Round Towers scrape through tough St Kevin's test in Kildare IFC Prelim

Round Towers 2-7

St Kevin's 1-9

Round Towers emerged victorious in their Kildare IFC Preliminary Round clash with St Kevin's to progress to a winner's group ahead of Sunday's draw.

St Kevin’s got their first Championship game under the new rules underway in appropriate style with a lovely two-pointer from Declan Flaherty. 

They took a three-point lead past the fifth minute of this game with a high, looping effort from Conor Murray being flagged over too.

Towers were wasteful in possession early on and when they did hold onto the ball their play was all too lateral.

Nonetheless, they got their first score of the game from a free that was taken by Mikey Murphy.

St Kevin’s answered quickly to restore their leading margin of three with a fine curling effort from Jamie Smyth making this game 0-4 to 0-1 after 12 minutes.

The then leading side shot themselves in the foot by having the concession of a free brought up in front of the posts for dissent, which was tapped over by Neil Scanlon.

Mikey Murphy converted his second free to reduce the gap to one at 0-4 to 0-3 after 20 minutes.

Once again Kevin’s had a sharp answer with a superb long-range score from Conor Murray.

Towers’ route back was once again through a set-piece and Mikey Murphy knocked over his third in the 26th minute.

After Barry Noone scored from a tight angle, St Kevin’s looked set to carry a deserved two-point lead in at half-time.

However, there was a stinger at the end of the half with Towers finding the net in peculiar style with the last kick of the opening 30 minutes. Ben Ryan took aim at the posts, but delighted in watching his effort drift south beneath the bar and into the corner of the net.

The intention of the shot matters little and the fact remains that Towers took a 1-4 to 0-6 lead in at the break after a lacklustre opening half.

The leading side capitalised on their momentum with a point from Tadhg Donlon after the restart and a second goal in the 36th minute. Evan Flynn drove towards goal but smartly handpassed across to Max Cosgrove to slap into the net to give their side a 2-5 to 0-6 lead.

Seemingly in control, Towers were then reduced to 14 when Jack O’Neill was dismissed in the 42nd minute.

Kevin’s quickly followed with a point from Cormac Noone but Max Cosgrove answered for the leading side to settle their nerves.

Conor Murray reduced the gap to four, at 2-6 to 0-8, when his goal-bound effort was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Colin English in the 46th minute.

The gap remained at four right to the hour mark until substitute Kevin Ward ignited this game when he rifled the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-7 to 1-9.

Despite the late surge, Towers held on for a one-point victory to progress into the winner’s group in this year’s Intermediate Championship.

Round Towers, Max Cosgrove 1-1, Mikey Murphy 0-3 (0-3 frees), Ben Ryan 1-0, Neil Scanlon 0-1 (0-1 frees), Tadhg Donlon 0-1, Sean Glennon 0-1.

St Kevin's, Conor Murray 0-4, Declan Flaherty 0-2 (one 2pt), Jamie Smyth 0-1, Barry Noone 0-1, Cormac Noone 0-1.

ROUND TOWERS: Colin English; Jack O'Neill, Stephen Comerford, Padraig Daly; Ben Ryan, Mikey Kelly, Mikey Murphy; Jamie Flynn, Mark Byrne; Max Byrne, Tadhg Donlon, Neil Scanlon; Max Cosgrove, Evan Flynn, Sean Glennon. Subs: Cian Walsh for Mark Byrne (15 minutes), Dave O'Neill for Mad Byrne (Half-time), Jay O'Brien for Neil Scanlon (52 minutes), Mikey Joyce for Padraig Daly (52 minutes).

ST KEVIN'S: Aaron Fox; Alan Bennett, Tom Barron, Dean Regan; Conor Gordon, Enda Keane, Diarmuid Smyth; Dylan Brereton, Jamie Smyth; Ciaran Smyth, Cormac Noone, Conor Murray; Conor Brady, Declan Flaherty, Barry Noone. Subs: Niall Keane for Dean Egan (40 minutes), Kevin Ward for Ciaran Smyth (42 minutes).

Referee: Lee Moore

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