Round Tower 0-17 v Crumlin 3-12
Round Tower Inter Footballers status in AFL4 is under threat after they came out the wrong side of a crucial fixture with Crumlin at the Community Centre on Wednesday evening, writes Mick McGlynn. View pics from the game here.
Towers could not capitalise against a side that played with 14 players for most of the match but had pacey and scoring forwards who could punish the home side when opportunities arose.
Towers trailed by four ten minutes into the second half when a Crumlin forward pounced on a dropping high ball into the square to net the game’s first goal. But the home side then went on the ascendancy, with Denis Macken proving the pivotal attacker. A one-two between Tom Curran and Paddy Lawlor led to Macken kicking a point from the right to leave three between the sides. Macken’s crossfield pass was then pointed by half-forward Eoin Walsh and a Macken-converted 21 metre free left two between them. Substitute Joey Murphy was blocked at close range after Fergus Callaly created the opening by winning a 50/50 but Crumlin were penalised for barging when attempting to clear. Macken slotted the equaliser. Callally then kicked a brilliant score on the run after substitute Aaron Soady carried from defence to attack. Towers had shown admirable resolve to come back from the goal setback but a Crumlin forward poked a low ball to the net to edge them ahead again. They followed it up with another quick score and just six minutes were remaining. Barry Keane’s long-range effort went over after clipping the post but a Crumlin counterattack at a retreating Towers defence led to the killer third goal. Towers required a goal and Walsh and Curran advanced but were smothered and unable to get in a clean strike. Three points were between the sides but time was up when Keane kicked his second point with the last kick of the game.
The sides were level eight-points apiece at half-time. The Crumlin full-forward saw red just a few minutes into the game for a striking offence. Davey McCrathy kicked Towers opening three points, two from frees and the third with the outside left after a good crossfield pass by full-forward Craig Curtis. Early substitute Aaron Soady arrived from the half-backs to kick a score from the left to leave Towers 0-4 v 0-2 ahead. But Crumlin galvanized and went 6-4 clear over a dominant ten minute period before Mick Hallows and Lawlor combined to set up onrushing Macken to point and a McCarthy free levelled. Curtis did well by the byline to set up Lawlor to equalize again and then Mick Hallows coming from midfield edged Towers ahead before Crumlin equalised heading into half-time.
Towers remaining fixtures v St Monica’s, Good Counsel and Raheny are of significant importance. They are scheduled to face St Monica’s 23rd August.
Round Tower: Dean Alford, Barry Finn, Dave Chapman, David Clarke, Shane Boland, Shane Byrne, Barry Keane, Mick Hallows, Fergus Callaly, Eoin Walsh, Paddy Lawlor, Tom Curran, Davey McCarthy, Craig Curtis, Denis Macken. Used subs: Aaron Soady, Mark Healy, Dermot Milton
