Hoops favourites to bag more silverware
There's nothing like a local derby to get the competitive juices going and the biggest rivalry right now in Meath soccer is that between Trim Celtic and Parkvilla.
They meet in the Kilmessan Shield on Saturday 31st August at the MDL (5.30pm) and the contest promises to provide plenty of entertainment and possibly yet another trophy for Robbie Horgan's Trim Celtic side who have been the trailblazers on the domestic front and beyond for some time now. Their run of success is remarkable. Truly remarkable.
Trim Celtic have won three cup and league doubles and one treble in recent seasons. They also claimed the Leinster Junior Cup for good measure when the defeated Gorey Rangers at Whitehall in May 2023.
What a day that was for the club when a goal by Brian Faulkner was enough to defeat the Wexford side - although that was only one twist in a contest fully of dramatic turns. Trim Celtic had three players sent off that day yet still won. That said everything about the steel in the core of the side. Then there was the heroics of goalkeeper Conor Gilsenan who saved a last-minute penalty.
Gilsenan is likely to between the posts again on Saturday and his job this time will be to prevent a lively Parkvilla attack from finding the net. The big man is sure to have plenty to do.
Parkvilla have all sorts of reasons for wanting to win this year's Kilmessan Shield. "We won the competition last season so we'll be doing all we can to retain the title, it's nice to get to a final against Trim Celtic, it will be a good game, a feisty game," said Parkvilla chairman Derek Niven.
This year Kenny Ratty's side were defeated in the quarter-final of the Leinster Junior Cup where they lost on penalties back in April. They have shown consistency in the league too and at the time of writing are third in the table behind Carrick and Trim Celtic. Among their marquee players are Eoghan Heavey, Ryan Murphy and Chris Kennedy their 30-something captain who leads by example.
A lot of great work has been done at underage level at Parkvilla but at this point in time Trim Celtic have the edge. The Navan side certainly won't lack motivation. Last season the Hoops got the better of 'Villa 3-1 in the Challenge Cup semi-final after the Navan side led 1-0 at the break. The Trim side went on to win the Cup and complete a double.
Horgan's Hoops are still in the hunt for the treble this season and a victory in Saturday's showdown would be the first, significant step towards achieving that feat. One of their players recently outlined to this observer how the manager demands a high standard from his players in training and games. "Not everybody buys into what is required," the player added. "You have to want to be part of it all."
The commitment given by the players in the current Trim Celtic team has certainly helped to yield a rich harvest of trophies in recent seasons with experienced performers such as Conor Walsh, Sean Fitzgerald, Brian Faulkner and James Goggins are well aware of what is required. Horgan has also been careful to keep the team fresh and invigorated by introducing younger players such as Jake Murray. Such a policy is vital for any team looking to maintain a protracted run of success as his have managed to do.
Parkvilla's mainly young side is certainly getting better, and better, but Trim Celtic have an insatiable appetite for silverware and can claim another one in this contest to take back to the already heaving trophy cabinet at Tully Park.