Junior E Hurling Championship Group B Final: Round Tower 2-11 v Thomas Davis 3-17, O’Toole Park, 06/10/13. Report by Mick McGlynn. Peter Parker’s excellent pictures capturing the action can be viewed here.
Our Junior Hurlers seven minutes from Championship glory but a late final rally from Thomas Davis left Towers players gutted following a pulsating championship final. It was an excellent final, with both sides evenly matched for long periods, but the Tallaght side utilised crucial periods in the ascendancy to enable them claim championship glory at the expense of our lads.
The first-half was largely an evenly matched affair, with both sides trading points in quick succession over the first 25 minutes. A 60 metre free in the first minute from Martin Doyle helped settle Towers. Davis edged a point clear but a sideline cut was superbly converted by Ian Church to level the game. Hooks and blocks were common throughout the half as forwards striking for goal and defenders clearing were consistently hampered by the frenetic pressure they came under. Towers again levelled when a short clearance under pressure by the Davis half-backs was seized upon by Graham Bolger and he broke two tackles before being fouled. Doyle did the honours with the free. Again Bolger won breaking ball in the half-backs and when Fergal McDonagh’s attempt for a point on the 40 was deflected wide Doyle converted the 65. Another foul on Bolger brought another point for Doyle from a placed ball and Towers were now two in the ascendancy. A long-range Davis free left one between the sides but Eoghan Hutchinson displayed great composure when found in space to strike a long-range point. Davis responded with a pointed free and an excellent individual score from their number 13but a Hutchinson free on the 40 restored Towers lead. Having edged ahead throughout the half, the final five minutes were a significant setback for Towers. Three frees and a point on the turn from number 13 left the Tallaght side three ahead going into the break, 0-10 v 0-7, having played against a relatively strong wind for the first 30 minutes.
Finding themselves three down following an evenly matched opening half, Towers would not have wanted to concede further ground but they were on the receiving end of the first two points of the second half. Towers struggled to get a clean strike on goal due to work-rate of Davis backs and midfield. Three wides were registered and we needed a score. A goal almost arrived when an excellent pass across the pitch by Church found McDonagh and his run at goal culminated in a low strike from the 21 that was pushed away by the keeper. Donnacha Rafferty won the resulting clearance and pointed from the 40 to leave four between the sides – 0-12 v 0-8. But two further scores over the next five minutes left six between the sides and Davis in control.
Towers needed a break and the introduction of Liam Connolly helped bring a more physical presence. Midway through the second half they got the break to give them the required lift. Wayne Brennan’s free from midfield dropped dangerously on the edge of the square and Connolly and McDonagh challenged and the ball was flicked to the back of the net. This gave our lads and supporters renewed impetus and they received a significant jolt with the introduction of minor hurler Michéál Walsh. We registered 1-2 from the first three plays involving him. Connolly and Rafferty were involved in the build-up when the ball was played to Walsh out by the right touchline. A sharp turn and quick burst of pace saw him break free and he drove a point over from an angle on the 21, to leave two between the sides, 1-9 v 0-14. His next contribution was almost a carbon copy but this time the net was rattled. John Weafer’s clearance was again directed towards Walsh and again his pace left the defender trailing. A 20 metre run culminated with him striking a low drive beyond the keeper into the corner. A free by Hutchinson was then converted: 2-10 v 0-14. Over a six minute period Towers had swung a six point deficit into a two point lead and just seven minutes remained. However Davis responded with an excellent score from their number ten from the right wing. But again Walsh had a significant say. From a throw-in Smith pulled it down the right and Walsh neat pick up allowed him again beat his marker. He was fouled and Hutchinson converted the free from out near the sideline. But Davis showed excellent resolve and responded instantly to leave a point between both sides with three minutes to play. When their number 12 broke inside he was pulled back and the mishit 21 metre free deceived Towers keeper Declan Rafferty and ended up in the back of the net. No 13s point from the right then edged the Tallaght side three points clear. It was Towers who required the goal with a minute remaining but a long-range Davis free deceived our defence to bring them six clear and a minute into injury time the scoreboard was given a flattering look when their centre half forward rattled a breaking free to the roof of the Towers net.
Our Junior hurlers can be very proud of their accomplishment and well done to all involved in a campaign that almost culminated in county success.
Round Tower: Declan Rafferty, Cillian Nolan, Fergal Power, John Weafer, Graham Bolger, Wayne Brennan, Simon Nevin, Donnacha Rafferty, Martin Kerrigan, Gary Cleary, Martin Doyle, Ian Church, Aaron Wynne, Fergal McDonagh, Eoghan Hutchinson. Used subs: Liam Connolly, Micheál Walsh,
