Premier Div 2 Football Final

Trim 1-13; Simonstown 0-11

Trim recovered from a tentative start to secure the Premier Division 2 Title with an epic victory over a much fancied Simonstown side on a fine Sunday morning at Pairc Tailteann. The victory was secured following the unfortunate loss of team captain Frankie Murphy with a serious arm injury but, fittingly, it was Owen McGrath who raised the cup on his, and his team’s, behalf at the end of an enthralling encounter.

A significant breeze from the hospital end was evident in the first half that favoured the Navan side and they made full use of the advantage with early strikes from Shane McEnery(f), Chris O’Neill, and Aaron Chinchilla. An Owen McGrath pointed free for Trim in the eleventh minute momentarily stabilised the ship but Simonstown kicked on and had another four unanswered points through Eoghan Gough, Shane McEnery (f), Chris O’Neill (’45), and Ian O’Rourke.

These two early points from Chris O’Neill forced a Trim change in defence and Rory McGrath’s introduction proved hugely successful as he held his opponent scoreless for the rest of the game.

Trim had plenty of the ball and there was a fascinating dual at midfield where Simonstown enjoyed a height advantage through Mark McCabe and Sean Conlon which was matched by the skill and determination of Frankie Murphy, and James Murray. However, it was evident that any long balls only conceded possession to the opponents and so the penetrating play of James Cullen, David Murtagh and Dimi Higgins, which was a feature of the game, was necessary to overcome this disadvantage and cause plenty of problems to the Simonstown defence.

Indeed, shortly after Dimi was denied a penalty claim from one such move, referee Jack Gordon had no hesitation in pointing to the spot when Owen McGrath was similarly upended in the large parallelogram. Up stepped Paul ‘Penalty King’ Munnelly and he coolly stroked the ball past Simonstown ‘keeper Ronan Duffy. Game on.

Trim were dealt a major blow with the injury to their skipper, Frankie Murphy, and Simonstown had responded with pointed efforts from Eddie Nash and Aaron Chinchilla. However, with the clock ticking towards half time, Mikey Cole gained possession out on the left and, what seemed to be the wrong decision at the time, found his target for a terrific score. Another foraging run from James Cullen found Patrick Quigley who swung over the sweetest of left foot efforts from thirty yards.Those last couple of minutes were vital for Trim and they were probably the happier at the interval. There was no more time for play and Jack Gordon’s long whistle sounded to leave a half time score of Trim 1-3; Simonstown 0-9.

Trim began the second half with high anticipation but they had to wait until the seventh minute for Owen McGrath to open the scoring with a brilliant effort. A minute later, after a Simonstown defensive error, it was Owen McGrath, again, who reduced the margin to the minimum with a short range free. Simonstown too had plenty of possession but Trim were resolute in defence with the strength of Dylan Finnerty and Eoin Sweeney and the alertness of custodian Peter Farrell, while Daryl Phelan was dominant in the centre back position and thwarted many a Simonstown offensive.

In the eleventh minute James Cullen broke in from the right and, showing his great experience, fisted the ball over the bar to bring the sides level for the first time. Kyle McEvoy edged Simonstown in front a minute later but this only spurred on the Trim lads to a greater effort. They were rewarded with three unanswered points compliments of Mikey Cullen, who found his range from a good distance, Patrick Quigley, who was giving a near man of the match performance, from a ’45, and James Murray, following great patience from the Trim side and a good advantage from referee Jack Gordon. This time the water break did not suit the team in the ascendency but Simonstown were glad of the opportunity to regroup for one final effort.

This respite very nearly paid dividends on the resumption when Eoghan Gough shot over a screamer, clipping the crossbar and upright in the process. However, this only spurred on the team in red & white and James Cullen restored Trim’s two point advantage in the nineteenth minute. Again, Trim were showing great patience and were content to retain possession while their opponents floundered, and it was James Murray who struck once more following fine work by Owen McGrath.

Trim were now on a roll and when substitute Sean Foley fired over from a narrow angle their names were practically on the cup. Another pointed free from Owen McGrath in the twenty eight minute completed the scoring. Minutes later the long whistle was sounded to the sheer joy of the Trim squad and their coaching team of Paul Gilsenan, Ciaran Giblin, Noel Dempsey, James Battersby, and Shane Downes.

Final Score: Trim 1-13; Simonstown 0-11

Trim: Peter Farrell, Dylan Finnerty, Cathal Birmingham, Eoin Sweeney, David Murtagh, Daryl Phelan, Paul Munnelly (1-0, pen), Frankie Murphy (C), Dimi Higgins, Patrick Quigley (0-2, 1’45), James Cullen (0-2), Mikey Cole (0-1), James Murray Murray (0-2), Owen McGrath (0-4, 3f), Mikey Cullen (0-1)

Subs: Conal McGreana, Patrick Lennon, Sean Foley (0-1), Joe O’Donoghue, Harry Kennedy, Daniel Coleman, Robert Kenny, Mark Murray, Rory McGrath

Some interesting facts from our Premier Division 2 Win

· Trim is the first winner of the Premier Division 2 title.

· On the way to the title they scored 13 goals and 50 points (89 points).

· The backs conceded a miserly 35 points in total.

· Owen McGrath was leading scorer with 18 points, having played in three and a half matches and was the principal free taker (0-9 from frees)

· Sean Foley scored a remarkable 4-4 despite the fact that he only played one full sixty minute match.

· Other notable tallies were M Cullen 1-7, M Cole 2-4 and James Cullen 3-3 including a hat trick of goals v Duleek Bellewstown.

· A total of 13 players registered scores in the championship including three backs, Paul Munnelly (1-1), Daryl Phelan and David Murtagh (0-1 each) and one midfield player Dimmy Higgins (0-1) .

· All forwards scored in the final

· Trim conceded no goals from play in the championship thanks to a sterling defence and two great goalies Peter Brennan and Peter Farrell.

· The Division 2 team “lost” Peter Brennan, Ciarán Rourke, Luke Moran to the Intermediate team during the course of the championship.

· The Division 8 team that lined out in the first round of their championship “lost” Owen Sweeney and Peter Farrell to the Division 2 team during the championship.

· Two players made their debut in the final, Rory McGrath and Joe O’Donoghue were both on the injury list and struggling to be fit for the final. Both played a significant role when introduced.

· Trim had to play with only 14 men for 20 minutes of the second half v St Patrick’s and ended with only 13 men for the Ratoath match.

· It’s exactly 10 years since Trim last won a Junior football title. In 2010 Trim beat Moynalty by 2-4 to 0-9 to win their second Junior B title in three years.