Trim bidding for MHC title on Sunday

Trim will tackle Killyon / Longwood in the MHC final on Sunday at Pairc Tailteann, 1pm in the curtainraiser to the Jubilee Cup decider.

 In the group stage Trim dispatched of Drumree/Kilmessan, Kildalkey and Ratoath before negotiaiting Boardsmill/Rathmolyon in the semi-final. 

Killyon / Longwood defeated Clann na nGael, Kiltale and Boardsmill/Rathmolyon and then Ratoath in a thrilling semi-final.

Coming into the Championship, Trim were the team being mentioned most commonly as likely winners while Killyon/Longwood would have been mentioned in dispatches but in very few people’s eyes would they have been tipped for outright success.

There though appears to be a resoluteness about Killyon / Longwood that can be hard to quantify and after a disappointing League where they lost all three games in the group stage, they won the Division 1 Shield, and this appears to have given them the confidence to go on and march impressively into the MHC final. 

Trim won two of their group games in that League, receiving a walkover also and then went on to claim overall honours when defeating Boardsmill in the semi-final and Clann na nGael in the final. That form then continued into the Championship and they have a depth to their panel which is the envy of every other club. 

On what is a massively busy weekend for Trim manager Neil Cole (he’s involved in the MHC and SHC finals on Sunday as well as the JHC final on Saturday), he has a wealth of talent to choose from with 29 players on his panel. 

Killyon/Longwood by comparison have much smaller numbers to choose from and it’s unlikely they’ll have any more than 20 lining up for the team photo. 

As in all games, the individual battle between the free takers is likely to be pivotal and both teams are fortunate to have marksmen of the highest calibre with Niall Smullen on duty for Killyon/Longwood and Mikey Cole the sharpshooter for Trim. 

With these two on the field, defensive discipline is going to be crucial and whichever team can manage to concede the fewest amount of frees in scorable positions will have made a giant stride towards climbing the hallowed steps of the old stand towards the presentation area. 

James Murray enjoyed a stellar season with the county’s Minor Hurlers earlier in the year and he is likely to prove difficult to pin down for the Killyon/Longwood defence on Sunday should he take up a berth in the forward line. 

The Trim defence though will have problems of their own to solve in the form of Stefan Holzner, Shane Dixon and Conor L’Estrange.

All form up to this stage suggests that Trim will emerge successful and possibly land leg two of what could be a truly remarkable treble for them this weekend. 

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee – Gus Martyn (Dunderry)
Standby Referee – Sean Gahan (Ratoath)
Linesman - Gerry O’Brien – (Wolfe Tones)
Sideline Official – Stephen Dowling (Navan O’Mahonys)