All roads led to Blakestown on Saturday last as the Intermediate Hurlers beat Whitehall Colmcille in the Championship Semi-final to qualify for the decider v St Sylvesters.
In what has been an excellent year thus far for the Hurlers as they also lie 3rd in Division 3 with a chance of gaining promotion.
We are appealing to all Towers members to come out and support our lads as they contest to the Championship final for the first time since 2009 where they cruely lost to a late injury time goal Naomh Fionbarra.
Quarter Final match report:
Towers were forced to do it the hard way to progress to the Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final but they got their rewards after a gutsy and determined performance in Blakestown on Wednesday evening. Having ceded home advantage because of the Community Centre pitches were unplayable, Towers faced up to a resolute and determined St Peregine’s side on a windy evening and in wet conditions that made scoring difficult.
Both sides registered early scores with Dublin Minor hurler Gary Quinlivan and Eoin Ryan pointing for Towers. The score was two points apiece after ten minutes and Jack Whelan was next to point when he broke onto a ball out near the sideline and drove the sliotar over the bar from 40 metres. Towers edged further ahead when Eoin Young, who was excellent throughout at centre-half back, gathered a Peregines clearance in space. His 30 metre pass found Fergal McDonagh in space and the number 12 pointed from 50 metres. Towers backs pressurised the Peregines forwards and afforded them little opportunity to shoot but they closed the gap when their number 15 gathered 20 metres from the visitors goal and turned sharply to point. For a player still competing at minor level, Quinlivan showed great leadership throughout and a sideline run resulted in him pointing from distance. Peregines pressure resulted in Towers failing to clear and it was punished with a point to leave the scores at 6-4. But again the visitors responded and Padraic ‘Podge’ McKeever won a high ball under pressure on his 45 and was fouled. From the subsequent free Brian McLaughlin seized on the breaking ball and shortened the grip of the hurl to escape the attention of surrounding defenders and point. The five minutes before half-time were frantic, with both sides backs ceding little and it was Peregines who prized an opening when they pointed a 50 metre free to leave just two between both sides during the break.
Two minutes into the second-half there was one between in it when Peregines pointed another free from a similar distance. their centre half forward then pointed after Towers defenders were put under immense pressure and failed to clear their lines. 20 minutes remained and a goal would prove crucial. Peregines almost found then net when their full-forward found himself with a gaping goal from the edge of the square but his shot on the turn went wide of the Towers goalkeeper Stephen Chapman’s goal. This was championship hurling being played in winter-like conditions and ten minutes passed by without a score, as defences put forwards under pressure and creating a chance and pointing proved troublesome. With ten minutes remaining it was Peregines who edged ahead when a midfielder pointed a free from 40 metres. Peregines sensed victory but they encountered a resolute Towers defence that was epitomised by the spirit and determination of Eoin Young at centre-half back and Craig Curtis at full-back. Alex Darby thought he equalised with minutes remaining but the referee overruled one of the umpires and Towers remained a point behind, 0-8 v 0-7. The equaliser arrived after Towers forwards were patient and Brian McLaughlin found Mark Keane in space to point from 40 metres. This roused the visiting support and with seconds remaining it was Jack Whelan who stepped forward to be the hero when he pointed from 40 metres.
And it proved to be a good few days for the Intermediate hurlers when they comprehensively defeated Faugh’s in the Adult Hurling League Division 3. Eoin Ryan showed his class in scoring 4-2 during a 5-16 v 2-14 victory. Eric Finn also shone, scoring 1-8. The win leaves Towers lying in third place in the league.
Round Tower v St Peregine’s: Stephen Chapman, Shane Byrne, Craig Curtis, Luke Currivan, Padraic McKeever, Eoin Young, Kevin O’Neill, Alex Darby, Mark Keane, Gary Quinlivan, Jack Whelan, Fergal McDonagh, Brian McLaughlin, Eoin Ryan, Barry Finn.
