JM Food Services – Football League – Division 2 Final
Trim 4-10 Moynalvey 1-12
📝Martin Bourke 📷Full Album on trimgaa.com / Clubzap
On Sunday, Summerhill GAA played host to the Division 2 Final between Trim and Moynalvey – 2 teams that were hard to separate during the round stages.
While Moynalvey strode to the field with a number of men who proudly wore the county jersey including Padraig Harnan, Cillian O Sullivan and Mark O Sullivan, Trim had to do without the services of Ciaran Caulfield and Aaron Lynch – the later who was excellent in the semi-final only last Wednesday night. As the ball was thrown in it was apparent that a strong wind blowing diagonally across the pitch was going to be a clear advantage to the men in red in the first half. And take advantage of the wind from the start is exactly what Trim did by winning the ball from the throw in and releasing James Toher who narrowly shot wide. Moments later Moynalvey were on the attack only to be repelled by good blocking from Ben Holden in the full back line that pushed the ball back up the field. Patiently Trim moved the ball laterally across the 40-metre arc while Moynalvey cooly held their defensive shape eventually forcing Sean Foley into another Trim wide. Minutes later Moynalvey narrowly avoided opening the scoring when they struck the Reds upright
.
Eventually, on the 8th minute, the stalemate was broken when Trim’s Eoin Sweeney gathered the ball out on the left wing, strode forward and struck a lovely ball high over the bar. From the kick out Moynalvey won possession and drove the ball forward requiring Eoin O Reilly in the Trim goal to remain calm under a high dropping ball that was duly dispatched to wing back Padraig Walsh who carried out of defence. With 9 minutes gone Trim were the team that had settled best and were moving the ball confidently with Tadhg Carty and James Toher in midfield holding strong against a very good Moynalvey midfield pairing. On the 10th minute the hard work of Trim’s Sweeney and Conor Quigley saw the ball move out to the left wing where Eoin O Connor stretched the Moynalvey defence and cut goalwards to deliver a delicate handpass across the goal mouth where Tom Carmody gratefully gathered and drove the ball to the back of the net. On the kick out, Moynalvey launched a clinical attack down the right-hand side only to be stopped by the flaying arm of Trim’s Eoin Ryan that won him a yellow card and Moynalvey a free that was very ably converted by Adam Murphy for their first score of the game. Despite the clear disadvantage of the wind, Moynalvey were now beginning to settle more. But Trim were intent on taking full advantage of the wind when they solidly moved the ball from Holden and McGinley in the back line through to Quigley to find Toher who slotted over his first in the 14th minute. From the kick out, Moynalvey got the ball to the impressive Liam Harnan only for him to shoot narrowly wide. But undeterred, back came Moynalvey only this time to be repelled by an excellent intercept from vigilant Trim corner back Conor McGinley who swiftly drove towards the forward line resulting in a free that Carmody converted putting the Reds 4 points ahead with 15th minutes gone. Minutes later, Moynalvey attacked to draw a free around the 35-metre mark that was very confidently converted by Murphy for his, and Moynalvey’s second score of the game.
From the kick out, Trim again built slowly to find the ball to the hard-working Harry Purcell and Daire Lynch who was constantly prodding the Moynalvey defence with darting runs that eventually saw the ball spurt to Carmody who released Holden who was duly brought down by an increasingly pressurised Moynalvey defence. Carmody converted to put 5 points between the teams. From the kick out the breaking ball found its way to Trim’s Sweeney who was giving a very dominant performance from the half back line. With Carty and Toher splitting left and right, Sweeney put the head down and surged through the gap in the middle to drive the ball into the back of the Moynalvey. Trim now looked very much in control. In defence, young Eoin Ryan was playing with a cool head that was ensuring that Moynalvey were not gaining any real traction. On the 23rd minute Trim’s Foley won the ball that was eventually forced out for a 45 that he converted with confidence. From the kick out, Trim’s Conor Quigley narrowly shot wide, followed moments later by another Trim wide from Carty. On the 28th minute Moynalvey got themselves in a scoring position only to be brought down for the free that was once again converted by the very dependable free taker Adam Murphy. With time almost up in the first half, Moynalvey launched an attack that saw the ball delivered to Cillian O Sullivan who had been constantly threatening the Trim half back line. Confidently, O Sullivan moved wide left and swung a ball high towards the Trim posts that many on the sideline felt had gone wide. But referees are the final arbiter of such matters, and Stephen Cregan, who it must be said was having a good game in black, put his arm up and declared a point. No complaints from Trim who won their own kick out and drove the ball to Carmody who caught a lovely mark that he easily converted to bring first half proceedings to a close and Trim going to the dressing room 8 points ahead and looking very much in control.
