Good Counsel 1-7
Round Tower 1-18
Pictures, as taken by Rory Dunne from the match, can be viewed here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/roundtowers/sets/72157629706187446/
A surge of scores ten minutes after half-time was enough to give Towers the breathing space to move on to a well-deserved and, in the end, comprehensive Dublin Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 1 victory.
Just five points separated Towers and Counsel, who were reduced to 14 men at that stage, at half time, with the visitors leading 0-9 v 0-4. Ten minutes into the second half two Eric Finn pointed frees, a Barry Finn point from 40 meters after a Jack Whelan surge from midfield, left the visitors 0-12 to 0-4 ahead.
But Good Counsel were resolute, and a mix-up in the Towers defence saw them net the first goal and reduce the margin to five points, 0-12 to 1-4. Two further points gave the home side left just three points in it but Eoin Walsh, who was excellent at half-back, fielded a Good Counsel clearance and won a free 60 metres out to win a free that was subsequently pointed by Eric Finn. Eoin Ryan, a second-half substitute, then scored an excellent point from a tight angle by the right sideline. Eoin Young, another part of the solid Towers half-back line, won the ball in defence and midfielder Jack Whelan gathered his pass to turn and point from 40 metres. Mark Keane and Eric Finn pointed and it was Finn who rounded off a good day for the visitors when he gathered 20 metres from goal, sidestepped his man and finished to the net.
It was a tight opening 20 minutes and Towers opened the scoring through Padraic McGeever but Good Counsel responded with two points. Barry Finn pointed from a tight angle on the right side after Mark Keane was alive to a quick home side free and fed the corner forward. Barry could have had a goal a few minutes later but his strike was saved by the home keeper and from the resulting break Eric Finn pointed to leave Towers 0-3 to 0-2 ahead. Towers were not to surrender that lead and Alex Darbey pointed from 40 metres after his midfield partner Jack Whelan won a home-side puck out and following on from a great solo run by Eric Finn, Fergal McDonagh pointed. A red –card for the Good Counsel full-forward ten minutes from half time gave the home side further initiative and Barry Finn pointed from a free and a Kevin O’Neill clearance was gathered by Padraic McGeever to stretch Towers lead 0 –8 to 0-4. Another Eric Finn free before the break left Towers in a commanding position and the ten minute rally at the start of the second-half left them in a position to win comfortably.
It proved to be a few good days for the Towers Intermediate hurlers, having beaten Commercials the previous Wednesday evening in the championship also.
Round Tower: Kevin Scott, Shane Byrne, Ian McManus, Kevin O’Neill, Craig Curtis, Eoin Young, Eoin Walsh, Alex Darbey, Jack Whelan, Padraic McGeever, Eoin McManus, Mark Keane, Eric Finn, Fergal McDonagh, Barry Finn. Subs: Martin Doyle for B Finn, Eoin Ryan for Craig Curtis.
