Round Tower 1-5
Raheny 0-16
It was a disappointing end to a successful league campaign for our Junior A footballers last Sunday, October 21st, in Fairview Park. Trailing by three points at half-time, 1-2 v 0-8, Towers were still well in a game in which they had made a number of individual mistakes that was uncharacteristic of their performances so far this season. However mistakes persisted and in the end Raheny were comfortable and deserving victors, with their speedy corner forwards causing a number of problems for the Towers defence.
Towers goaled in the opening half through a Niall Lanigan penalty. In probably their best move of the match, Towers moved the ball from defence through Simon Owens who fed Ger Hickey. His pass found Paudie Swinburn, who played a one-two with Tom Curran and found himself through on goal. Swinburn was fouled but the ball and the chance was finished to the net but the referee had blown for the whistle for the penalty, which Lanigan dispatched beyond the keeper. Lanigan also pointed an excellent free from a tight angle by the touchline and James Fleming scored Towers other point of the half.
But Towers forwards were struggling to find the space to afford them a score and for periods were starved of supply. The second half started brightly when Justin McGrane pointed a free from 25 metres to leave just two points between both sides. But this was as close as it got. Raheny’s number 9 pointed when Towers were comfortable in possession bringing the ball from defence but were careless in giving it away to the opposing midfielder. Raheny’s 15 pointed with his right foot and two minutes later they pointed again from a tight angle. Towers lads were dispirited at this stage and a long-range point left six between both sides. McGrane pointed again after Tom Curran won a 50/50 ball to set the score up but Towers kicked a number of wides and there was just one score remaining when Lanigan, whose direct running caused problems for the Raheny defence throughout the game, won a free that McGrane pointed from 30 metres. Raheny have just one game remaining and sit on top of the AFL5 table with 24 points. With just two defeats in the league, our Junior A footballers are second in the table with 24 points and despite this disappointing end to the season, can consider themselves immensely proud of their campaign.
Round Tower: Dean Alford, Alan Milton, John Egan, Simon Owens, Mark Chapman, Barry Finn, Sean Leonard, Eoghan Moore, Ger Hickey, Justin McGrane, Niall Lanigan, Barry Gallagher, James Fleming, Paudie Swinburn: Subs used: Paul Clifford, Damien Murray, Aidan Lawlor, Ger Homan, Paul Lanigan,
