Trim were crowned 2000 Meath Senior hurling championship winners after Kilmessan refused to fulfil the final fixture. The town side also claimed the Junior hurling championship title. To mark the 25th Anniversary of that win we take a look back at how Royal County Meath Yearbook summed up the occasion.

Trim captain Benny Murray got his hands on the Jubilee Cup this year but would have preferred circumstances to have been a little different.

Trim joined Kilmessan on the top of the Meath SHC roll of honour this year but, on account of Kilmessan's refusal to fulfil the final fixture on the first Sunday in October, Trim captain Benny Murray didn't get the opportunity to lift the Jubilee Cup.

The presentation ceremony took place behind closed doors following Trim's replayed Leinster club championship victory over Wicklow champions Carnew at Pairc Tailteann in mid-October. "At least I didn't have to make a speech, that was the only advantage to that!" quipped the affable Murray. "Seriously though, we would have preferred to have won the game on the pitch, winning it like that wasn't the same at all. Kilmessan made their decision not to play the game and they stuck by it."

The 28-year-old has been a regular on the Trim premier hurling XV for approximately 12 years now and during that time he has accumulated seven senior championship medals. Along with brother Declan he is an integral part of the Trim senior hurling and football sides.

Trim and Kilmessan met in the first round of this year's SHC and, on that occasion, the town team were on the receiving end, losing out by the narrowest of margins.

"We missed a free near the end to equalise that day but I have to say that Kilmessan were the better team and deserved their win.

"We always seem to start off badly in the championship. A lot of the players would be dual players and tend to concentrate more on the football in the early part of the year and then switch attention to the hurling as the championship progresses.

"We had improved a lot since we played them in the first round and would have fancied our chances in the final.

Junior Hurling success for Trim

Trim, over the last couple of decades, have captured the Meath Senior Hurling Championship on numerous occasions. Strange then that the hurling men from the big town have not put their name on the junior trophy for 15 years. Last August changed this particular piece of data when the Reds easily brushed aside old rivals Kilmessan in the junior decider 2000 style.

A final scoreline of 2-8 over 3-2 might suggest a close encounter, however three late goals from the Blues per the stick of midfielder Willie Smyth gives a false interpretation of events. Trim were helped by the dismissal of opposing half forward Karl Duffy just before half time but they led throughout, 2-4 to 0-2 at the break and only had reason to lose sweat following Willy Smyth's late salvo.

Indeed, Smyth could have struck for a dramatic winner before a timely interception from full back Darren O'Connor. O'Connor, one of his side's better players fronted Trim hurling legend Frank 'Yank' McCann who operated between the posts. Aidan Leonard shot some nice points while others to shine for the new champions included Tom Canty, Brian Smith, Paddy Hegarty, Mick McCormack and Martin Connor.

This was Trim's third outing against Kilmessan in the 2000 competition. Earlier they were paired in a group which also included Blackhall Gaels and Killyon. A three-way play-off ensued between the first named three and while Kilmessan beat Trim in the original group fixture, the future champions proved tops in the play-off situation. If anything, the extra games provided both the Blues and the Reds with much needed practice and subsequently Rathmolyon were no match for Trim in the semi-finals.

At the games end, Trim man and Hurling Board Chairman Sean Colgan handed the trophy over to a victorious captain Brian Smith. The Trim team and scorers were: F McCann, P Mullen, D O'Connor, P Hegarty, N Winters, D Mullen, B Smith, B Keogh 0-1, T Canty, A Leonard 0-4, K Heffernan 0-1, M McCormack 0-2j, M Ennis, M Connor 1-0, J Toole 1-0. Sub: L Dempsey.

Tweet

Most Read Stories