Round Tower 1-13 v Liffey Gaels 0-9, AFL 8.
Pictures can be viewed here.
Round Tower Junior A footballers maintained their unbeaten start to the season as midfielder Ger Hickey kicked a series 2nd half points to help earn Colin Nugent and Willie Kennedy’s team a seven point win, writes Mick McGlynn.
Trailing by a point at half-time, the visitors were level within 30 seconds of the restart but a 15 minute scoring blitz by Towers saw them register six unanswered points and provided the platform to ease them to a comfortable win in the end. Hickey kick started the scoring blitz when on 34 minutes he finished off an excellent team move. It started with Stephen Homan winning possession in the half-backs and Simon Owens carried into the attack. A clever one-two between Hickey and Barry Quinlan prised the opening for the midfielder to kick the point from 30 metres from a standing position. Owens then kicked a long-range free and another excellent team move finished with a Hickey point. It began with corner-back Rory Dunne winning a 50/50 ball and Homan supported from half-back and found his brother Ger in space in the half-forwards. The ball was moved inside to Chris Johnston who was supported by fellow corner-forward Ray Davis and he found the onrushing Hickey who kicked the point on the run. Ciaran Dunne robbed the keeper of possession and set up Ger Homan who was pulled down and Hickey tapped the free over. Patient build up in attack between defender turned attacker Rory Dunne and Owens and Davis created the space for midfielder Hickey to again point. He then followed it up with a free to leave the home side leading 12-6 moving into the final quarter. Gaels kicked a free but they struggled to create opportunities. Towers responded when Quinlan played a one-two with Davis before being set up by Johnston to kick a point from a tight angle. With six minutes remaining Ciaran Dunne further emphasised Towers dominance when Johnston put him thru on goal and he calmly side-footed beyond the keeper. He would have netted a second seconds later but for a fingertip save. Substitute Damien Murray received a very harsh second yellow and even with 14 men Towers were the better side in remaining minutes and could afford the luxury of kicking a few wides.
The first half-was a much tighter affair. Ger Homan opened Towers scoring after Ciaran Dunne and Owens combined to set him up. Owens had another assist when falling he did well to offload to Davis who punished the visitors. When Mick Kelly attacked from midfield he slipped in Dunne and his goal-bound effort was blocked but Quinlan tapped the rebound over. An excellent point on the turn by Johnston put Towers 4-1 ahead. Quinlan pointed from a tight angle and Dunne also kicked a point when falling but Gaels responded in between and trailed 6-5 at the break. It could have been better for the visitors but for an excellent block by Simon Breslin on a goalbound effort.
Next up for Colin Nugent & Willie Kennedy’s team is an away fixture v Naomh Olaf in three weeks.
Round Tower: Darren Core, Rory Dunne, Neil Gill, Simon Breslin, Aidan Egan, Stephen Homan, Chris Reid, Ger Hickey, Mick Kelly, Ger Homan, Barry Quinlan, Simon Owens, Chris Johnston, Ciaran Dunne, Ray Davis. Used subs: Damien Murray, Daniel Gregg, Fergal Power, Brian Reilly Troy, Aidan Foley.
