SHC: Goals give Trim edge over Na Fianna
August 16, 2010
Trim manager John Andrews has guided his charges to the Meath SHC quarter finals.
Na Fianna 1-15
Trim ability to conjure up goals saw them clinch a quarter-final place in the Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear SHC with four points to spare over Na Fianna at Dunsany on Sunday.
The sides shared 32 scores but Diarmuid Higgins' injury-time goal quelled Na Fianna resistance and secured a quarter-final meeting with Killyon for Trim.
Trim led by 1-7 to 0-5 at half-time with Neil Heffernan's fifth minute goal central to a flying start that saw them go 1-3 to 0-0 ahead early on.
Na Fianna came more into the game on the restart and gradually eroded Trim's advantage paring the deficit to the minimum by the 44th minute, 0-10 to 1-8.
Then a mistake by Na Fianna 'keeper Shane Greaney allowed Joey Toole in for Trim's second goal.
To their credit Cillian Farrell's charges never gave up and needing victory to pip Trim to a quarter-final place responded positively to this set-back.
Top scorer Barry Slevin fired over when a long range free broke to him, but the same player - who finished with 1-9 to his name - fired to the net from a free to level matters, 1-14 to 2-11 in the 59th minute.
In stoppage time, the same player cancelled out an excellent Damien McGee point to level matters for the second time in the game.
Then came Higgins' goal which was followed by a Niall Murray point at the pavillion end and Trim were through to the business end.
Alan Douglas pointed Trim in front in the opening minute and though Na Fianna got back on level terms twice in the latter stages they never managed to take the lead.
The same player doubled Trim's advantage before Heffernan goaled. Slevin opened the Na Fianna account in the 10th minute.
Colm Flynn quickly added Na Fianna's second score, but Trim quickly moved seven points clear with Douglas (two) and Toole registering.
Slevin landed a free from midfield for the final score of the opening half. He also raised his side's first flag on the resumption as well as the score (from a free) that cut the margin to the minimum in the 44th minute.
Trim - B. Carley; B. Keogh, G. Kennedy, J. Lee; C. Joyce, C. Doyle, R. Andrews (0-1); D. McGee (0-2), N. Murray (0-1); T. Farrell, J. Toole (1-1), J. Canty; A. Douglas (0-5, 0-1 f), N. Heffernan (1-0), D. Higgins (1-3). Subs - R. Fitzsimons for Canty (43), J. Togher for Farrell (49).
Na Fianna - S. Greaney; M. Burke (0-1), B. Flynn, S. Griffin; D. Lyons, D. Gleeson, M. Hanley; S. Burke (0-1), C. Cosgrave; D. Bailey (0-1), N. Reilly, D. Kirby (0-2); B. Slevin (1-9, 1-5 fs), C. Flynn (0-1), E. Reilly. Subs - P. Hanley for E. Reilly (ht), A. Burke for C. Flynn (47).
Referee - J. Burke (Blackhall Gaels). Tweet
