Murray's strike helps depleted Hoops to victory

Horgan's team claim first Kilmessan Shield final victory despite having a man sent off

Trim Celtic...1

Parkvilla...0

Winning something in football requires a lot of qualities. Qualities like imagination, skill and enterprise to create and take chances.

Then you also require attributes such as defensive steel, robustness, cuteness to hold onto what you already have.

Trim Celtic showed all those admirable traits and more to claim their first ever Kilmessan Shield at the MDL this evening with Sam Murray firing home the only goal of the game in the opening half against Parkvilla.

Robbie Horgan's Hoops have won plenty in recent seasons, cups and league titles galore, but they have never won the Kilmessan Shield - until now that is.

Down the years Trim Celtic teams have lost out in semi-finals and finals in the quest to win the Shield which was first presented in 1984/'85 season. This evening they made it across the line. Finally.

They won the trophy despite having one of their most experienced, accomplished players, Conor Walsh, sent off after 53 minutes. He picked up two yellow cards.

Up to then Trim Celtic showed plenty of attacking flair and enterprise. Once they went a man down they changed tack. They showed another side of their character.

They showed discipline, organisation and defensive ruggedness that kept 'Villa at bay. The Navan side dominated possession in the second-half but just couldn't find a way through in a feisty contest that had plenty of meaty challenges.

This wasn't a game full of swashbuckling, memorable moments but Murray's winning strike was a little special. It arrived after 32 minutes.

Brian Faulkner, Callum Ennis and Jack O'Keeffe were involved in its creation each of them producing neat, one-touch football to carve out a passage through the Parkvilla rearguard. O'Keeffe passed to Murray who showed tremendous composure to slip the ball past Euen Niven to the net.

Parkvilla didn't have the best of opening halves. They were much better after the break, their passing crisper, their cutting edge sharper. They carved out a glorious chance when Sean Lally dinked over a cross and Jamie Blake headed just over.

Then Walsh was shown red and the nature of the game changed. Trim Celtic manned their battlements and withstood the storm and, somewhat ironically, they went closest to bagging a second when Niven made a splendid one-handed save to keep out an O'Keeffe shot.

The 'Villa netminder also did well to keep the ball out of the net from an O'Keeffe corner with Mark Leavy heading over from the rebound.

Eoghan Heavey was a huge player for 'Villa with his jinking runs. He whipped in shots and crosses that Trim Celtic 'keeper Conor Gilsenan and his defensive colleagues did very well to keep out.

In the dying minutes one of Heavey's crosses almost found Patrick Moore at the far post but the Parkvilla attacker just couldn't get his boot to the ball. It was a let off for the Celts.

Despite Heavey's threat Trim Celtic held out. They found a way to win. The mark of true champions.

At times the Trim Celtic defence, including man-of-the-match Sean Fitzgerald, was immense with everyone playing their part. This was a classic team effort. Team with a capital T. Adam Fox and Ger Murray were other big players for them.

"These boys don't know how to lose, simple as," said proud Trim Celtic manager Robbie Horgan afterwards. "They dug in like they always do.

"In the end that's what this team is made up I'm so proud to be their manager because over the last two-and-half years they have won six trophies and we're in the running for a couple more.

"I know all good things come to an end not today and not for the forseeable future hopefully."

Trim Celtic - Conor Gilsenan; James Goggins, Ger Murray, Sean Fitzgerald, Ciaran O'Connell, Conor Walsh, Callum Ennis, Brian Faulkner, Adam Fox, Sam Murray, Jack O'Keeffe. Subs - Dean Courtney for Faulkner half-time, Mark Leavy for S Murray 68m, Patrick Brophy for O'Keeffe 87m.

Parkvilla - Euen Niven, Sean Lally, Eoghan Breathnach, Ross Harper, Danny Doggett, Tony Smyth, Patrick Moore, Ryan Murphy, Jamie Blake, Eoghan Heavey, Bahn Delemere. Subs - Sean Kane for Delemere 56m, Christopher Kennedy for Smyth 71m, Roy Browne for Doggett 81m.

Referee - William Cruise; assistants - David Gavagan, Lee Hermitage; fourth official - Simon MacMahon (all Meath Branch).

* See more photos, quots and analysis in next issue of the Meath Chronicle.