Trim bounce back with impressive performance

If further evidence was needed to demonstrate that Trim are a team on the way back it was provided in a conclusive and convincing manner at Boardsmill on Friday evening. It wasn't just the fact that they won this game it was the tenacious, focused way they went about their business recovering from a lacklustre start to haul their opponents back into line before finding an extra gear in the closing stages. John Andrews will doubtless be delighted with the way his young side displayed the mental fortitude to stay in the game particularly in that opening quarter when Rathmolyon looked like they were going to enjoy a very bountiful evening. "This was a very welcome victory, very welcome, we have been playing well without winning games. This is a very young side, we finished with eight u-21 players," said Trim chairman CJ Murtagh afterwards. Conspicious by his absence was Joey Toole. He hasn't been seen around the Trim camp in recent weeks and the word is that he is no longer part of the panel. Trim are fortunate in that they have an able deputy in Alan Douglas who capped a fine performance with the highly impressive tally of 11 points including three sweetly-taken scores from play. His striking from frees spoke of a player who is not short of confidence. Douglas made a huge contribution to getting Trim back in the game after their pedestrian start. There was only four minutes played when Mike Cole lofted the sliotar in from a long range free. The ball bounced off the bar and Gary Cole touched it to the net. That set the tone for much of the opening half, with Rathmolyon leading, Trim trying to catch up and it was Frank Aughey's side who deservedly led, 1-7 to 0-8, at the break. With Tommy Cosgrove and Noel Fagan busy in midfield Rathmolyon had plenty of possession in that opening half yet they often struggled to translate that into scores. Partly this was due to the fact that Trim employed a tactic beloved by many football teams with corner-forward Kevin Higgins used as a sweeper in front of their defence. This contributed to the fact that while four members of the Rathmolyon side split the posts from play over the hour, they could only muster one point apiece as they struggled to find the combination to unlock Trim's stubborn defence in the opening half. The Trim midfield of Niall Murray and Damien McGee provided towering targets for puck outs while Shane Ashe, Douglas and Neil Heffernan were a major threat further upfront. Goalkeeper Brian Carley also played his part, making a super save from Kevin Fagan in the closing seconds while centre-back Colm Doyle perfected the art of fielding the high ball. Rathmolyon have now suffered two defeats from two outings and looked like a side short of self-belief. Their blistering start should have provided the platform for victory. They led by two points going into the last quarter, 1-10 to 0-11 yet faded alarmingly in the final straight. Mike Cole led the way with five points while Aaron Fagan, Gary Cole, John Farrell and Kevin Fagan engineered points from play. Tom Henderson, son of Kilkenny legend Pat, did well at full-back. Worringly for Rathmolyon they had no answer to Trim's youth-inspired late flourish. Trim - B Carley; G Kennedy, B Keogh, J Lee; R Andrews, C Doyle, C Joyce; D McGee, N Murray; T Farrell, S Ashe, J Canty (0-1); K Higgins, A Douglas (0-11, six frees), N Heffernan (0-4). Sub - D Higgins (0-1) for K Higgins, half-time. Rathmolyon - S Ennis; J Gantley, T Henderson, G Whelan; M Lynch, E Regan, T Lynch; T Cosgrove, N Fagan; A Fagan (0-1), G Cole (1-1), M Cole (0-7, two '65s'); J Farrell (0-1), K Fagan (0-1), S Mulligan. Subs - D Whelan for Mulligan 48 mins, S Doherty for Gantley 56m. Referee - Gerry O'Brien (Wolfe Tones).