Trim Celtic earned a hard earned point against a strong and resolute Glenmuir side in Tully Park. The first half saw Trim unable to break the Glenmuir defence but on the 30 min mark Paul Campbell did have the ball in the Glenmuir net following an excellent corner by Mark McCormack but the referee disallowed the goal and awarded a free out. Trim then lost Mark McCormack through injury after 35mins. With the game scoreless at half time and on a rare attack Glenmuir were awarded a penalty when there center forward pushed the ball past Cyril Halton and went down. The penalty was converted and Trim had to battle very hard to get back into the game. With 20mins remaining, and following good work from Colm Harte down the left,  the ball fell to Richie Fitzsimons inside the box and he made no mistake from 8 yards out. Trim then lost Colm Harte and Keith Jones through injury. Neither side had any real opportunity to win the game and a draw was a fair result. This point keeps Celtic’s good league run going and they are now unbeaten in the league since last October.

Team: Barry O’Callaghan, Richie Fitzsimons, David Conway, Cyril Halton, Keith Jones, Michael Corrigan, Paul Campbell, Aaron Newman, Stephen Farrell, Mark McCormack, Colm Harte,

Subs:  Johnny Corrigan fro Mark McCormack, Paul Munnelly for Colm Harte, Dominic Martin for Keith Jones, Jamie Lee

Thanks to the generosity of Dempsey Travel in Trim, Celtic were able to make the very long Journey to Glaslough in a team bus. With spirits in the team high a 5 star performance gave Trim the 3 points. Derek Donoghue opened the scoring when he was set up by his striking partner David Conway. Donoghue then turned provider when his superb control inside the penalty area allowed him to lay the ball to Conway who finished well from 8 yards out. Indeed if it was not for some good goalkeeping from the Glaslough keeper this game could have been well over at half time. Mc Cormack and Newman set up attack after attack and with Corrigan and Campbell running the midfield, Celtic controlled the game brilliantly. The second half saw Conway complete his hat-trick with 2 well taken goals. Paul Campbell finished well after a great delivery from Mark McCormack. Another clean sheet for Trims back line of O’Callaghan, Halton, Gillsenan, Jones and Fitzsimons was the icing on the cake for this performance. Thanks also to Billy McEvoy who supplied the team with some well earned food for the journey home.

Team: Barry O’Callaghan, Richie Fitzsimons, Mark Gillsenan, Cyril Halton, Keith Jones, Michael Corrigan, Paul Campbell, Aaron Newman, David Conway, Derek Donoghue, Mark McCormack

Subs:  Jamie Lee for Mark McCormack, Danny Quinn for Derek Donoghue, John Kelly for Paul Campbell

The 3^rd round of this Challenge Cup was abandoned by the referee 10mins into the 2^nd half with the referee claiming the pitch had become unplayable. The first half saw some great football from both sides with the game flowing end to end. Paul Campbell twice saw good headers just go wide after superb deliveries by Mark McCormack. At the other end Barry O’Callaghan had to be alert to tip over an Albion free. Paul Gillsenan on the right side of the middle was causing all sorts of problems with his pace and was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when he seemed to be taken down from behind inside the penalty area. Albion were forced to make an early change when there center half went of injured. With both sides playing well in a keenly contested game Trim almost took the lead just before half time when Paul Campbell’s free kick just went the wrong side of the post. The second half started with Trim going on an all out attack and they were nearly rewarded with a goal after 5 mins when David Conway chased down what looked to be a lost cause only to be denied by a goal line clearance. The Albion keeper looked to be badly hurt after an innocent collision with Conway but was surprisingly not substituted. Minutes later Trim took the lead when great work by Derek Donoghue who went by 2 defenders before squaring the ball to Conway who made no mistake from 5 yards out. Trim could have immediately doubled there advantage but Conways half volley was just stopped by the Albion keeper. Then one of the Albion players fell awkwardly as he headed a ball and an Ambulance was called. Both teams remained on the pitch keeping warm and the player was removed within 20mins. Having been told by the referee to warm up before the restart both managers were then called to the center circle by the referee. He then announced that the pitch was unplayable. Albion were of course only to happy as at this point Trim were on top and they were struggling with injuries. Despite protests from the Trim management the game was abandoned. The MDL will now decide on what happens next. Good news in that it is understood that the Albion players leg was not broken and he is doing well.

