Trim proved worthy winners over Gaeil Colmcille in the Meath Minor Football Championship Division 2 Semi-Final with an Extra-Time win in Dunganny.
The Gaeils trailed by six points with 40 minutes gone but an Oisin Walsh point, his eight of the night deep into injury time drew Gaeil Colmcille level and forced the game into extra-time. Kells, with the wind in their backs were hoping to kick on from their late flurry in normal time and a point from Tiernan Anderson saw them take the lead for the first time in the game. That’s all the Gaeils could come up with in the half and were dealt a huge blow in the 9th minute of the first period of extra-time when Trim were awarded a penalty by Referee Andrew Smith. Leo Fitzgerald in the Kells goal seemed to have made an excellent stop from the Trim forward and as Gaeil Colmcille broke down the wing, Smith was notified in his ear from his umpire that a foul had occurred. Almost 20 seconds had passed before Smith went in to consult with his umpire and after a brief chat a penalty was awarded. Trim made no mistake and took a two point lead into the half.
Trim, not with the wind in their sails closed out the game excellently and three points in a row was followed by a goal from substitute Tadhg Foley to ensure the win.
In normal time it was Trim who made the best of starts and raced into a 0-05 to 0-01 lead. At half-time it looked a lot more positive for the Kells side as points from Andrew Gormley who was excellent throughout the night and Oisin Walsh who also had a fine game despite getting a lot of attention from the Trim backs saw Gaeil Colmcille trail 0-03 to 0-06 at the break.
Two quick points inside the opening minute from the hard working Noah Boshell and Walsh left one between the sides and Walsh had a glorious chance to put the Gaeils in front but he was denied by the Trim keeper. Just as Kells looked like hitting the back of the net one end, Trim pounced on a free that dropped short and punched the opening goal of the game. This was followed by a point and all of a sudden Trim led by five points. Credit to The Gaeils they never gave up and two points in a row from Walsh was followed by Anderson’s first of the match and a super score from Liam Devine to crawl the game back to a two point game.
Trim added their final score of normal time leaving three between the sides but once again Gaeil Colmcille rallied and two points from Walsh left the minimum between the sides. Kells looked like they could win the game when Devine found himself through on goal but the Trim keeper had the upright to thank for keeping his side in the lead. There was still time in the 65th minute for Walsh to take the game to extra-time but it wasn’t to be his or Kells night as Trim advance to face Oldcastle or Kilary Emmets in this years final.
After the game one of the Kells players needed to be taken to hospital by ambulance but thankfully he has got the all clear and we wish Tiernan a speedy recovery.
Gaeil Colmcille: Leo Fitzgerald, Eoghan Flynn, Hugh Farrelly, Fionn Cleary, Jack Byrne, Liam Devine (0-01), Oisin Sheridan, Noah Boshell (0-01), Tiernan Anderson (0-02), Rocco Genocky, Jack Butler, Andrew Gormley (0-01), Shane Callaghan, Oisin Walsh (0-08), Keelan Sheridan.
Subs: Charlie Twomey, Aaron Styles, Harry Butler, Conor Óg Ferguson, Tadhg Melady.
