AFL 2: Round Tower 4-19 v St Pat’s (Donabate) 1-6
An emphatic first-half display paved the way for our Senior Footballers to register their first league win of the season and put the disappointment of an opening day loss to Naomh Mearnóg behind them, writes Mick McGlynn. Towers were completely dominant in the opening period, with successive wins at midfield feeding a sharp attack that ended the half with 2-14 registered on the scoreboard. View the match pictures via our Flickr account here.
Niall Lanigan kicked the opener from the ground after two minutes. A minute later he was on the end of one of the home sides numerous goal scoring opportunities in the opening half but his goalbound effort was blocked close range. An interception in the full back line by Niall Byrne led to Lanigan and Eric Finn combining on the 40 and the onrushing James Kelly kicked the second point. Kelly was then set up by Micheál Walsh for the third and Ian Ward joining the attack from the half-backs kicked Towers fourth inside six minutes. When the visitors broke beyond the Towers 40 the full back line of Seán O’Donnagain, Jason Murphy and Niall Byrne broke up the attacks. They did kick their opener from a 21 metre free on eight minutes before Walsh struck an outstanding score from an acute angle on the right. He followed it up with a point from the left, seizing onto Ward’s long delivery, turning sharply and raising the arms of the umpires from distance. Left corner forward Trevor Clendenning then kicked another excellent point from the right and Lanigan was denied a goal with another last gasp block. Walsh cut along the end line at pace before being hauled to the ground and Jason Joyce opened up an 0-8 v 0-2 margin from the subsequent free. A Mick Hallows interception set up Lanigan to attack a retreating defence and tapping over from the right. A Derek Murray block led to Conor Rooney carrying into attack and Finn, Lanigan and Kelly combined well before teeing up Walsh to kick under pressure between the posts. The visitors tapped over their third of the game before the goal for the home side finally arrived. Walsh released the onrushing Finn who carried at pace before finishing to the roof of the net. Ward came forward to register his second and then Lanigan pointed after full back Jason Murphy had joined attack. Yet another last ditch tackle prevented a Towers goal, with Walsh denied on this occasion, and Clendenning fisted over the breaking ball. Rooney became the second half back to point and on the stroke of half-time Walsh was in on goal and pulled to the ground. James Kelly dispatched the penalty to the corner.
2-14 v 0-3 ahead Towers may have rested on their laurels but with the first play of the second half they netted their third, with Finn deftly finishing across the keeper into the top left corner. Finn followed it straight up with a point and midfielder Hallows kicked an excellent score from the right. The forth goal arrived when Lanigan cut inside on goal and was pulled to the ground. Despite the keeper going the right way, Kelly’s penalty was too accurately placed for saving. Conor L’Estrange tapped a free before Ward kicked his third. Gary Cleary in goal made his first save of note, diving top corner to prevent a goal but the visitors did register a consolation in the dying minutes.
Round Tower: Gary Cleary, Niall Byrne, Jason Murphy, Niall Byrne, Ian Ward, Derek Murray, Conor Rooney, Liam Connolly, Mick Hallows, Eric Finn, James Kelly, Jason Joyce, Micheál Walsh, Niall Lanigan, Trevor Clendenning. Used subs: Mark Gahan, Barry Keane, Mark Taylor, Daniel Gregg, Conor L’Estrange, Simon McGuinness
