A league play-off awaits against Lucan Sarsfields as our Junior A Footballers resoundingly outclassed Ballyboden St Enda in their final scheduled fixture. Our lads finished the campaign level on points with Clontarf and Na Fianna but their successes earlier in the season enabled automatic promotion to Division 4. A minutes silence was observed for the late Graham Hall and the Towers lads set about honoring their late mentor in emphatic style. Cathal Carty kicked the opener on the two minute mark after a great pass from the 40 into the inside forwards by the influential Mark Taylor. Our centre-half-forward provided the assist for the second, with Fergus Callaly from midfield rounding off a fine move that also saw Carty and Dermot Milton involved. Shane Boland stuck for goal but his effort was blocked and Jason Mockler capitalised for his first point and the opening goal arrived on the six minute mark. Milton released the overlapping Callaly and he powered his strike past the keeper at his near post. Mockler’s dummy created the space for him to strike his forth point, with the impressive goalkeeper Liam O’Connor carrying from defence to establish the attack. Lee Moran, operating at corner back, joined the attack to strike successfully and it was quickly followed by fellow defender Azeez Fetuga fending off two defenders to register his first. Boden struck their first but the momentum stayed with the visitors. Fetuga turned provider for Boland to swing over with his left and Mockler stretched the margin with a free after a foul on Carty. Great pressure by Milton and the impressive Adam Behan operating in the half forwards led to a turnover that enabled Fetuga to register his second. And the Towers harrying was evident again when Carty and Milton pressured on the 40 to win possession back and a one-two was worked to create the opening for the latter to strike powerfully past the keeper. Boden did finish the half with a point and their own goal due to a momentary lapse in the Tower rearguard, but at 2-9 v 1-2 clear at half-time the game was effectively over as a contest.
Towers continued the second in the dominant fashion of the first. Mikey Clearly, who consistently dictated around the middle, won the throw-in and Taylor advanced it to Carty to kick the point. Boden registered their third point before Cleary and Taylor combined down the right to create the opportunity for Boland who delivered his second. Mockler struck another placed ball and an outstanding team score, starting with O’Connor and involving corner-back Dave Chapman, Cleary and Taylor ended with the midfielder Callaly kicking another. Carty’s free preceded Milton lobbing the keeper for our third goal to leave the margin at 23 points to 7 – 3-14 v 1-4. Towers subs influenced the game in the final quarter, with Boden’s scoring now over. Carty kicked another free and Callaly fisted his third point. Behan deservedly got himself on the scoresheet when off balance he still registered a point. Carty dummied his way to another point and Mockler beat two to round off our scoring, with O’Connor denying the visitors a consolation goal with an excellent one-on-one stop.
Round Tower: Liam O’Connor, Lee Moran, Mark Gahan, Dave Chapman, Azeez Fetuga, Niall Corless, Craig Shaaban, Fergus Callaly, Michael Cleary, Jason Mockler, Mark Taylor, Adam Behan, Shane Boland, Cathal Carty, Dermot Milton. Used subs: Eoghan Halpin, David Clarke, Nicky Killane.
