Trim’s quest for Senior Hurling honours came to an end at Dunganny last Sunday when three late goals by Ratoath substitute Eoin Flanagan secured a semi final spot for the defending champions. Apart from the opening quarter, it was Ratoath who dominated for most of the game. A late Trim rally brought them to within one point with three minutes left on the clock but substitute Eoin Flanagan had other ideas as he rattled in three late goals with the Trim defence in disarray as they pushed forward in search of the vital score that would have secured a semi final place for themselves.

After a brisk start Ratoath had the first two scores on the board but it was Trim who converted the next six through Mikey Cole (2), James Murray (2), James Andrews, and Daniel Murray. However, they could not maintain this momentum and Ratoath responded with three unanswered points. James Murray did steady the ship momentarily with a converted free but, once again, Ratoath put another three unanswered points on the board, which put them ahead by the minimum margin.

James Andrews levelled matters in the twenty first minute but it was Ratoath who saw out the half the strongest and knocked over another six points against a Trim team who were beginning to show the weariness of the long season while, not least, having to overcome a plethora of injuries including the prolonged absence of their most influential player, James Toher, who had been sidelined since the beginning of August following that big win over Kildalkey in the second Round.

A couple of early frees, converted by Padraic O’Hanrahan, extended Ratoath’s advantage but these were cancelled out with points from James Murray and Mikey Cole. Ratoath responded with a Cian Rogers score but what could have been the turning point of the game came in the fourteenth minute when Mikey Cole, shrugging off his close markers, unleashed his effort to the back of the Ratoath net past a stranded Colm O’Riordan.

Daithi McGowan added another Ratoath point before Trim substitute Kyle Ennis watched agonisingly as Colm O’Riordan diverted his goal bound effort over the bar.

Trim were now on a roll and threw everything at their opponents including the moving of centre back Alan Douglas to his more familiar role in the forward line. Another Kyle Ennis point, in the twenty first minute, reduced Ratoath’s advantage to five before James Murray had Trim’s second goal, and quickly followed up with a converted free to leave the bare minimum between the sides, with three minutes left on the clock.

 That mammoth effort by Trim clearly took its toll and in stepped Ratoath substitute Eoin Flanagan whose late hat trick left the final issue in no doubt. A late Kyle Ennis goal was little consolation and it is Ratoath who march forward to a semi-final against Kiltale.

Thank you to the management team and all involved for their commitment and hard work throughout the season.

Panel: Eoin O’Reilly, Conor Quigley, Gary Fleming, Ben Holden, Ian Birmingham, Alan Douglas, Dimmy Higgins, Mark Molloy, David Murtagh, Pa Ryan, James Andrews (0-2), Joey Cole, Mikey Cole (1-3), James Murray (1-5,4f), Daniel Murray (0-1).

Subs: Kyle Ennis (1-2), Dylan Farrell, Danny Coleman, George Douglas.