With six minutes left to play and five points behind 2—7 to 1—5 Simonstowns second team staged a grandstand comeback scoring 1—3 without reply and grabing victory with last kick of match to retain their League Division 5 status for next year. Sean Conlon send over from thirty five metres for winning score.The Club has lost count of the number of games where we led with five minutes to go and lost narrowly in league matches this year, so a change of fortune as ovrdue.
This relegation battle was played in Dunganny (Pitch One) in a drizzle of rain and cross field breeze on Saturday evening with Peter O Hallorahan the man in the middle.
Both teams were carefull at the start and the first score didnt arrive until the tenth minute when a trade mark Jack Melia daisy cutter put the Navan men a goal up. Trim attacked and won a penalty. Goal keeper Joe Lyons made wonderful save but the rebound was booted to the net from an acute angle for the equaliser at end of first quarter. Peter Duffy with a free and Melia from play edged Simons two ahead. Trim also slotted over two from play but Jack Melia put the Navan men in front just before the break 1—3 to 1—2.
David Kavanagh introdued at half time put Simonstown two in front five miutes in. Trim then had dominant spell of seven minutes and shot over four points. They also added a well worked team goal to lead 2—6 to 1—4 with ten minutes remaining. Peter Duffy sent over a free from distance and Trim also converted a free to leave the score reading 2—7 to 1—5 with six minutes to play. A high delivery into the Trim square resulted in a scramble and Harry Devlin finished to the net to 2—7 to 2—5. A good passing move saw Jack Melia split the posts to leave the minimum between the teams. Simonstown gained possession from kick out, Jack Melia was fouled far out --took a quick free... then took the return and shot over to levell the contest with two minutes injury time played. Simonstown pushed up won possession from kick out and with patience and some good team work Sean Conlon fired over to put Simonstown in front. The referee sounded the long whistle on the restart.
Great credit to Manager James Sheehy selectors Justin Ward,Joe Lyons,Eanna Donoghue for looking after this team.
**Simons; Joe Lyons..Liam Purvis,Mark Gardiner, Darragh Dooner..Eoghan Foley,Eddie Nash,Paddy Heaney... Sean Conlon (0—1), Brian Neary..Alex Carry, Kyle McEvoy, Pater Duffy (0—2)2f,...Keelan McKenna, Jack Melia (1—4), Shane Kavanagh...
Subs; Harry Devlin (1—0), / K.McEvoy..David Kavanagh (0—1)/K.McKenna..Sean O Connell/ S.Kavanagh..Kyle Gallagher/ L.Purvis..
Extd Panel; Anthony McDonagh, Michael McDonagh, Jack Dunne, Dara Sherdian..
Trim; Eoin O Reilly...Conor Hurley, David Boyle, Colm McGrath..Aonghus Short, Mark Murray, Harry Harkin...Cian Walsh, Patrick Quigley...Conor McKeown, Darragh Heffernan, Daniel Murray...Michael McKeown, Gary Fleming, Neil Sweeney..
