Round Tower 2-11 v St Mary’s 3-10, AFL 2, Saturday 16th April, Monastery Road
An injury time goal meant our Senior Footballers were left to rue missed opportunities and they were left with another early season setback, writes Mick McGlynn. View Niall Connaughton match pictures here.
They got off to the worst possible start, conceding a goal inside the opening minute. However within the opening ten minutes the sides had been drawn level. Jay Joyce kicked Towers opener and it was followed by an excellent kick from the right by James Kelly. Joyce kicked a free won by Niall Lanigan and the latter kicked the equaliser with the outside of his boot to level the game: 1-1 v 0-4. After the early setback Towers had settled very well into the game and found the net. A Joyce free hit the post and Stephen McGibney collected the rebound. He cut inside and struck the crossbar but Lanigan flicked the rebound into the net. Mary’s responded with a point before Lanigan netted his second. Joyce broke in from the left and the keeper saved his strike but Lanigan was on hand to poach again. The home side remained in control and struck another two wides before former Dublin footballer Blaine Kelly struck a free. When Towers lost the resulting kick-out Kelly again punished to narrow the deficit to a goal. The momentum had swung and a free saw the deficit reduced to 2 points. Another free – this time from long-range – cut the deficit to the minimum. Towers did respond. Micheál Walsh won the ball low on the ground and flicked to Liam Connolly who converted. Mary’s countered and a Niall Byrne block close-range denied them a goal before they subsequently tapped over a point. The half-time deficit was two points: Round Tower 2-6 v St Mary’s 1-7.
The home side sought to drive home their advantage. Lanigan cut inside to clip the opening score of the half with his right. McGibney then fielded a long Kelly pass and with a sharp turn extended the lead to four. The Mary’s keeper then made an excellent close range stop from McGibney before following it up moments later by deflecting a Mick Hallows goalbound effort. Walsh then flashed a strike beyond the left post. Towers were on top, with Ian Ward commanding in half-backs and the midfield battle being won. However, two point efforts were also missed along with the goal chances and Towers began to rue the opportunities. A Mary’s attack culminated in a fisted effort coming off the post but being followed into the net. Kelly then stretched to palm an effort goalwards but the keeper again saved close-range. From the follow-up Lanigan pointed and when he carried beyond two on a sideline run it created the opportunity for Kelly to score 30 metres, with Connolly teeing him up. However entering into the final seven minutes St Mary’s gathered momentum. They kicked three scores in succession to level the game. With two minutes remaining it looked as though Kelly had won it for the home side when he kicked a point from the 21. However late drama ensued when Mary’s broke down the left and a low strike beat Gary Cleary to leave the home side on the back of a two point loss.
Round Tower: Gary Cleary, Seán Ó Donnagáin, Jason Murphy, Niall Byrne, Tom Lyons, Ian Ward, Barry Keane, Liam Connolly, Simon McGuinness, Niall Lanigan, James Kelly, Jason Joyce, Micheál Walsh, Mick Hallows, Stephen McGibney. Used subs: Daniel Gregg, Trevor Clendenning, Mark Gahan, Thomas Galvin.
