Trim 1-11 Ballinabrackey 1-9 

12 months previous in the 1st round, these two sides met in which Ballinabrackey were 4 points to the better.

This year we had a very different game which ended up with the town side on top. Ballinabrackey got off to a good start with two pointed frees. Brian Dowling then got Trim off the mark with a pointed free. The Trim attack started to find their groove and after some nice play, Alan Douglas set up Dowling to neatly fist the ball into the net from close range. Ballinabracky pulled one back from another free. Alan Douglas then restored Trim’s 2 point lead before Ballinbacky kicked two more points to level the game. Douglas then put the Trim side back in front. Damian Carroll then netted for the Bracks. To give them a commanding lead. Douglas finished the half with another well taken point to give him an impressive 3 points in the first 30 but it was the Ballinbracky side that went in at half time leading by the minimum. 

Trim 1-5 Ballinabracky 1-6 Half time. 

It took two early points from Ballinbracky in the second half before Trim got motoring. Daire Lynch got a much needed score to keep Trim in it. Meath hurling duo Ciaran O’Rourke and James Toher who are returning from injury were introduced at the right time and the fresh legs helped Trim grow back into the game. Brian Dowling scored another free before Toher clipped over a free from 45 yards out on the left to level the game with ten minutes to go. James Cullen then put Trim into a one point lead entering the final 10 minutes. At this point Damian Carroll and Gerry Dwane were shown two red cards for an off the ball tussle and shortly after Ballinbrackey lost another attacker for two yellow cards. Douglas added his 4th point of the game to give trim a 2 point lead. The Bracks pulled it back to a one point lead leaving a very tense injury time. Trim to their credit defended bravely and worked extremely hard to finally finish the game off with another Cullen point to seal a 2 point victory. 

Ian Birmingham and Brian Bolger made there intermediate debuts in their first season playing adult football. But had very good performances and they will play a key part in Trim’s ambitions this season. 

Trims full forward line caused trouble for Ballinabracky through out. Brain Dowling and James Cullen we’re constantly in front winning balls and both contributed well to the score line, while the Bracks quite simply couldn’t cope with the speed of Douglas he kicked a fine 4 points from play. 

Luke Moran and Gerry Dwane deserve a special mention for there defensive play. They turned over countless balls and put their body on the line at vital times. 

A great start for Trim, plenty to build on going into the Easter Sunday fixture against Bective. 

The Trim team that lined out as follows. 1. Barry Callaghan. 2. Gerry Dwane (Captain), 3. Luke Moran, 4. Rory McGrath, 5. Declan Dowling, 6. Cian Downes, 7. Brian Bolger, 8. Sean Fitzgerald, 9. Rob Burke, 10. Ian Birmingham , 11. Daire Lynch (0-1), 12. Paul Munnelly, 13. James Cullen (0-2), 14. Alan Douglas (0-4), 15. Brian Dowling (1-3,3 frees). 

Subs: Peter Farrell, Ciaran Joyce, James Toher (0-1, 1 free) for Burke, Ciaran O’Rourke for Declan Dowling, Dimmy Higgins for Sean Fitzgerald, Owen McGrath, Joe Donoghue, Conor Quigley, Ben Holden, Mark Murray, Neily Heffernan. 

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