Round Tower 2-16 v Ballyboden St Enda’s 2-13, Senior B Hurling Championship Group 1,
Round Tower Intermediate hurlers secured a very valuable, important and hard fought victory in the Dublin Senior B Hurling Championship in an excellent tie against table toppers Ballyboden St Enda’s last Wednesday evening, 2nd July, at Monastery Road. With 15 minutes remaining both sides were tied and they exchanged scores in the remaining quarter but Towers showed fantastic character to edge clear for a three point victory that makes it two wins from four clashes in championship action.
Towers settled early with points from Eric Finn and an Alex Darbey free. Brian McLaughlin then reacted quickest to stroke a dropping ball beyond the Boden keeper to leave it 1-2 v 0-2. However Boden levelled on 12 minutes when a long-range strike evaded Towers keeper Stephen Chapman to find the net and the score was level at 1-2 apiece. The visitors moved four clear before Eoin Moran received a quick puck-out and pointed long-range from midfield. McLaughlin was again on the scoresheet when an Darbey free was deflected by the keeper and the corner forward followed up to point. When Eric Finn and Barry Kehoe ran direct at a retreating Boden defence it led to another McLaughlin strike being deflected over for a point. When Moran picked up a poor clearance he handpassed to onrushing half-forward Barry Kehoe to strike over and level it at 1-6 apiece. Finn then received a Darbey sideline to turn sharply and point to edge the home side ahead and when Moran handpassed to him overlapping he finished low to the net to give Towers a 2-8 v 1-7 half-time advantage.
Boden were quick to respond in the opening quarter of the second half, scoring 1-3. In the interim Darbey pointed two frees so we had a level game moving into final 15 minutes. The crossfield wind picked up and McLaughlin from the left sideline hit an excellent point but Boden again responded. Fergal McDonagh gathered low and when dragged back Darbey punished. Goalkeeper Chapman pulled off an excellent double save, deflecting a high dropping strike with attackers onrushing and he showed quick reflexes to deflect away the subsequent incoming strike for goal. Boden flashed a strike across goal and then Shane Byrne brought from defence into attack and when fouled Darbey raised the umpires arm from distance. Crucially with normal time finishing momentum swung towards Towers. Moran, operating now at full-back, won a high ball in the air when under pressure and his strike into the forwards broke to Darbey who pointed from 30 metres. Centre-half-back Eoin Walsh was quickest to seize upon another breaking ball and moving in on goal he was tugged back and Darbey applied the finish from the free. Trailing by three, Boden needed to net and with the final play a drive towards goal was saved by Chapman and crucially Moran was quickest to rebound and his clearance coincided with the final blow of the whistle from the referee.
It was the start of a good few days for our hurlers. On Saturday evening they oversaw the challenge of Trinity Gaels 1-11 v 0-10 with Eoin Moran grabbing the goal. That win leaves them second in Division 4 with four wins from four and with two games on hand on league leaders St Brigid’s, who are two points clear. Within Championship, Towers are third with six points from 12 in a six team group. They are back out Wednesday 16th July in Championship action v St Sylvesters.
Round Tower: Stephen Chapman, Shane Byrne, Craig Curtis, Luke Currivan, Pádraic ‘Podge’ McKeever, Eoin Walsh, Jack Whelan, Alex Darbey, Peter Nyhan, Fergal McDonagh, Eric Finn, Barry Kehoe, Brian McLaughlin, Eoin Moran, Shane Boland. Use subs: Micheál Walsh, Mark Gahan
