Despite losing out to the reigning senior champions, Longwood’s hurlers produced their most complete performance of the season, competing strongly from minute one to sixty.

Moral victories are scant consolation but there was plenty of evidence to suggest that the boys possess the talent and fight required for senior championship in the coming years. This was important as previous performances had not boded so well.

The game took place in Boardsmill, with the pre-match rain showers clearing just in time for throw-in.

Longwood settled quickly; a brace of Anthony Healy frees sandwiching similar scores from Trim to leave the sides level after the opening six minutes.

A couple of well taken points from Billy Hogan and Ryan Moore kept the scoreboard ticking before Damien Healy lashed a penalty to the bottom corner of the Trim net. This ensured Longwood took a three-point lead to the water break.

Trim responded with four of the next six points to reduce the deficit to the minimum before a prodigious Aaron Ennis point from well inside his own half gave the Longwood supporters further reason to cheer. Another Anthony Healy free extended the lead to three but Trim again responded with three quick-fire points to leave the sides level at the interval.

Half-time: Longwood 1-9 Trim 0-12

Longwood would have to play against the breeze for the second half and they would need a good start. It could so easily have materialised were it not for Charlie Ennis in the Trim goals pulling off an excellent save from a Sean Coloe shot to maintain parity. Seconds later an Aaron Ennis shot came back off the woodwork to give the men in red another narrow escape. They were quick to capitalise, snatching a goal against the run of play which jolted them into action.

But Longwood were up for the fight and a trio of Anthony Healy frees brought them back level. Again Trim pushed on with three unanswered points, again Longwood responded with Aaron Ennis and Anthony Healy combining well before the latter’s low shot raised a second green flag for The Wood.

The last ten minutes were fraught with tension. Trim’s more clinical finishing just edged things in their favour but Longwood pushed to the very end and the four point deficit at the final whistle was a little harsh on our boys.

A much-improved display from Longwood with excellent performances from Ross Kerrigan and Billy Hogan, particularly in the first half. These young guns were ably supported by Aaron Ennis who hurled an amount of ball from a less than familiar half back position. Further up the field we witnessed the by now customary strong performances of the Healy brothers, Anthony and Damien, who caused all sorts of problems for the Trim defence for the duration of the contest.

Next up for Longwood is a battle with Ratoath in a couple of weeks.

Longwood: Mark Kennedy, Enda Dixon, Niall Mulvey, Joe Stenson, Ross Kerrigan, Mickey Burke, Aaron Ennis (0-1), Billy Hogan (0-1), Ryan Moore (0-1), Gavin Griffin, Damien Healy (1-0), Sean Coloe, Jim Dorran, Anthony Healy (1-11), Karl Ennis (0-1). Subs: Johnny Furey for Enda Dixon, Bob Maguire for Jim Dorran, David Dixon for Gavin Griffin