Full Time:  Trim 2-7;  Ratoath 0-12

Trim Premier Junior team have reached an historic First Premier Division 2 Championship Final following a narrow victory over nearest division rivals Ratoath by the narrowest of margins.

In a pulsating finale Trim, who were reduced to 13 men following late double yellow and a yellow and black cards, held on against a Ratoath onslaught which yielded them three unanswered points but, ultimately, fell short of an equaliser against a resolute home defence.

On a beautiful Autumn morning, at St Lomans Park, the match began at a hectic pace with both sides determined to give little away. So much so, it was the seventh minute before the home side opened the scoring with Owen McGrath slotting over a pointed free following a foul on James Murray.

A mix up in the Trim defence resulted in Brian Daly securing an opportunist levelling score before Mikey Cole restored Trim's advantage, in the thirteenth minute, following good work from Sean Foley and Owen McGrath.

The Trim work rate was immense and they restricted the visitors to some wayward shooting from long distance. Nevertheless, it was Ratoath who secured the next two scores, through Brian Daly and Sean Johnson, to go in front for the first, and only, time.

A fine run from Daryl Phelan ended with Owen 'Bug' McGrath finding Patrick Quigley who slotted over to bring matters level. Minutes later it was Owen McGrath who stretched Trim's advantage from a pointed free following good possession by James Cullen.

And it was James Cullen who finished out the half's scoring with a fine solo effort.

That first half produced seven wides for the visitors against five for the home side but, even more critically, Ratoath also carried two yellow cards in at the break one, in particular, following a bad foul on David Murtagh which may not have been as lenient on another day.

Half Time: Trim 0-5;  Ratoath 0-3

The second half started with an early wide to Trim and Tiernan Ahearne slotted over a third minute free for the visitors to leave the minimum margin between the sides.

However, the next ten minutes belonged to Trim and corner forward Sean Foley was most alert when he found the back of the Ratoath net after Owen McGrath's effort had come back off the crossbar.

Dimi Higgins then found his range with a fine solo effort and Owen McGrath stretched the home side's advantage, once again, with a pointed free following a foul on Sean Foley. Trim now led by 1-7 to 0-4, and it seemed that they would be heading to the final water break with a comfortable advantage.

However, referee Aidan Dalton did not take the opportunity of a number of breaks in play to signal that short break and it was Ratoath who took full advantage scoring five points on the bounce, three from pointed frees by Sean Johnson and one each from Jack McGowan and Brian Daly. To compound matters, Trim's full back Luke Moran picked up a second yellow card and, unbelievably, it was the home side who were reduced to fourteen men.

Trim held the slenderest of leads going into the final quarter and they were resolute in defence with a 'man of the match' performance from Owen Sweeney and an equally stirring performance from net minder Peter Farrell.

David Murtagh finally succumbed to another unpunished heavy tackle and shortly afterwards it was substitute Danny Coleman who took the ball out of defence and found Owen Mc Grath with a pinpointed pass. He laid it on to Patrick Quigley who hit the sweetest of shots, for the score of the match, to the corner of the Ratoath net. 

Again, unbelievably, Trim were reduced to thirteen men when Danny Coleman was shown a black card, following a silly indiscretion. This followed an earlier yellow which he received following a tussle with an already yellow carded Ratoath player who, once again, escaped sanction despite his contribution to the affray.

Ratoath had, by this time, reduced Trim's lead to just three points, 2-7 to 0-10 and further points from Tiernan Ahearne and Jack McGowan was not enough to

secure additional time.

The referee's long whistle was sounded much to the relief and joy of the home side and mentors Paul Gilsenan, Ciaran Giblin, Noel Dempsey, James Battersby.

Full Time: Trim 2-7;  Ratoath 0-12

Trim:

Peter Farrell, Dylan Finnerty, Luke Moran, Owen Sweeney, David Murtagh, Daryl Phelan, Paul Munnelly, Frankie Murphy, Dimi Higgins,(0-1), Patrick Quigley, (1-1), James Cullen, (0-1), Mikey Cole, (0-1), James Murray, Owen McGrath, (0-3), Sean Foley, (1-0).

Subs:  Danny Coleman, Patrick Lennon, Joe Donoghue, Mark Murray, Conall Mac Greanna

Ratoath:

Darragh McPartlin, Mick Lavin, Cormac Butler, Daragh McGill, Ryan Kelly, Brian Power, Gavin Horan, John Walsh, Peter Barry, Tiernan Ahearne, Brian Daly, Jack McGowan, Sean Johnson, Jack Lanigan, Nathan Dunne