Half time: Trim 2-06 Moynalvey 0-04
On the resumption, Moynalvey were very much facing an up-hill battle, but within 1 minute showed they were up for the challenge. From the throw in the ball was pushed out to Mark O Sullivan who swivelled and stroked the ball over the Trim crossbar from 45 meters out to claim a fantastic 2-pointer. Moments later the deficit was down to 5 points when the Moynalvey forwards bagged another point from play. Maybe it was the influence of the wind, but suddenly Trim appeared under pressure for the first time in the game. The Reds full backline of Holden, McGiney and Ryan repeatedly stood firm and Eoin O Reilly in goal was now asked to step up to the mark – which he did with repeated blocks and intercepts. Clearing the ball in the 2nd minute saw the action blasted up the field where Foley gathered and released Carmody for a sweetly struck point. But Moynalvey were now up on their toes and repeatedly released McLoughlin, Harnan and the O Sullivans to attack the Trim goal. Trim’s Sweeney, Walsh and Ryan were called into action to repel the invaders. Inevitably cracks appeared – particularly in the form of Harnan who was eventually brought down 45 meters out allowing Moynalvey’s McLoughlin to step up and strike over a beautiful 2 pointer. The gap was now 4 points. On the 8th minute, the skies, and Trim’s mood, darkened. Cillian O Sullivan – like the now falling rain - crashed to the ground. Sweeney, who had done trojan work throughout, was shown a black card and the resulting free by Moynalvey’s ever-dependable Adam Murphy saw their score up by another 2 points and the gap now down to a mere 2 points. In the space of 8 minutes the game suddenly was very different with Moynalvey in the ascendency and 14-man Trim very much on the backfoot. Moments later, like the rain, the gap tumbled again when Padraig Harnan won the ball out on the right-hand side and struck over for a point to put the smallest of margins between these 2 very good sides. Trim’s Conor Quigley was increasingly called upon to shore up defence while some of the Red players started to slip on the greasy surface. But Trim had been under pressure several times during the round stages and didn’t panic. In the eye of the Moynalvey storm it was now a case of all hands on deck for Trim. On the 12th minute, Tom Carmody seemed to rise through a gap in the clouds to field the ball and lay off to big David Lernihan. Like a hungry butcher’s dog Carty pounced on the neat pass and crashed the ball into the back of the Moynalvey net. After the magnificent comeback from Moynalvey there was a sense now that the tide seemed to be turning back in favour of the men in Red. Still playing with 14 men, and despite the very hard working Moynalvey backs in the form of Regan, Harnan and Branigan, Trim were relentless. Immediately on the kick out, a greasy, skittery, sloppy ball was fed out to Foley on the left wing, who in typical outrageous style, chipped the ball up and cut in towards goal to slam the ball high past the very good, but helpless Conor Egan, into the far corner of the Moynalvey net. One wondered if Pele had ever played in Summerhill could he have done the same with a greasy ball – doubtful!! Trim were now back firing on all cylinders. With Trim starting to use their substitutes Lernihan struck another point on the 15th minute. Declan Dowling brought Trim back up to 15 men when he came on in the 17th minute to replace the black carded Sweeney. Unfortunately for Moynalvey, the wind that had favoured Trim in the first half had now dropped denying them any advantage against a resurgent Red team. But Moynalvey didn’t make a league final by quitting early. In the 19th minute Moynalvey’s very impressive Cillian O Sullivan struck the back of the Trim net to bring the gap back to 5 points. But Trim were intent on forging ahead when Toher released Walsh who picked out substitute Kyle Ennis who calmly slotted over for another point. In the closing minutes Ennis and Cathal O Reilly showed great maturity in both attack and defence that showed their intent on more pitch time during the forthcoming championship. On the final whistle Carmody converted a free to bring proceedings to a close.
Despite a wonderful comeback by Moynalvey in the 3rd quarter, Trim held their nerve and their shape and managed the game to a deserved outcome. Moynalvey should be rightfully proud of a game hard fought but could really have no complaints about the eventual result.
This has been a great season so far for Trim. The management team, under the leadership of Ken Robinson and coach Des Teeling must be very pleased with proceedings and should be rightfully proud of their own stewardship of a very cohesive team.
On accepting the trophy, Gerry Dwane and Conor Quigley poignantly dedicated the win to a great club man and father, Paul Ryan who sadly passed away in recent days but doubtless, was looking down with pride.
Later that afternoon as the crowds dispersed past Shaw’s pub in Summerhill, some reported hearing a young voice from within saying to a ghostly, coloured gentleman – ‘ya see, you have to try and curl the ball with the outside of your foot…..it takes practice’. ‘Shut up Foley and buy a pint….’ said the Brazilian!!
Well done to all. Let’s see what the summer and autumn has in store.
🔴🏐 Maith Sibh Tá an Club an-bhródúil as sibh 🔴🏐
Trim: E O Reilly; C McGinley; B Holden; E Ryan; E Sweeney (1-01); C Quigley: P Walsh; T Carty; J Toher (0-01); H Purcell; D Lynch; E O Connor; S Foley (1-01); D Lernihan (0-01); T Carmody (2-05)
Subs: K Ennis (0-01) for H Purcell; D Dowling for E Sweeney; I Bermingham for D Lynch; C O Reilly for E Ryan
