Round Tower 3-6 v St Sylvesters 2-11; Minor Hurling League 3; Monastery Road Sunday 12th April
Towers Minor Hurlers were left to rue the concession of far too many soft frees as visitors St Sylvesters edged this Minor Hurling League 3 clash, writes Mick McGlynn.
In wet conditions, it was the home side who sprung straight from the traps. Straight from throw-in they registered a goal. Cianan Ryan won possession and found Matthew McLoughlin on the right side. His strike for a point was tipped beyond the keeper by Adam Doyle at full forward. With two minutes on the clock they’d two goals on the scoreboard. A Doyle free was dropping when Aaron Douglas stretched to deflect beyond keeper. The visitors got in on the goal scoring frenzy to pull one back and then registered a point to enable them settle into the game. Excellent hooks by Liam O’Connor and Daniel Kelly prevented Sylvesters narrowing the margin further before Jordan Walsh hooked to win back possession and then strike a point on the turn. After 16 minutes he registered his second, with McLoughlin breaking onto a free towards goal and teeing up Walsh to finish. But Sylvesters started to gain control in the middle third and dominated for a ten minute period. Full-back Eoin Fitzgerald was excellent in the full-back line, particularly under the high ball, but he and his comrades came under sustained pressure. Five converted frees for Sylvesters brought the sides level. It could have been worse but Conor Harte flicked a low strike towards goal clear on the line. Towers regained their composure with another Doyle net. O’Connor did well in build up to flick a pass under pressure to Walsh and he palmed to onrushing Doyle. He cut in from the left and drove beyond keeper. A foul on McLouhglin was punished by Doyle two minutes before the break to edge the home side three clear. But a scramble in the Towers goal led to referee consultation with umpires and a goal was awarded to leave sides level at the break – Tower’s 3-3 v Sylvesters 2-6.
Again Towers started brightly, with Ryan winning a free on the 50. Doyle’s strike dropped short but O’Neill turned to point. Sylvesters again levelled before a 20 metre run by Doyle under pressure led to him being pulled back and he converted the free strike himself. Ryan then won in the middle and attacked at pace. The foul on him was pointed from long-range by McLoughlin. Scores were at a premium given the rain and strong wind and Towers were penalised for ill-discipline in the final quarter. Four conceded frees were converted to leave them trailing by 2. They had opportunities but they were not clear cut, with Doyle and McLoughlin striking wide from tight angles at range. The final play saw Towers drop a free around goal but Sylvesters emerged from the scramble with a tight fought win.
Round Tower: Ian Carbery, Gavin Quinn, Eoin Fitzgerald, Conor Harte, Eamon Walsh, Cianan Ryan, Graham Proctor, Darren Gilligan, Daniel Kelly, Matthew McLoughlin, Jordan Walsh, Liam O’Connor, Patrick Daly, Adam Doyle, Aaron Douglas.
