attack after attack and hit three points on the trot to reduce the Reds lead to just two points by the tenth minute of the second half. Josh Harris restored Trim's composure with a pointed free after he was fouled himself. Trim were now three points up, from the puck out Ratoath gained possession and quickly moved the ball into their forwards and after the Reds backs fumbled there lines and failed to clear the ball three times the ball ended in the back of the Trim net. A draw game with eighteen minutes to go we had a thriller on our hands, Trim responded to the Ratoath goal very well and immediately restored there lead  with a point from Josh Harris. The Casteabbey man was having a tremendous game and was a big influence as the game headed to the final quarter. Ratoath pointed from a placed ball in the seventeenth minute, the sides were level again. From the puck out the impressive Ciaran Caulfield won the ball in the air, he turned and hit a brilliant diagonal ball into to the left corner forward position where the lively George Douglas outfielder his much taller marker, George took his man on , rounded him, put the ball on his stick  headed straight for goal, Josh Harris could see the move developing and ran off the shoulder of Douglas at a beautiful angle , George unselfishly  popped the ball up in front of Harris who took it in his stride to burst between two Ratoath defenders and hit an unstoppable shot to the roof of the Ratoath net. Brilliant goal the Reds were now three up again. Ratoath responded to the goal the same way Trim responded to their goal with a quick point. Eight minutes left and everybody in attendance were standing and excited with the brilliant game they were watching and marvelling at the skill of the players on view. In the twenty fifth minute of the second half Joey Cole scores a point from a placed ball to give the reds a three point lead again. The teams were battling hard for every ball and by the thirty second minute of the second half Ratoath had reduced the Trim lead to just two points after they scored two points from placed balls. Play continued and was frantic as Ratoath searched for a score to level the game. The Trim defence never relented in their desire to keep their opponents at bay. Trim went four up in the thirty fourth minute with a free from the stick of Josh Harris. From the resulting puck out Joey Cole won the ball in the middle of the field , he quickly moved the ball into the full forward line where Tadgh Carty rose majestically in the air , caught the ball and on landing left his marker flat footed , rounded him and blasted the ball to the top of the net. This goal was a just reward for young Carty as he worked tirelessly for his team throughout the match and never relented with his effort despite some very tight marking!!!

With the ball in the back of the Ratoath net for the Reds second goal and with thirty six minutes played in the second half, the old saying came into action, GAME OVER !

. The ball was pucked out and Referee Bernard Heaney who had a very good match blew the final whistle.

This match was a superb game of hurling and the skill levels displayed were top class. The hunger, desire, will to win was so evident and bides well for the future of Meath Hurling.

Trim were full value for their five point win  and will be very pleased with this victory and they now move on now to play another Dublin border team in Dunboyne.
Final Score : Trim 2-15 Ratoath 1-13

Trim Team & Scorers : Kyle Ennis, David Boyle, Eoghan Ryan, Sam Kennedy, Wes Gibbons, Even Costello,Shaun Mulryan, Joey Cole(0-9)Ciaran Caulfeild, Shaun Holton,Josh Harris(1-3)Darragh Heffernan(0-1)Ian Byrne(0-1)Tadgh Carty(1-0)George Douglas(0-1)

Subs:Eoin reilly , Caelum Casserly, Evan Smith, Cormac Doyle, Sean Murray,Finn Maher