Round Tower 3-18 v O’Dwyers 2-10
In emphatic style Round Tower Junior Footballers bounced back from their disappointing midweek loss v Lucan to comprehensively dispose of O’Dwyers in this AFL4 clash, writes Mick McGlynn. Whereas Towers had problems scoring a few days earlier in their Wednesday evening loss to Lucan Sarsfields – at one stage kicking eight wides in a row – there were no such problems Saturday with a 2-12 scoreline to show after the first half.
Towers were bolstered by the return of key players and it was magnificent club servant Paul Clifford – operating in corner forward – who was to the fore in kicking the scores that brought Towers the two points that moves them to fourth in the table.
The returning Denis Macken opened the scoring with a free and Clifford then scored his first with an audacious effort from the right sideline. Both players then combined when Clifford flicked a low ball to Macken on the run to point. Niall Lanigan then kicked his first straight after and O’Dwyers number 14 kicked had their second score with another long-range free. Towers losing possession from the kick-out reduced the deficit to a point 0-4 v 0-3 and on 12 minutes the visitors levelled. Niall Corless at centre half forward then broke to the end line and his ball across goal was retrieved by Craig Curtis who laid off to Lanigan to point his second. Clifford rattled the crossbar when he jinked inside his marker and Paddy Stynes pointed from the resulting play. Clifford then kicked two points in a row, with the second an excellent long-rang effort off the outside of the boot. A move down the left involving Shane Boland, Corless, Stynes and Macken then created the opportunity for Lanigan to point. O’Dwyers were keeping in touch and trailed by just a goal 0-9 v 0-6 when Lanigan then netted. Corless won a free that he took quickly and Macken laid off to the inrushing Lanigan to finish high to the corner. Macken tapped over before Milton kicked an excellent 45 and Lanigan became a two goal hero when he used his soccer expertise to dribble past two and finish low beyond the keeper. The visitors number 8 finished low beyond Dean Alford to give some hope coming to end of the half. Another excellent score from Clifford – another from the right from long range – finished the half with Towers now well in command, 2-12 v 1-7.
The home side finished the match early in the second half with four quick scores. Clifford broke to Milton to point with his left, Macken won a breaking kick-out and kicked on the run, and Lanigan pointed after another kick-out was broken by Towers midfield. Then Corless broke in midfield and Shane Byrne took the ball on the run. Advancing on goal he slipped pass to Milton and he finished to roof of the net. With a commanding 3-15 v 1-7 lead Towers used opportunity to utilise their bench. Michael Cleary, who was excellent in defence and has been a very good performer for the Inters since coming into side since beginning of year, carried from defence and found Joey Murphy. He carried into forwards and his pass found Tom Curran and he capitalised with a point. Eoin Walsh showed his skills are not confined to the hurling field when he kicked an excellent score with outside of the boot. Macken completed the scoring when Barry Finn, solid at corner back throughout, carried to Walsh and he set up the corner forward to finish.
The win represents Towers fourth in seven games and places them high up the table relatively early into league campaign.
Round Tower: Dean Alford, Barry Finn, Dave Chapman, David Clarke, Michael Cleary, Barry Keane, Shane Boland, Patrick Stynes, Shane Byrne, Niall Lanigan, Niall Corless, Dermot Milton, Paul Clifford, Craig Curtis. Used subs: Cónán Ó Broin, Joey Murphy, Alan Gavin, Tom Curran, Eoin Walsh.
