Round Tower 0-8 v Lucan Sarsfields 2-10, Community Centre, 28/07/13
A disappointing second half coupled with a very impressive 30 minutes from Lucan Sarsfields left Round Tower Junior Footballers deflated following their AFL8 clash at the Community Centre on Sunday morning, writes Mick McGlynn.
Anthony Davis kicked Towers solitary point in the second half as the home side struggled to combat a Lucan side whose improved second half showing saw them run at the Towers defence with pace and with numbers supporting the attacker. Lucan started the match having only lost one of their nine league encounters, while Towers went into the match with three losses behind them. The differing league form was not evident during the first 30 minutes, a half in which Towers would have finished leading but for a sloppy goal that was conceded with five minutes remaining.
With 25 minutes played Towers led 6 points to five and both sides were evenly matched. Towers opener was an excellent move with Ciaran Dunne and Davis interchanging before Martin Corrigan kicked the point. Corner forward Declan Doyle kicked the second point and it was followed by an excellent score from Keith Weldon who worked a one-two with Ciaran Dunne and kicked straight between the posts from 30 metres. Towers opening scores left them 0-3 v 0-1 ahead but Lucan responded with four points. Corrigan turned his marker and his shot to the top corner was turned around the post by the keeper. Paul Lanigan’s 45 clipped the top of the crossbar before edging over and in the next play he won possession in midfield and found Davis who ran at the visitors defence before being hauled down. Gerry Homan equalised with the right footed free from 35 metres. Towers edged ahead when Homan ran at the Lucan defence before passing right to Dunne who kicked straight over. Towers almost bagged the goal that could have seen them go into half-time with a good lead. Dunne won a high ball in the inside forward line but Doyle’s strike from close range was deflected around the post by the keeper. Instead it was Lucan who went into half time with the goal and a lead behind them. Towers keeper Barry Maguire pulled off a good save but was penalised for over-carrying. The subsequent free from close range should have been a relatively simple point but the mishit strike led to a mix-up in the Towers defence that led to the ball finding the back of the net. The home side responded thru Dunne whose left foot kick was pointed after a ball inside from Lanigan found the full forward.
A point behind at half-time Towers would have felt this was an excellent opportunity to claim a valuable victory. However Lucan were a better side in the second half and attacked with pace and men supporting the attacker was a constant feature throughout. Towers did not help themselves in giving possession away when moving the ball from defence and the forwards had little to work off. Lucan won much of the breaking ball and their number 9 and 12 proved particularly influential in winning possession, starting moves and getting on the end of moves. They had three good goal scoring opportunities and kicked five successive points over a 15 minute period before Davis kicked a point from close-range. This left five between the sides and a Towers goal could have brought them back into the game but it did not look like happening. A Lucan substitute netted and effectively finished the game with seven minutes remaining when a Towers free on their own 21 was given away and a pass inside enabled him to finish to the roof of the net, giving Maguire no chance. Davis tried grab a consolation goal with a quick free from close range but his shot was dragged wide. Disappointment for Willie Kennedy’s side who sit mid table with eight points after eight games played but they have games on hand on the four sides ahead of them.
Round Tower: Barry Maguire, Simon Breslin, Neil Gill, David Costigan, Aidan Egan, Daniel Gregg, Shane Cross, Keith Weldon, Paul Lanigan, Anthony Davis, Barry Quinlan, Ger Homan, Martin Corrigan, Ciaran Dunne, Declan Doyle. Used Subs: Noel Quinlan, Brian Graham.
