Hall of Fame Award 2022

The history of the Trim GAA Club is littered with great names – footballers and hurlers who have given outstanding service in both good times and bad. And this year, the club is honouring one such hero…. A man whose career was indeed outstanding – a career that was highlighted by its longevity – and by its loyalty to the red and white jersey.

It lasted for almost 30 years – from his juvenile days in the 1960s – all through the 70s and 80s and into the 1990s when he won his 4th Senior Hurling Championship Medal.

As a juvenile in 1964 he helped Trim to win the U16 Football Championship and U16 Hurling Shield.

The promise of that team continued when they won the U16 Football Championship in 1966 and the Minor title in both 1967 and 1968 – and there were Minor Hurling Championship successes in 1965 and 1968.

Hopes were extremely high that the team would go on to greater things – they were an extremely talented bunch of young hurlers and footballers. Unfortunately, the 1970s turned out to be something of a struggle for the club.

This year’s Hall of Fame Award Recipient moved up to Senior Championship level in 1968 and from that point onwards he was an automatic choice for the No 1 jersey in both football and hurling. But he was a long time playing without any reward other than the respect and pride he had in wearing the Trim jersey – and of course the camaraderie that the games generate.

Trim reached the Senior Football Championship Semi Final in 1971 but were beaten by eventual winners Kilbride. But it was in November that they produced a truly memorable performance in a league game against Gaeil Colmcille in Kells with half a dozen brilliant saves.

By now you all know that our Hall of Fame Inductee was the goalie and they say you have to be a little bit mad to play in goals in football or hurling but to be your teams goalie in both and for so many years- well that really qualifies you for the certificate.

The 1970s were particularly difficult for the hurlers. They found themselves playing at Intermediate level – winning it with our guest in goals – they beat Gaeil Colmcille in the final in Athboy. For the footballers there was great cause for optimism when the Feis cup was won in 1976. The victories in the quarter final, in the semi-final against Seneschalstown and the final against Ballivor were all won by a point. The goalie contributed hugely with a fabulous save from a Bertie Cunnignham rasper!!

Back to hurling and on their return to the Senior ranks Trim failed to win a championship game in 1974, 1975 and 1976 with their first victory coming against Gaeil Colmcille in 1977 – their first Senior Hurling Championship win since 1964. It took a lot of patience and a huge amount of loyalty to continue to persevere but the goalie was one who persevered.

He had a particularly busy day in June 1987 in Boardsmill where he lined out for both the Intermediate and Senior teams – keeping a clean sheet in the respective wins over Baconstown and Dunboyne. And 1987 tuned out to be a great year. Not only did Meath win the Sam Maguire Cup but Trim also qualified for their first Senior Hurling Championship Final in 27 years. They beat Kiltale in the semi-final without conceding a goal and it was the same story in the final against Athboy in St Loman’s Park. The goalie had a huge say in the Jubilee Cup returning to Trim for the 1st time since 1960. His brilliant save from Martin Ennis was a huge turning point in the game. And he needed to be at his best – at the other end of the pitch the forwards notched up no fewer than 14 wides!! For his contribution to that long awaited success – the club’s 18th – he was named as Trim’s Hurler of the Year.

The team had made the breakthrough and were now on the crest of a wave. They made it back to back successes getting the better of Kildalkey at Pairc Tailteann with the man in the No 1 jersey making further outstanding saves. They made it three in a row in 1989 beating Kilmessan in the final.

Trim lost their crown in 1990 when bowing out to Kildalkey in the semi-final and lost the 1991 final by a point in a replay with just the one goal conceded in the two games. And then there was 1992 and a 21st Senior Hurling Championship title for Trim and a 4th title for their long serving goalie. It was a memorable day for the club who then went on to register a terrific win over Dublin Champions Faughs in the Leinster Championship. The goalie produced an inspirational display – one of his very best.

His last Senior Hurling Championship game was the semi-final defeat by Rathmolyon in 1993 following which he was succeeded by Frank McCann in goals in 1994. But his loyalty was further enhanced when he lined out for the Juniors who were narrowly beaten by Donaghmore/Ashbourne in the final.

And so an amazing career came to an end… it is possible to argue that Trim would not have ended their famine in 1987 without his contribution just as it is arguable that they might not have won the ’88, ‘89 or 92 Championships without him. He had all the qualities required of a top class goalie – and this despite the fact that he never looked to be the fittest man on the team – in fact with his longish hair and sometimes white headband he looked more like a hippy who had dropped in from San Francisco or Woodstock or a drummer with a band!! But his eagle eyes, his alertness, his skill and above all his bravery will not be forgotten – neither should his 30 year contribution to Trim GAA Club, football and hurling teams. Our Hall of Fame Award Winner for 2022 is Kit O’Donnell.