Victors over Longwood-Rathmolyon in the 2011 MHL A final at Lomans Park, front l/r: Sean Gunning, James Andrews, Luke Moran, Shane Downes, David Foley, Aaron Winters, Colm McGrath, Harry Purcell, James Toher. Back: Ciaran Connor, Sean McGee, James Cullen, Kieran O'Rourke, Gareth White, Paul Melia, Cian Downes, David Buckley, Darrel Phelan, Shane Lenehan, Jamie Hackett, James Foley
Trim made a very encouraging start to their second round game against St Colmcille’s at Seneschalstown when scoring three points against the wind, but Robbie Brennan gave away an own goal and the seasiders recovered to lead by three points at the break. The accuracy of Michael Lowther, who contributed six points overall, inspired Trim to a 0-12 to 1-6 victory, while James Toher scored four points. Andrews’ team was idle in the third round and they had a long spell of championship inactivity before making it five group points out of a possible six with a 1-10 to 0-8 victory over Longwood at Boardsmill.
A meeting with last year’s beaten semi-finalists Ballinlough in the final round at Martry looked like a testing assignment, but Trim won by 2-9 to 18 to finish at the head of the section and qualify directly for the semifinals. Ballinlough went through to the quarter-finals where they lost to Castletown. Trim took 15 minutes to open their scoring account, but they still led by 0-4 to 0-3 at the break. With Tommy McCullen gaoling Ballinlough edged three points ahead early in the second half, but a Mark Gilsenan point and Neil Heffernan’s goal gave Trim a narrow advantage. They assumed control in the last 10
minutes when Ronan Fitzsimons pointed twice, Toher scored a brilliant goal and Ciaran Joyce and Toher also split the uprights. Ballinabrackey had held on under pressure to see off St Michael’s in a quarter-final and had the advantage of that highly competitive outing under their belts when they faced Trim at the penultimate hurdle in Dunsany. The ploy of using Gilsenan as a sweeper in front of their defence worked well and they won a tight contest by 0-11 to 0-9. Trim opened up a 0-4 to 0-1 lead during the first quarter, but Ballinabrackey gained control for a spell to edge a point ahead. The
Feile winners 2011. The county final against Kildalkey was not played until April 2012, front l/r: Conor Cooke, Cian Healy, Mikey Cullen, Davide Tersigni, Eoghan Thompson, Ruari Shortt, Zak McGowan, Cian Lee, Dylan Farrell, Craig Gaynor. Back: Daniel Cleary, Karl Keating, Sean Kelly, Charlie Ennis, Nathan Costelloe, Peter Farrell, Gerard Dwane, Sean McSweeney, David Murtagh, Evan Buckley, Brian Dowling
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