The Evening Herald’s Niall Scully report arising from Saturday night. Picture from our very own Peter Parker. Mick Byrne’s pictures of the match can be viewed here.
THE prayers were answered on the Monastery Road. A beautiful night in old Clondalkin. A mighty crowd came to watch the Dubs against Galway, and welcome back a favourite son, Jim Gavin.
It was the official opening of the new Round Towers venue. It’s a stunning location. It took 30 years of chiselling to redesign the old Hanlon’s quarry. President Liam O’Neill was at the blessing.
Bill Kelly, the man who put the Dubs in the Arnotts front window, was one of the first through the gates. He carried a picture from 1995 of Gentleman Jim with Sam in Parnell Park.
The friendly Towers juveniles were selling the programmes. It was a spectacular production. It carried a shot of Jim sinking to his knees when the final whistle blew in that ’95 All-Ireland.
Welcome
A free GAA magazine was given to everybody in the audience. The Clondalkin Youth Band were fine-tuning their instruments.
Towers had erected a marquee for their weekend celebration. Towers chairman, Tony Delaney, extended a welcome to all. Alan Milton was on the PA. The man in the middle was All-Ireland referee Maurice Deegan. Dave McCabe didn’t do a Johnny Cash – he ran the line.
Pat O’Toole looked on. He recalled driving Jim Gavin in the school mini-bus. The kids on Saturday night were thrilled to see the Dubs up close and personal.
It was dark when the players finished signing autographs. Inside the pavilion, the main man beamed "Welcome to Clondalkin" to the reporters.
"Towers were formed in 1884. They are one of the oldest clubs in the association. This new facility is just fantastic to see. It’s great for the parish of Clondalkin and the wider community. It’s onwards and upwards for Towers," remarked Jim.
He now has another big date to prepare for – Sunday’s Allianz Division 1 final against Tyrone. "Tyrone are a quality side. They have proved their worth this year.
"It will be a big test for us. The guys are obviously ambitious, so they’ll pick themselves.
