Action from the Feile na nGael tournament last Saturday (May 19th), involving our under 1 hurlers can now be viewed here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/roundtowers/sets/72157629816441716/. A report concerning our participation is provided below. Well done to players, mentors and those that facilitated the excellent hospitality extended to the visiting teams.
Unfortunately it was not to be for Round Towers Under 14 hurlers in Saturday’s Division 3 Dublin Feile na nGael after they were comprehensively beaten in their semi-final against Naomh Barróg, having won, drawn and lost during the group stage of the competition in Moyle Park that morning.
Towers travelled to Stillorgan to take on Naomh Olafs and two excellent goals lifted the travelling supporters spirits but the home side proved far too strong for the Clondalkin lads, who registered a score of 2-4. Matthew McLoughlin finished to the corner of the Olaf’s net in the first half after he broke down the middle and Shane Scappaticci also finished to the net in the second half following another fine solo effort but Olaf’s won comprehensively.
It was a disappointing end to a busy day of competitive action for the Under 14s, which began Saturday morning in Moyle Park with a tough and tense draw against Craobh Chiarain. Two Matthew McLoughlin frees and a Shane Scappaticci point that was driven over from midfield had both sides level at three points apiece.
A Eoghan Halpin sideline cut dropped at the edge of the square and was pulled on by Eoin Brady and finished beyond the visitors keeper for the first goal of the match. But Craobh Chairain responded and scored 1-3 without reply to leave the home side with a three point deficit. Time was running against Towers and they showed great spirit and determination to get back into the game. From an Ian Carbery puck-out Brady won the ball and drove at the Craobh Chairain defence. He drew the full back line before popping a pass to corner forward Halpin, who caught and drove the ball to the roof of the opposing goalkeepers net. But the visitors responded and almost netted once again with a high ball into the box that went just beyond the Towers post. The sliothar had been deflected and Chiarain’s edged in front once again when the 65 was converted. But Towers resilience came to the fore once again with the last play of the match when substitute Eoghan Murphy ran at the visitors defence and drew the foul, which was duly converted by McLoughlin straight in front of the posts. The referee’s final whistle sounded with both sides level, 2-4 to 1-7.
Next opponents were a powerful Crumlin side and excellent hurling from their visiting midfielders meant the Towers full-back line was under continuous pressure during the first half. The pressure yielded rewards, and Crumlin led 1-2 to no score 15 minutes into the match before McLoughlin pointed three frees for Towers to bring them to within two scores. But Crumlin put further distance between both sides when their influential number eight drove a ball to the back of the Towers net following a good run out by the sideline. But the home side were back in the match minutes later when Alex O’Neill struck a low drive beyond the visitors keeper. Towers hopes were effectively dashed when Crumlin netted twice in the remaining minutes and three McLoughlin frees were converted with minutes remaining but the home side were well beaten 4-5 v 1-6.
Towers needed to claim victory in their remaining group game to reach the semi-finals and they secured it with a 2-8 v 1-4 victory over neighbours St Kevin’s. Eoghan Murphy opened the scoring after good work from Conor Farrell and Alex O’Neill set up Shane Scappaticci to put Towers 0-2 v 0-1 ahead. Points from Farrell, McLoughlin (free) and Graham Proctor put Towers 0-5 v 0-2 ahead. But Kevin’s were the first to find the net and a further point left the home side trailing by a scor, 0-5 v 1-3. Scappaticci was a big influence from midfield and pointed from the sideline to level matters, 0-6 v 1-3, and half-back Cormac Pedden then scored a great goal when he embarked on a run up the sideline before cutting inside and finishing low to the net. Scappaticci drove over another score from midfield and any hope Kevin’s had of getting back into the game finished when a 21 metre free was drove beyond the Kevin’s full backs into the net by McLoughlin. Unfortunately this 2-8 v 1-4 comprehensive victory was not repeated as Towers went down to the impressive Naomh Barróg side.
Round Tower: Ian Carbery, Tony McDonagh, Eoghan Fitzgerald, Patrick Daly, Cormac Peden, Darren Gilligan, Luke Peden, Shane Scappaticci, Daniel Kelly, Graham Proctor, Matthew McLoughlin, Eamon Walsh, Eoghan Halpin, Eoin Brady, Sean Tunney, Oisin Douglas, Conor Farrell, Jarlath Brennan, Liam O’Connor, Adam Behan, Eoin Murphy, Cian Proctor, Conor Flannery, Alex O’Neill `
