Late surge helps Kilmessan to sweet victory as Trim denied in their drive for five

One of the clubs who are no strangers to success down the decades are Kilmessan. They've won an awful lot of titles in many grades including over 30 senior crowns but they've experienced some relatively barren times too, lengthy spells without much silverware, including at u-21 level, a grade dominated by Trim in recent times.

An indication instead of just how dominant the Reds have been can be gauged from the fact that if they had won this final at Dunganny on Saturday they would have completed a five-in-a-row.

They were well on course to do just that at the interval when they led 2-4 to 0-5. Then their ambitions were stymied and thwarted by a fired-up, highly-motivated Kilmessan side who battled bravely to bounce back, driven ever onwards by some outstanding displays, most notably from Kris Gorman.

The centre-half-back personified all that was good about this Kilmessan performance with his surging runs from deep. It was these runs that helped to turn defence into attack, defeat into a victory that was joyously received by the Kilmessan supporters who poured onto the pitch at the final whistle to greet their heroes in blue cheering and whooping as they went along.

Gorman was to the forefront of the drama throughout but particularly in injury time when Kilmessan found an extra gear. A crucial fifth gear.

The drama-filled conclusion to the match included an interruption for 10 minutes or so caused by the fact that one of the umpires collapsed and had to receive treatment. Thankfully the man recovered and while he was brought to hospital in an ambulance it was for tests rather than to receive any urgent treatment.

When played had been halted by referee Stephen Masterson just seconds into injury time, Kilmessan were one up, 0-13 to 2-6, but the outcome was still very much in the balance.

When the action resumed Kilmessan appeared more energised. Focused. They pushed forward and Gorman skilfully guided the ball over the bar. Mark Horan added another point soon after to give Kilmessan their three-point breathing space, that was to prove their winning margin.

Not that it was all over. Far from it. With just seconds remaining Trim launched a late, late attack. James Murray took a sideline cut and sliced the ball close close to the Kilmessan goals. There waiting was Caelum Casserly. He made a little room for himself, took a aim and pulled the trigger. The ball looked to be heading to the top of the net. Instead Kilmessan goalkeeper Kevin Horan got a touch and the danger was cleared.

It wasn't the only super save Horan made over the hour. In the opening half he did extremely well to prevent shots from Murray and George Douglas from ending up in his net. Goalkeepers they can make all the difference too.

The way this game unfolded underlined how a team's fortunes can fluctuate wildly during the course of a hours hurling especially if the contest, as this one was, is played out in a swirling, relentless wind.

Any advantage the conditions offered was to Trim in the opening half. They were also helped by the fact they played down the slope and it was no surprise that they should break through for two goals; the first neatly taken by Josh Harris, the second clinically finished by George Douglas who tormented his opponents throughout the opening half.

Douglas finished with 1-3 while James Murray added three points from frees but two of those were scored after the break and were the only second-half points fashioned by the reigning champions.

Kilmessan instead dominated the second act but found it difficult to breakdown the Trim defence in which Eoghan Ryan, Danny Coleman and Cormac Doyle stood strong. They could do little about Kilmessan's late surge.

Clinical marksman Mark Horan was among the Kilmessan heroes as he hit six points, all frees, over the hour. Lorcan O'Connor was another prominent scorer-getter for them, hitting three fine efforts from play. Luke Horan, Jack Cottrell and Adam O'Neill also swept over points. O'Neill's cleverly-taken score brought the teams level after 52 minutes.

It was in those dramatic closing minutes Kilmessan showed the kind of hunger, drive, confidence that all champions need to get over the line.

"This was one we needed," said Kilmessan manger Steven Clynch. "It was 2012 when we last won the u-21 and we're 10 years from our last senior championship so we needed this," added Clynch who was assisted by Dermot O'Brien, Davy Donnelly, Joey Keena and Nicky Horan. "What we are trying to do is get ourselves back to the top table in senior hurling and that win today is a big step towards achieving that ambition."

The delighted Kilmessan supporters who surrounded the players after the final whistle no doubt agreed. December is not the ideal month to stage a hurling final but Kilmessan didn't mind. They end 2023 as u-21 champions.

SCORERS

Kilmessan - Mark Horan 0-6, frees; Lorcan O'Connor 0-3; Kris Gorman 0-2; Luke Horan 0-2 one free; Jack Cottrell 0-1; Adam O'Neill 0-1.

Trim - George Douglas 1-3; Josh Harris 1-0; James Murray 0-3 frees.

TEAMS

Kilmessan - Kevin Horan; David Hackett, Harry Cahill, Cian O'Sullivan; Noah Conroy, Kris Gorman, Cathal Smith; Kyle Smith, Lorcan O'Connor; Lorcan Byrne, Luke Horan, Mark Horan; Cian Maguire, Jack Cottrell, Adam O'Neill.

Trim - Eoin O'Reilly; Eoghan Ryan, Danny Coleman, Cormac Doyle; Aaron O'Rourke, Gary Fleming, Alan Costello; Joey Cole, Oisin Hackett; Daragh Heffernan, James Murray, Conor McKeown; George Douglas, Josh Harris, Kyle Ennis. Subs - Caelum Casserly for Hackett half-time, Daniel Murray for Costello 41m.

Referee - Stephen Masterson (Kildalkey).