Summerhill remain on track for outright honours as Trim stand in their way
SFC QUARTER-FINAL
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With less than 30 seconds to go in their final group game against St Peter's Trim were staring down the barrel of a relegation gun. They trailed by a point as Aaron Lynch stood over a 35-metre free. A draw was no good to them. Only a goal would do.
Cue scenes of pure pandemonium as Lynch's free dropped on the edge of the square, ricocheted off Mikey Cullen's shins into the path of wing-back Declan Dowling who made the net dance and sparked wild celebrations.
From a position of despair came huge relief and all in front of the watching eyes of the management from the host club Summerhill.
Just over 48 hours later, with the dust well and truly settled, the inevitable happened as the neighbours were drawn to face each other in the quarter-finals of the SFC.
Everyone's next best bet after Ratoath for outright glory against the side most tipped to be involved in a relegation battle - Summerhill against Trim.
Summerhill have been involved in four of the last six SFC finals, while in the 10 years Trim lingered in the intermediate grade the village side contested four senior finals winning in 2013. They also won the senior title the year Trim were relegated in 2011.
Trim returned to the senior grade after a hugely successful 2021 which saw them win A FL Div 1B, and claim the Meath and Leinster Club IFC titles before losing out in the All-Ireland Club final in Croke Park.
In their first year back Trim advanced to the quarter-finals where they were taught a harsh lesson by a more seasoned Na Fianna outfit.
Much was expected from Trim, but with many of their dual players called into the Meath hurling squad and three of their younger battalion summoned by their county footballers they struggled throughout the league and ended up dropping back to Div 1B with just two wins to their credit, albeit with a number of creditable displays.
After the disappointing opening round loss to Simonstown in the SFC Trim were dealt further blows with injuries and travels depriving them of several key players.
The strength of their reserves was tested against Seneschalstown and after a slow start they hit their straps to reignite their prospects of advancing.
It all came down to those final few seconds against St Peter's and while Trim were the better side it was their outstanding character and determination that got them over the line.
Now they will need to call on those magnificent traits once again. Hindered by the demands of having to play high intensity championship games week in and week out Trim look to have thrived under the pressure of playing hurling and football one week after the other and that will make them a formidable foe for Summerhill.
The gap between the two sides in the bookmakers suggests Summerhill will have it easy in Pairc Tailteann on Sunday (4pm), but in local derbies all odds and form go out the window. Summerhill are an outstanding side and their wealth of attacking power makes them worthy pretenders to Ratoath's crown. Eoghan Frayne, Barry Dardis, Kevin Ryan, Conor Lyons, Conor Frayne, David Larkin, David Dalton - the list appears endless.
Defensively, Ronan Ryan was one of Meath's stand out performers in the Tailteann Cup run. Ross Ryan, Adam McDonnell, Padraig Geraghty, Padraig Jennings, Iarla Hughes are all outstanding defenders.
Add in the return of Diarmuid McCabe from America and John Keane from injury, and it is clear to see why Summerhill are so highly regarded.
Trim have huge belief in themselves and while you never see a bookie on a bike there could be a few with bitten fingernails before Summerhill should just about get over the line.
Verdict - Summerhill.