This coming Sunday Round Tower Junior Hurlers will take to the field in O’Toole Park seeking to claim a rare accomplishment: a county title. Team management Ger Kessie and Donáll O’Hogáin spoke to club PRO Mick McGlynn ahead of Sunday’s clash. Throw-in is at 3pm.
On Sunday, after seven championship outings, our Junior Hurlers will take to the field against local rivals Thomas Davis and seek to claim for the club a Junior Championship title. The achievement in reaching the final is an excellent accomplishment for the club’s hurling section and the panel of players involved and they are now sixty minutes away from bringing a coveted honour to the club and Clondalkin.
“This is a team of players who all really enjoy playing with each other,” Ger Kessie, informs. “They are an excellent bunch of fellas. They listen to what is being said from the sideline and to all the advice and help they are given. They have an excellent attitude and this has helped the team develop its strengths. We’re very grateful to other trainers involved with the club who have given the team help and assistance throughout this championship and over the year. We’re now on the cusp of an excellent achievement for the club.”
The first game of the campaign was in April when our lads suffered a one point defeat to St Pat’s of Palmerstown in the Community Centre but they responded two weeks later with a resounding victory over Crumlin. Davis enjoyed a two point victory in Towers third outing of the campaign but a comprehensive win over Commericials and a four point win away to Good Counsel set up a quarter final clash.
“The lads really stand up for each other and are very spirited,” Donáll comments. “They have an excellent attitude and they keep playing and fighting for each other until the final whistle. It’s Junior hurling so our game is very much based around substance and determination as opposed to style. One of the key ingredients is we just try to enjoy the game and hurling with each other.”
A comprehensive victory over St Pat’s of Donabate set up a memorable semi-final clash v Setanta in Poppintree. Ger recalls the game as being the stand-out moment of the campaign to date. “It was a brilliant victory,” he says. “In the second-half playing away from home we came from nine down to win with two late goals. I remember the Towers fans outshouted the home support and it was a brilliant semi-final success.”
Is experience or youth a trait that is guiding the team to Championship success? “We have a good blend on our team,” Donáll states. “There are some ‘oldish’ players who use their heads and we also have some young players who can run. Then we have lads with experience and youth on their side so it is a good all-round blend.”
What of Sunday and Thomas Davis? “It is 50/50” Ger says. “We lost by two points in the championship but we won by a point in the league and they finished above us in the league but it is 50/50 on Sunday.” He’s asked how big an accomplishment it will be if they can bring home the Championship. “It will be a brilliant achievement for all the lads involved and for the hurling section,” he says. “Very few adult championships – be they football or hurling – make their way to Towers and we really hope we can deliver one Sunday.”
We finish with an appeal to supporters to make their way to O’Toole Park for the 3pm throw-in and to support the team. “We’d love to see lots of support out there,” Ger says. “We’d like to see all members and especially those who have played with the team on cold and wet winter days to come out and enjoy the match and share ‘a day in the sun’ with us. We hope to return to the club Sunday evening with the trophy under our arms. Sam might have to go elsewhere!”
The mentors wish to thank the hurling section of the club and Martin Sheehan in particular for their assistance throughout the year.
Championship 2013 – The road so far
Round Towers C 1-11 2-9 St Patricks P Community Centre 21/04/2013
Crumlin 0-8 3-14 Round Towers C Pearse Park 02/05/2013
Round Towers C 1-8 0-13 Thomas Davis Community Centre 19/05/2013
Commercials 0-10 1-13 Round Towers C Rathcoole 06/06/2013
Good Counsel 2-12 3-14 Round Towers C Galtymore Road 20/06/2013
Round Towers C 4-11 2-5 St Patricks D Monastery Road 04/07/2013 Quarter Final
Setanta 1-11 2-11 Round Towers C Poppintree 25/08/2013 Semi Final