Team: Barry O’Callaghan, Richie Fitzsimons, Mark Gillsenan, Cyril Halton, Keith Jones, Michael Corrigan, Paul Campbell, Paul Gillsenan, David Conway, Derek Donoghue, Mark McCormack

Subs:  Diarmuid Higgins, Dominic Martin, Stephen Farrell

A bright start from Trim saw them take the game to Torro but with no reward. Chance after chance went by. Paul Campbell was unlucky to see his header come back of the crossbar after good work from Mark McCormack down the left. Aaron Newman made plenty of chances with his runs down the right. Just before half time Torro were awarded a penalty when the referee adjudged that Michael Corrigans well timed challenge in the box was a foul. Torro scored from the spot kick and Celtic found themselves one down at half time. As has been the case all year Trim were not going to lie down and defeat was not an option. Corrigan and Campbell took control of the midfield and Campbell was rewarded with a goal when he finished of a well worked movement through the middle. Trim went in search of the winner and Richie Fitzsimons was best placed at the back post to ensure Mark McCormacks goal bound header crossed the line. With 15 mins remaining Torro started to press for an equalizer and it took a good save from Barry O’Callaghan to tip over a shot from outside the box. Then O’Callaghan made another fantastic save from the Torro striker from 5 yards out. Trim went up the field and finished off the game when Campbell again finished well inside the box.

Team: Barry O’Callaghan, Richie Fitzsimons, Mark Gillsenan, Cyril Halton, , Keith Jones, Michael Corrigan, Paul Campbell, Aaron Newman, Colm Harte, David Conway Mark McCormack

Subs:  Diarmuid Higgins for Aaron Newman, Paul Munnelly for Colm Harte, Dominic Martin for Keith Jones

Trim Celtic knocked out last years Challenge Cup winners with an Aaron Newman goal 15 mins from the end. If it was not for some missed opportunities and a little bit of bad luck Trim could have easily had 3 goals in the first half. Trim hit the bar, had a ball cleared of the line and were denied by some good goalkeeping. However it was not all Trim and it took a great save from Barry O’Callaghan to keep the game scoreless at half time. The second half was a much a livelier affair with both sides playing better football. Halton, Gillsenan, Fitzsimons, and Jones were solid at the back for Trim and Glenmuir were reduced to only one clear chance in the second half which came of the post. Mc Cormack and Newman worked hard on the wings for Celtic. Conway was denied from 6 yards by brave goalkeeping from the Glenmuir keeper. The breakthrough came when a defense splitting pass from Keith Jones was met by a perfectly timed run by Newman who squeezed the ball under the oncoming Glenmuir keeper. Trim by now were well on top and held on comfortably for the win.

Team: Barry O’Callaghan, Richie Fitzsimons, Mark Gillsenan, Cyril Halton, , Keith Jones, Michael Corrigan, Paul Campbell, Aaron Newman, Keith Peppard, David Conway Mark McCormack

Subs:  Dominic Martin, Stephen Farrell, Ross Campbell, Diarmuid Higgins

A real mixed weekend for our Schoolboys teams…

We had three games in Tully Pk this Saturday with the U13 D2 team playing first and despite a long lay off came out on top against Parkvilla on a scoreline of 2-1…

Next up where the U15 D2’s who were depleted with illness and a school trip, it was a bad time to come up against a strong Delvin side. The match finished 4-1 to Delvin

The final game on Saturday pitted Ron Metcalfe’s U15′S  against St Malachy’s of the DDSL Premier League in the last 36 of the Sfai Cup. In a incident packed game St Malachy’s keeper dislocated his shoulder soon after the kick off, shortly after this Trim took the lead. Trim were leading 2-1 with seconds to go in the game when St Malachy’s equalised and brought the game into extra time which they they took full advantage of and finished 4-2…St Malachy’s keeper is doing ok and is home after getting his shoulder fixed up in Navan Hospital

The U14 D1 team kept up their recent run of good form with a 3-0 win over Athboy Celtic in the MDL

Martin Davidson’s U14 team travelled to Torro with a heavily depleted team in a match which finished 7-2 to Torro

The U12 D3’s where involved in the HSE Cup against Delvin Celtic who where too strong, the result was 6-4 to Delvin

John Sweeney’s U12 team played Virginia in Kells, match finished all square with Dean Egan scoring in a 1-1 draw

On Sunday the U17 team played in Tully pk against Borora Juniors and got back to somewhere near their best form with a 1-1 result

Trim Celtic made the long journey to Clones Town and came home with the points after a very impressive performance. With conditions not ideal it took a big team effort to grind out this result. Things started well for Trim when Derek Donoghue latched onto a through ball from Paul Campbell and scored after 15mins. David Conway was then put through by Campbell and he rounded the keeper to fire in Trim’s second. Trims defence of Fitzsimons, Halton, Gilsenan and Jones battled for everything. Just before half time Donoghue showed great determination to keep a ball in play and his excellent cross found the head of Conway to put Trim 3-0 up at half time. Clones pulled a goal back before Donoghue pounced on a ball just in side the box to riffle home his 2^nd and Trims 4^th. With Harte, McCormack, Campbell and Corrigan all battling well for Trim the win was fully deserved. Clones did managed to pull another goal back just before the finish.

