Round Tower Under 12 hurlers travelled to Cork last Saturday, March 16th, to compete against sides from Cork and Waterford. The team’s players, mentors and supporters represented the club proudly and we extend our congratulations to all involved. Report provided by team mentor Eric Byrne. Pictures can be viewed here – http://www.flickr.com/photos/roundtowers/sets/72157633030013794/.
As expected the lads had great craic in this very well run tournament by Ballymartle Gaa Club. We stopped in Mother Hubbard’s in Cashel for a warriors feast as we had an early start and with the troops replenished we headed for green fields of Cork. The lads were now looking very dapper in our new sponsored jerseys by hyundai.epmooney.ie
As we entered the pitches in Ballymartle 40 minutes early and were just about to warm up, word of the "Dublin" boys being in town spread fast and within 2 minutes of being there we played an unscheduled match against Lisgoold of Cork. This match ended in a well contested draw, and cork boys now knew Towers meant business and the matches then came at us fast and furious. We were battered, bruised and sometimes even upended but our lads played seven matches in total, winning three, drawing two, and losing two. The hurling matches were of such a high calibre that instead of ten minutes a half, the matches were pushed out to 15 mins a half. The hotly contested match that probably proved to be the match of the day saw Towers compete against the host club Sliabh Rua. The match lasted nearly 40 mins and with tempers running high on both sides and refereeing decisions being analysed with great scrutiny, the second half went into overdrive as bodies were put on the line in every second of this half. Both sets of mentors were raising the roof with battle commands from the sideline and for the Towers lads, it felt like we had Hill 16 with us, as every score was drowned out with belly roars from our supporters. In fairness the Cork lads had their own rebels with them also. With fire in their bellies, our lads just pushed that bit harder and faster and we won out in the end. It was a job really well done. Our lads did the county and their club proud. In fact they brought so much pride through their talent and behaviour, we are expecting a Cork invasion to Clondalkin, as there was mentors taking our numbers from every direction. Thanks to Ballymartle for the invite and our own Round Tower Club who were very supportive from start to finish. Most praise must go the the parents for getting the team down to Cork suited and booted – the kids don’t know how lucky they are, super Mums and Dads.Towers Abú
