Towers went into this Junior Championship finding themselves top of AFL5 ahead of a Raheny team lying in second place. Towers fell at the quarter final stage last year after an extra-time defeat to the same opposition so had no shortage of motivation.
Raheny started the brighter naming former Dublin player Mick O’Keefe at 11 but deploying him in a deep role where he seen plenty of ball, and were 1-1 to no score ahead courtesy of a penalty after Dermot Milton brought down the Raheny corner forward and a free, after ten minutes.
Towers then hit a purple patch and hit five points in a row from Curran, Chapman, Young, Mackin and the impressive Justin McGrane. It was tit for tat stuff thereafter with both sides exchanging points and it remained level at half time.
Two more Justin McGrane frees, a 45 from Niall Lanigan and another McGrane free kept the scores again level as swirly conditions meant for lots of scrappy play. Former Dublin midfielder, Ciaran Whelan was then introduced for Raheny and again both sides traded points as the end of normal time was reached with the sides level at 0-13 to 1-10.
Raheny nudged ahead in the first period of extra time following three frees and a Maurice-Fitzgerald-esque point from Justin McGrane with his left boot from the right sideline and a Niall Lanigan free.
Raheny were clinging on and as we approached the end of extra time, with Towers a point down, Towers were awarded a free 55 yards out. The Raheny player then kicked the ball away and got a straight red card. The ball was moved forward and kicking into a strong breeze, it just trailed wide. Game over, Raheny by a point.
