Trim defeated Wolfe Tones to claim the Meath Under 21 A football championship title with the minimum to spare after extra time at Pairc Tailteann.

Trim 3-19
Wolfe Tones 5-12

Trim held a 1-9 to 1-5 advantage at the end of the first half. The accurate Fiachra Ward and Thomas O'Reilly had the Tones 0-3 to 0-1 up after ten minutes. A brilliant goal from full forward James Cullen ignited the Trim challenge. Points from James Toher (2), James Andrews and Ciaran O'Rourke had the town side 1-5 to 0-3 up after twenty minutes. Ward brought the Tones right back into it with a fine goal while Trim had Andrews black carded. Just before the break Wolfe Tones also lost Gary McFadden to a black card. Cullen and O'Reilly traded a brace of points each as Trim went in at the break four points ahead.

Toher kicked the first score of the second half but they were rocked soon after when Conor Sheppard burst through for his trademark goal, O'Reilly followed up with a point and soon after Ward got his second major to put Wolfe Tones 3-6 to 1-11 ahead. Trim were soon back in the lead. Sean Magee won possession and with great vision found Toher who finished in style beyond Tones keeper Conor Brennan.

The second half drama wasn't finished yet. Toher added another point before they were rocked again. Padraic Diamond found the back of the Trim net while O'Reilly and Bruaghach O'Finnegan followed up with points and all of a sudden Gordon Ward's team were 4-8 to 2-12 ahead. Finnegan and O'Rourke traded points as the game entered the final minutes. Just when it seemed that Wolfe Tones would hang on Toher and midfielder Robert Burke got the crucial scores to send the game into extra time.

There was goal drama also in the first half of extra time. On as a black card replacement, Sean Magee netted for Trim but minutes later Wolfe Tones got their 5th major and Fiachra Ward's third. The Tones led 5-11 to 3-16 going into the second period of extra time. Trim had the extra legs for the final ten minutes. Eoin O'Connor levelled matters. Toher and Diamond traded points and as the game approached the final minute Cullen sent over the insurance score.

After the game Jim Mullery presented the larry Kearns Cup to Trim captain James Toher.

Trim: Danny Connell, Colm McGrath, Cian Downes, Kevin Nally, David Foley, Ciaran O'Rourke 0-2, Robert Burke 0-3, Luke Moran, James Toher 1-9, James Andrews 0-1, Shane O'Connor, James Cullen 1-3, Eoin O'Connor 0-1
Subs: Sean Magee 1-0 (black card), Rory McGrath, Shane Downes

Wolfe Tones: Conor Brennan, Sean Moriarty, Daniel O'Neill, Conor Sheppard 1-0, Niall O'Reilly, Brughach Ó Fionnagáin 0-1, Charlie McGarry 0-1, Killian O'Brien, Padraic Diamond 1-1, Fiachra Ward 3-1, Conal Shaw, Gary McFadden, Thomas O'Reilly 0-8.
Subs: Robert White (black card), Daniel Glynn, Sean Moriarty.

Referee Padraig Coyle Seneschalstown

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