After a solid quarter final display vs St. Brigid’s two weeks previous our under 16 footballers travelled to neighbours Lucan Sarsfields on Saturday for the ‘A’ Shield semi final. On a perfect day for football and with a sideline packed with supporters this game promised to be a cracker.
That’s just how it started with the two team’s pumped up going at it hell for leather right from the opening whistle. The first score came after 3 minutes with a well taken point from Lucans corner forward. Points were exchanged afterwards until the home team slotted home a well taken goal 10 mins in. Towers needed to regroup and their reward for doing so was a goal from full forward Aaron Whelan. This rattled Sarsfields and two minutes later Towers had another goal which started out from a superb save from keeper Oisín Douglas worked down the field by Alex Judge, hand passed to Joey Leech, across to centre forward Daniel Mitchell and Mitchell slotting home putting towers a point ahead. The hosts pressed on from their with well taken points and another goal of their own. Towers managed to pull it back to two points again with a penalty from Alex O’ Neill, but another string of points from Lucan just before the break put them 5 ahead going into the second half.
Half time was a huge blow for the Towers men as sharp shooter Joey Leech was forced out of the game with a shoulder injury. This took its toll on the visitors as Towers never really got to grips with the second half and Lucan started the second like they ended the first with intensity and clarity. A very solid Lucan 2nd half sealed the game and booked their spot in the final in two weeks time.
Heartbreak for towers but their current run of form in the league means they will bounce back having learned a lot from this defeat and will challenge for the top spot in Division 3 later this year.
