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Late blitz from Round Towers earns McArdle Cup final replay
By David Thorpe
Round towers 4-8
Dulwich harps 1-17
McArdle Cup Final
A FLURRY of second-half goals secured a replay for Round Towers after
a thrilling match played in awful conditions at Ruislip on Sunday.
Towers enjoyed the best of the early exchanges, with a trio of Sean Maguire
frees edging them into an early lead.
Dulwich came into the match more as the half wore on and when Jason Glynn’s
point was complemented by Ed Coogan’s goal on 20 minutes Dulwich
went the front.
Noel Connery though levelled matters for Towers.
Both teams were playing at their peak and the football flowed, the Harps
hitting five quick points from their scorer-in-chief Graham Harris, while
Towers ensured they remained in contention with a fine Phillip Cahill
goal, leaving the half-time scores 1-7 to 1-5.
Dulwich started the second-half much better and further points from Harris,
as well as one from Gerry Hassett, put them into a 1-11 to 1-7 lead.
At that stage you would have got long odds against a Towers comeback.
But the team founded by Kildare men and wearing the Laois county colours
scored three goals in eight minutes to secure a draw they scarcely deserved.
Chris Loyd scored the first of those on 49 minutes, Aenghus Smith added
another goal, then Chris Loyd rounded off a fine personal performance
with his second maximum.
All Dulwich could muster by way of a reply was a few more points from
Harris.
Churlish critics would say that Dulwich didn’t deserve to win a
match in which they relied so heavily on the scores of their freetaker.
However Towers were fortunate to get the three goals when they did and
one of London’s oldest clubs lives to fight another day.
Teams:
Round Towers: Patrick Smith, Noel Maher, Niall Dillon, Paddy Donaghy,
Kieran Maguire, Jimmy Maguire, Declan Connery, Danny Cormac, Ray Kavanagh,
Sean Maguire(0-6 5f), Noel Connery, Chris Loyd(2-1), Aenghus Smith(1-2),
Phillip Cahill(1-0)
Dulwich Harps: Gareth Savage, Pat Murphy, Ken Walker, Jeff Kelly, Declan
Boyle, Terry Tinnelly, Kieran Cronin, Ed Coogan(1-0), Alan McCabe, Niall
McCann(0-1), Graham Harris(0-9 8f)), Jason Glynn(0-1), Joe Mernagh, Coleman
Cleary, Gerry Hassett(0-1).
Referee: Mattie Maher |
