Round Tower 1-11
Raheny 1-5
Jason Joyce’s last minute goal completed an excellent performance by Towers senior footballers and secured valuable two points in this important AFL2 clash on Saturday evening in Clondalkin.
Joyce’s strike capped off an excellent second half performance from the home side who were called upon to show great character and attitude to secure the win against a well organised and talented Raheny side that is under the stewardship of former Dublin footballer Ciaran Whelan.
Towers went in at half-time with the narrowest of leads 0-4 v 0-3, a half in which each of the points were hard earned against resilient defences that ceded little to their opponents. When forwards earned the opportunity to shoot it was done so under pressure. Cathal Carty was to first to register a score after good delivery into the inside forward line from half-forward James Kelly allowed the Mayo man put the home side a point ahead. Raheny responded four minutes later and enjoyed a ten minute spell of pressure but the Towers defence held firm.
The visitors eventually edged a point ahead when a misplaced pass from a Towers sideline ball. Ciaran Corrigan, playing at full forward, responded for Towers with a great score when he found space on the right and kicked a score from distance. From the resulting play Towers went ahead when Tom Lyons intercepted a stray Raheny pass and his drive rose just over the bar to leave Towers 0-3 v 0-2 ahead. Former Dublin minor footballer Patrick O’Higgins almost netted for Raheny but Conor McGrath blocked as midfielders strike was destined for the net. Just minutes later they equalised when a quick Raheny free allowed a forward find space and point. Two minutes before half-time an excellent Towers move finished with a point from Joyce, after a good move involving half-back Brian Costello, Carty and Corrigan.
A minute into the second half the visitors levelled but Towers responded a minute later with an excellent score from centre-half back Ian Ward, who had come forward to support a Towers attack and after being fed by Lyons, he converted under pressure to give the home side the lead. The second half was more open and Raheny made an important break-thru when their number 13 latched onto a high ball and side footed it beyond Gordon Gallagher.
In such a tight game it looked a vital score but Towers showed great character to respond. Midfielder Simon McGuinness carried the ball from 40 metres and was fouled when advancing on goal by a desperate Raheny defence. Corrigan slotted from the free and from the resulting kick-out Towers levelled. Colm Halpin won the kick-out and found the ever-dangerous Carty in the inside forward line. Despite being pushed away from goal, he pointed from 30 metres. Five minutes later Carty pointed again, after the influential Ward came forward to win a free. Ward played a key role in the second half along with fellow half-back Barry Keane, whose pace caused problems for the visitors as he started and joined in on Towers attacks. When Joyce won a kick-out with ten minutes remaining and drove forward, Keane was on hand-to convert the pass from 30 metres. Raheny pointed again but Towers were resilient and Corrigan pointed from a free after Carty was fouled shooting for a point. Another point from the Mayo man put Towers six ahead. Joyce’s goal rounded off an excellent win. A great ball from the midfield was played by Lyons into Carty. From out near the endline, he cut inside his man and passed to the inrushing Joyce who finished low into the corner. This was a big victory for Towers and moves them above Raheny to second in the table with six wins from eight and just one defeat.
Towers: Gordon Gallagher, Conan O’Broin, Jamie McCarthy, Conor McGrath, Barry Keane, Ian Ward, Brian Costello, Simon McGuinness, Derek Murray, Jason Joyce, James Kelly, Tom Lyons, Cathal Carty, Ciaran Corrigan, Stephen Halpin. Used Subs: Paddy Stynes for O’Broin, Conor L’Estrange for Halpin, Mark Taylor for McGuinness.
