Carmody goal decisive as Trim snatch victory from jaws of defeat

Life at senior football can be a cruel place and Rathkenny certainly found that out at Pairc Tailteann this evening as Trim staged a remarkable recovery to claim a 1-14 to 2-10 SFC victory.

Trailing by seven points five minutes into the second-half and by six as the game entered the final quarter Trim looked dead and buried as IFC champions Rathkenny impressed and looked set for a deserved victory.

However, with their backs pinned to the wall Trim came out swinging and once the outstanding Tom Carmody delivered the hammer blow of a goal in the 55th minute there only ever looked like one winner.

Up to that stage Rathkenny were rampant. Outstanding defensively and dangerous up top they looked to have Trim's measure, but then the tide turned with the introduction on Clare man David Lernihan and Sean Fitzgerald proving pivotal.

Trailing by 0-9 to 2-9 in the 48th minute Trim looked lost. Then Ciaran Caulfield was handed possession and offered space to run into.

The Meath player did so brilliantly and picked out Carmody who fisted over the bar. The goal was on, but Trim never panicked.

Rob Bourke traded points with Keith Curtis (free) to maintain the five-point gap, but in the 55th minute Caulfield won possession again.

Again the space opened up and he raced clear, again he got his head up and picked out Carmody with a pinpoint pass, but this time Carmody made the net dance to make it 1-11 to 2-10.

Two minutes later Lernihan closed the gap to the minimum and with the clock heading for the hour mark Carmody lofted over the leveller.

There looked like only one winner at that stage as Rathkenny clearly faded. A patient Trim took their time and it was Bourke who came up with the winning score to secure the most unlikely of victories.

Playing with the wind at their backs Rathkenny had started well with Keith Curtis and David Curtis giving them an early lead inside 100 seconds.

Two Carmody frees kept Trim in touch, but Rathkenny looked the swifter outfit and with Donal Keogan excelling and fisting over a point they moved into a 1-5 to 0-2 lead with James O'Hare bagging the goal before Keith Curtis added two points.

That advantage was maintained to the break as David Curtis and Noah Jenkinson traded scores with David Murtagh and Carmody to make it 1-7 to 0-4.

Rathkenny were denied a goal by Paul Munnelly 23 seconds after the restart, but Keith Curtis did add a point to stretch his side's lead to seven.

Carmody with a fisted effort and a free, a point from Tadhg Carty and a score from a goal chance for Conor Quigley kept Trim in touch 0-8 to 1-8, but then Rathkenny struck for home when Oisin Cummins Fuller capitalised on a Munnelly error to rifle to the net.

Carmody and Ciaran O'Hare exchanged points as that six-point gap was maintained heading into the final quarter.

However Rathkenny managed just one further point from a Keith Curtis free as Trim finished with a flurry to claim the most unlikeliest of victories.

Trim - Paul Munnelly; Jack McGowan, Brian Bolger, Ben Holden; David Murtagh (0-1), Declan Dowling, Eoin Sweeney; Rob Bourke (0-2), Tadhg Carty (0-1); Conor Quigley (0-1), James Murray, Ciaran Caulfield; Kyle Ennis, Ian Byrne, Tom Carmody (1-8 three frees). Subs - Sean Fitzgerald for Murray 39m, Eoghan Ryan for Dowling 44m, David Lernihan (0-1) for Holden 52m, Daire Lynch for Murtagh 55m,

Rathkenny - Charlie Cullen; Sean O'Hare, Adam Byrne, Niall Brannigan; James O'Hare (1-0), Ross Gore, Padraig McKeever; James Macken, Donal Keogan (0-1); Ciaran O'Hare (0-1), Joey Curtis, Christy Meade; David Curtis (0-2), Keith Curtis (0-5 two frees), Noah Jenkinson (0-1 free). Subs - Oisin Cummins-Fuller (1-0) for J Curtis 38m, Daniel Gavigan for Meade 44m, Corbin Jenkinson for Brannigan, Eoghan Heavey for N Jenkinson both 52m, Jack Gore for Macken 60m.

Referee - Andrew Smith (Dunshaughlin).