McLoughlin"s goal vital as Tones win

It is the sign of a really good team that can win games despite playing poorly and that is what Wolfe Tones managed at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday when they opened their SFC campaign with victory over Trim. Trim certainly deserved something from the game, but they failed to take their chances or covert their superior possession into scores and that always allowed Wolfe Tones to have a chance. The key moment came seven minutes into the second-half when some slack Trim defending allowed Paul Byrne gather possession, link up with Mark Coleman and set up Niall McLoughlin for a clever finish. That goal gave Wolfe Tones an unlikely 1-6 to 0-6 lead and despite managing to restore parity on a few more occasions Trim never managed to get their noses in front. It always seemed likely that Trim would need a goal to win the game, but that never seriously looked like happening as the well-organised Wolfe Tones defence held them at bay with Ciaran McLoughlin and Stephen Sheppard in fine form. Instead it was Wolfe Tones who had the more goal opportunities, but they were denied on numerous occasions by the outstanding Niall Murray who made miraculous saves to deny Alan Fox, Rossa McDonnell and Darren McGrath. Despite not playing at the level we have come to expect from Wolfe Tones they still managed to knit some fine moves together with Eoghan Harrington playing exceptionally well from midfield and Sheppard causing huge problems when he galloped forward from centre-back. The opening three scores of the contest came from placed balls with Mark McCormack and Paul Gilsenan pointing either side of a Ward effort to give Trim an early cushion. That lead didn"t last long as Wolfe Tones threatened to run away with the game when Ward, Sheppard and Mark Coleman made it 0-4 to 0-2 for the 2006 champions. Murray was called upon for his first piece of heroics to deny Fox before Trim responded with a free from Derek Donohoe and a fine point from Michael Lowther. Murray denied McDonnell a certain goal at the expense of a '45" which Ward converted to restore Wolfe Tones lead, 0-5 to 0-4, but despite playing against the wind Trim went into the break with a 0-6 to 0-5 lead with points from Lowther. With a strong wind in their favour Trim should have been capable of pulling clear, but instead it was Wolfe Tones who grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck. McGrath was denied by Murray before he restored parity with a neat score. Then came the crucial goal as Niall McLoughlin netted. Trim responded well with points from Gilsenan (free), Eoin McGrath and Neil Heffernan to make it 0-9 to 1-6, but they couldn"t forge ahead. Darren McGrath blazed over the bar with the goal at his mercy before Gilsenan levelled again. Harrington made it 1-8 to 0-10, but again Trim evened up matters when Ronan Fitzsimons pointed. It was turning into a thrilling contest. The introduction of Joey McKeown breathed new life into Wolfe Tones and they moved two points clear following efforts from Niall McLoughlin and Sheppard. However, back came Trim again with Gilsenan and Eoin McGrath restoring parity with five minutes remaining. A superb Ward point edged Wolfe Tones ahead again and while both sides had chances to further add to the scoring it was left to the impressive Niall McLoughlin to put the game beyond Trim with the final point and get Wolfe Tones off the mark. Wolfe Tones - S Power; R Brady, C McLoughlin, D Coleman; B McGinn, S Sheppard (0-2), C Martin; M Coleman (0-1), E Harrington (0-1); D McGrath (0-2), N McLoughlin (1-2), P Byrne; A Fox, C Ward (0-4, one free, one '45"), R McDonnell. Sub - J McKeown for McDonnell 47 mins. Trim - N Murray; P Flanagan, D Hegarty, M Power; Richie Fitzsimons, D Fay, Ronan Fitzsimons (0-1); F Murphy, P Gilsenan (0-4, four frees); M McCormack (0-1, free), C Joyce, M Lowther (0-3); E McGrath (0-2), D Donohoe (0-1, free), A Douglas. Subs - N Heffernan (0-1) for Donohoe 36 mins, P Campbell for Joyce 50m, S Kennedy for McCormack 59m. Referee - Jack Gordon (Walterstown).