Trim sound a warning with solid display

The perfect blend of youth and experience saw Trim open their SHC campaign with a shock, but fully deserved, win over Dunboyne at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday. The emphasis is definitely on youth in Trim and that policy paid dividends on Sunday as only three of the starting 15 were over 23, but they showed a composure and maturity beyond their years. Trim manager John Andrews started seven of last year's MHC-winning team and with a plethora of young players throughout the side to augment the experience of Brian Carley, Kevin Higgins and Joey Toole they never looked fazed. It was the excellence of the outstanding Colm Doyle at full-back, centre-back Ciaran Joyce, midfielder James Toher and the sublime skills of Alan Douglas that inspired Trim. Douglas was magnificent throughout. In an exceptional first-half he accounted for all of Trim's scores and after the break he dropped deeper to help out around midfield and in defence when Dunboyne enjoyed a period of dominance. It was the character of Trim that also impressed. There was a period in the second-half when Dunboyne threatened to over-run them. They reduced a eight-point deficit to the minimum with eight minutes left, but instead of capitulating, Trim settled again. Neil Heffernan's first goal restored a four-point cushion and with Doyle in exceptional form and James Andrews, Niall Murray, Douglas and Toole all excelling Trim held on for the win. "I'm absolutely delighted with that win. To be honest I didn't expect that type of performance because we hadn't a lot of preparation time," Trim manager John Andrews told the Meath Chronicle. "I saw something in this Trim team today that I haven't seen since we last won a SHC in 2001 and that was the will, hunger and desire to win. It was a truly great performance and as good a performance that I have seen from a Trim team in a long time. "Dunboyne looked like they might run away with it at one stage in the second-half, but we won vital ball and put our bodies on the line. Ciaran Joyce was outstanding and I'd go into battle with him any day. "Colm Doyle hasn't trained all week because of injury, but he was magnificent, Alan Douglas was also brilliant and even Joey Toole is still three weeks off full fitness and he will only improve. "It is refreshing to win with such a young team. It gives you the will to keep going despite all the shit that hurling people in Meath are getting. "A neutral would have raved about that game today and I must also compliment the referee Conor Ferguson, he let the game flow and he did a great job," concluded the Trim manager. Trim gave an indication of their intentions early on when they used the wind well and should have found the net in the opening minute when Damien McGee rounded Alan Watters, but failed to connect properly and his weak effort was easily stopped by Christopher Kane. Two minutes later Douglas finally opened the scoring from a 65-metre free, but Dunboyne set out to prove that playing against the wind wouldn't be a hindrance as Kevin Carey and Stephen Moran pointed. With Douglas in magnificent form, Trim quickly restored their advantage. Two long-distance frees and a superb score from play from Douglas edged Trim into a 0-4 to 0-2 first-quarter lead, but again Dunboyne rallied. Barry Watters ended his side's 15-minute barren spell with a superb point and eight minutes before the break Neil Hackett converted a free to bring Dunboyne level for a second time. However, Douglas and Trim finished the half on a high. The excellent corner-forward capitalised on a foul on Dimmy Higgins to point a free and two minutes later he rifled a low drive to the net as Damien McGee's effort was parried. Douglas completed his first-half scoring blitz when he accepted a pass from Niall Murray and lofted over brilliantly to earn Trim a 1-6 to 0-4 interval lead. Hackett closed the gap with a free after the resumption, but within three minutes Trim moved a step closer to the win with Heffernan tapping to the net after Kane dropped a Douglas centre. Toole got his opening point to make it 2-7 to 0-5. Michael O'Grady and Douglas traded points before Dunboyne dominated for the next 12 minutes with points from Hackett (three), Barry Watters, Niall Smyth, John Watters and Stephen Moran which closed the gap to 0-13 to 2-8. Douglas settled Trim with a pointed free and seconds later Heffernan finished a great run by blasting to the net to put the issue beyond doubt. Dunboyne piled on the pressure in the closing six minutes, but their only reward was a Hackett free as Trim scored an impressive win. Trim - B Carley; J Lee, C Doyle, K Higgins; R Andrews, C Joyce, J Andrews; J Toher, N Murray; S McGee, D Higgins, D McGee; A Douglas (1-8 six frees), J Toole (0-1), N Heffernan (2-0). Sub - S O'Toole for Higgins half-time. Dunboyne - C Kane; Shane Moran, P Fagan, D Buggle; G Murphy, A Watters, N Watters; J Watters (0-1), M O'Grady (0-1); N Smyth (0-1), M Dunne, N Hackett (0-6 five frees, one '65'); K Carey (0-1), B Watters (0-2), Stephen Moran (0-2). Subs - G Watters for Dunne half-time, M Finlay for Carey 42 mins. Referee - Conor Ferguson (Gaeil Colmcille).