Team: Barry O’Callaghan, Richie Fitzsimons, Mark Gillsenan, Cyril Halton, , Keith Jones, Michael Corrigan, Paul Campbell, Colm Harte, Derek Donoghue, David Conway Mark McCormack

Subs:  Diarmuid Higgins for Mark McCormack, Keith Peppard for Colm Harte, Dominic Martin, Johnny Corrigan

Trim Celtic traveled to Albion Rovers on Friday evening and came away with a draw. Trim started slowly and it was Albion who dominated the early exchanges. After 15 mins a good shot from outside the box flew into the top of the net. Barry O’Callaghan in the Trim goal did all he could and was unlucky not to push it over the crossbar. Trim found it hard to settle and although they had the majority of the possession the final ball gave the strikers to much to do. After the break the game changed completely with Trim dominating the play and finally putting good passing movements together. Stephen Farrel, Keith Jones and Paul Gillsenan all had good opportunities to equalize but were denied by the Albion Keeper. Albion did have a couple of chances to increase there lead but with Barry O’Callaghan in fine form in the Trim goal Celtic were kept in the game. With 15 mins remaining Derek Donoghue picked up the ball 35yards from goal and scored with an amazing silky run in which he went past 5 Albion players before dispatching it low into the bottom corner past the Albion keeper. Albion now retreated and it was all Trim Celtic. With 3 mins left it looked like Trim were going to go home with all 3 points when Donoghue, after another great run was taken down in the penalty box. Unfortunately for Trim the Albion keeper pulled of a fine save from the penalty kick and both sides finished the game with a point each.

Team: Barry O’Callaghan, Richie Fitzsimons, Mark Gillsenan, Cyril Halton, David Conway, Keith Jones, Michael Corrigan, Stephen Farrell, Paul Gillsenan, Derek Donoghue, Ross Campbell. Stephen Moriarty(Ross Campbell) Dominic Martin, Damien McGhee

Only one match this weekend due to the adverse weather

Trim Celtic 3 vs Kells 1

Trim Celtic U14As produced a superb performance to overturn a one goal deficit and run out 3-1 winners away against Kells Blackwater in this league encounter.  After a 3 week break, Trim started very lively with some great play and were unlucky to have a goal from Kevin Nally disallowed in the first 5 minutes.  Trim continued to press and had Kells pinned into their own half and it seemed it would only be a matter of time until the deadlock was broken.  However, it was Kells who scored first with their first real attack of the game.  Trim didn’t allow this to set them back and came back at Kells for the next 15 mins.  In the 32nd minute, Stephen Moroney played an excellent cross ball into the path of Craig Peppard who was out on the left wing.  He calmly bore down on goal and slipped the ball over the Kells keeper to level the match.  Two minutes later Trim were on top when Shane Moore made a great clearance into the Kells half and in a 3-way sprint for the ball, Kevin McKeown showed great pace to outrun the defender and keeper and slip the ball by the keeper.  In the 2nd half, Stuart Lumb produced one outstanding save to keep Trim’s lead but Trim continued to have the better of the play and made their dominance count when Neil Sweeney played to Paul Kennedy who crossed for Kevin McKeown; his shot was saved but Craig Peppard was on hand to finish for his second and Trim’s third.  It was another all round fine performance with Anthony Neary and Shane Moore dominant in central defence; Craig Peppard shining on the left wing and Kevin Nally and Stephen Moroney controlling in midfield.

Trim Celtic came away with all 3 points in what was, on paper, a tough fixture. Trim were by far the better side and opened up the Ardee defense on several occasions during the first 15mins. Trims relentless pressure finally paid off when a corner from Mark McCormack was met by Richie Fitzsimons with a powerful header. Keith Peppard and Derek Donoghue both had chances to add a second but were denied by good saves by the Ardee keeper. On the half hour mark good work by Mick Corrigan in the center sent Pat Conway down the wing and a clever cut back was met by Derek Donoghue on the half volley which flew into the bottom corner. Ardee had a chance to get one back before half time when they were awarded a penalty but the Ardee player sent his spot kick well over the cross bar. An altercation then took place as Trim defended a corner. Mick Corrigan was wrestled to the ground by an Ardee player and Keith Peppard appeared to be punched as he went to assist Corrigan. The referee decided to send off the Ardee player and also for some reason Keith Peppard and Mark McCormack also saw red. It was astonishing that the altercation was started by Ardee yet Trim had 2 sent off. 2-0 up at half time and Trim continued there domination in the second half with Paul Campbell, Donoghue and Conway all guilty of not adding more goals. Trims fitness was showing and Ardee were outplayed in the middle with an exceptional performance by Mick Corrigan. Donoghue won and held up everything that came to him. Ardee did get one back with 15 mins remaining when a miss hit shot looped over the helpless Barry O’Callaghan. Trims defense were so strong that O’Callaghan in the Trim goal did not have one save to make. A great team performance and a deserved win.