BALLYMUN KICKHAMS 1-19 ROUND TOWER 1-3
Ballymun Kickhams’ clinical second half performance proved too much for Round Tower to handle, as the side eased their way into the second round of the Dublin Senior Football Championship last Friday night, writes Seán Ó Deoráin.
Tower’s supporters were out in force at Parnell Park, seizing the opportunity to see their men up against a side with plenty of inter-county pedigree. Towers were well aware of the size of the challenge they faced in this match, their opponents having reached the All-Ireland Senior Club Final back in March, narrowly losing out to Saint Brigid’s of Roscommon.
Kickhams looked hungry from the off, and there were fierce collisions coming in from both sides. Tower’s Ian Ward was substituted for Brian Costello within the first ten minutes, after being knocked over the sideline while trying to clear his lines.
Towers found it tough to stick tight to their opposition in the opening ten minutes, with loose marking round the midfield area resulting in Kickhams opening up a four point lead. Ted Furman, Dean Rock and full forward Kevin Leahy were all on target.
It took until the eighteenth minute for Towers to register their first score of the game, Stephen Halpin playing a crossfield ball to half-back James Kelly, who scored off the right-hand side.
Six minutes later, Derek Murray surged through the heart of Ballymun’s defence, only to be bundled over as he tried to get a handpass away. Conor L’Estrange converted the free. Straight after the next kick-out, Barry Gallagher collected a kickpass outside the 21, turned inside and set L’Estrange clean through. The corner forward held his nerve to slide the ball into the top-corner. At 1-2 to 0-4, it was to be the only time in the match when Towers held the lead. Kickhams responded well, splitting the Tower’s defence with some excellent play from Davey Byrne that set up Derek Byrne for the equaliser. Kickhams claimed two more points and had a three-point advantage at half-time, 0-7 to 1-2.
Towers were still in with a real chance as the second half got underway, but three quick points within the opening five minutes put Ballymun in the driving seat, with Rock taking their tenth score of the match from a free. Cathal Carty, back from injury, was brought on for Eoin Moran but it was the sheer difference in fitness levels that set Kickhams apart in the closing quarter. James McCarthy was instrumental in midfield, with Towers facing attacks down both wings. A quick break in the 49th minute epitomised Ballymun’s tactics, Dean Rock breaking down the right before feeding Ted Furman just inside the 21, who shot on the turn to leave the score at 0-15 to 1-3. Tower’s only point of the second half was a 45 from the boot of Tom Lyons.
Davey Byrne grabbed two points in the final minutes, with Philly McMahon combining with Furman to register Kickhams’ final point of the encounter.
Towers will have plenty to ponder after this sixteen-point defeat. Their attention must now return to the league, a crucial home encounter with Naomh Mearnóg scheduled for the end of the month. They will be well aware of the standards they must strive for if they are to stand a chance of competing at Dublin club football’s highest levels next season.
ROUND TOWER: D Kelly, B Keane, M Gahan, E Young, J Kelly, I Ward, T Lyons, D Murray, J Phillips, L Connolly, E Moran, J Joyce, B Gallagher, C L’Estrange, S Halpin. Subs: B Costello for I Ward, C Carty for E Moran, E Moore for J Kelly.
