Congratulations to our Intermediate Ladies Football Team, who beat Clontarf in Parnell Park on Wednesday, July 20 to take the Dublin Ladies Intermediate Championship. Towers won by 2-8 to 1-9 and congratulations to Towers Hannah Tyrrell, who was awarded the player of the match.
Tommy Keogh’s pictures from this historic night can now be viewed at our Flickr page: www.flickr.com/photos/roundtowers
Match report and pictures available at www.dublinladiesgaelic.ie
The first of the TESCO Dublin club championship finals was played last night in the superb setting of Parnell Park. The Donnycarney venue over the years has seen many an epic tussle and indeed last night’s Intermediate final proved to be another classic.
Two well-prepared teams took to the field to contest the final both had a mix of youth and experience amongst their ranks and in front of a large enthusiastic crowd both teams gave an exhibition of football and show cased all that is good in Ladies football.
Towers from the throw in appeared to have their nerves in control and shooting into the church end of the stadium they took the game to Clontarf. Within five minutes the Clondalkin crew had clocked up 1-2 with full forward Emily Hamill on target to raise the green flag. Towers centre forward Hannah Tyrell was using her height, speed and strength to her advantage and was orchestrating the Towers forward line with aplomb.
However the Clontarf defence soon settled and gained their composure with Fionnula Kennedy at full back along with Captain Ciara Fenton at corner back they started to get to grips with the Towers forward line. Slowly Clontarf found their rhythm and soon were back into the game with half forwards Sarah McCaffrey and Sarah McGrath finding their shooting range.
At the interval both sides were level Clontarf 0-06 Round Towers 1-03 the second half was going to be an interesting 30 minutes.
The sides exchanged points in the second half and there was always just a kick of a ball between the teams. Maria Kavanagh was having a fine game for Towers at centre back in spite of this Clontarf substitute Stephanie Adams was beginning to influence the Clontarf forward line and delivered a good supply of ball in to Tarfs forward line.
The aforementioned Hannah Tyrell once again showcased her skills when she went through the heart of the Clontarf defence and her shot went passed Clontarf keeper Christine McBride. Towers now appeared to have the edge but to the their credit Clontarf kept plugging away and where rewarded for their determination when full forward Chris Doyle fired the ball passed Towers keeper Emma Redmond this was followed up by a point from Margaret Mohan. With minutes remaining on the clock there was just two points between the sides.
The final moments of the game were frantic with spectators from both clubs afraid to leave the stadium. Deep into injury time Clontarf held possession and worked the ball smartly up the field. A Clontarf player was fouled just inside the Towers 45m line so this was it, the last chance!
All of Clontarf held their breaths as midfielder Carrie O’Connor lopped the ball in towards goal hoping that a Clontarf hand would make a connection however it wasn’t to be Towers captain Ruth Collins broke the ball and held possesion and in doing so broke Clontarf’ s hearts.
Philip Fitzsimons blew his whistle; Round Towers from Clondalkin were the champions of Dublin.
Round Towers: Emma Redmond, Eimear McGrath, Geraldine McTavish, Clare McGinty, Andrea Bowe, Maria Kavanagh, Suzanne Murray, Ruth Collins (Capt), Sinead Kearns, Catherine Roche, Hannah Tyrell, Aisleen Milton, Nathalie Behan, Emily Hamill, Caoimhe Joyce.
Scorers: Hannah Tyrell 1- 3, Emily Hamill 1-2, Nathalie Behan 0-2, Aisleen Milton 0-01.
Clontarf: Christine McBride, Siobhan Kennedy, Fionnula Kennedy, Ciara Fenton (Capt), Anne Marie Heery, Orla Deegan, Hannah Craddock, Carrie O’Connor, Erica Grant, Sarah McGrath, Fiona Coghlan, Sarah McCaffrey, Margaret Mohan, Chris Doyle, Avril Robinson.
Scorers: Chris Doyle 1-1, Carrie O’Connor 0-02, Sarah McCaffrey 0-2, Helen Cliff 0-02, Sarah McGrath 0-1, Margaret Mohan 0-01.
Full time score: Round Towers 2-08 Clontarf 1-09
Half time score: Round Towers 1-03 Clontarf 0-06
Player of the Match: Hannah Tyrell (Round Towers)
Referee: Philip Fitzsimons (Liffey Gaels)
