Round Tower beat St Margarets Raven to claim the Division Four minor shield
Tower minor ladies secure shield
LAST Saturday at St Margaret’s GAA pitch Clondalkin Round Towers and St Margaret’s Ravens lined out in the final of the Division 4 minor shield.
Towers found themselves on the backfoot after the opening period of the game as Ravens managed to get themselves two goals and a point from Beth McKenna.
Towers would respond well however with points from Emma Gilvarry and Neasa Breen but McKenna would score her third goal of the game and another point to extend the Ravens’ lead.
Towers stepped up their defensive efforts with the running and defensive actions of Saoirse Maher and Eabha Milton.
Bronnwyn O Loughlin and Shonagh Byrne combined to close off supply to the home side’s forwards with impressive tackling. Towers began to find their range as the half progressed with Tara Kelly and Neasa Breen both firing over accurate scores.
This combined with a goal from Emma Gilvarry following a mazy Orlagh Downes run ensured that Towers led at the break 1-10 to 3-2 despite conceding the three goals early on in the match.
The second half would see Ravens’ start strongly and would force stout defending from Ashely Trusser and Ella Behan, working the ball out well through the calm presence of Laura Casey, Clondalkin’s powerful number six, Aoife McCabe linked well with Sophie Doyle for Towers to take a long range point.
Both teams would exchange further scores before Towers keeper and captain Maia Ezam was called into action.
First making an impressive save to prevent another goal for the home side Ezam was on call only minutes later after Clondalkin conceded a penalty.
The captain was up to the challenge and pulled off a brilliant save in between the posts to inspire her side on to victory.
Making good use of their bench, Towers brought in the likes of Sadhbh Keane who managed to get herself a point and a goal after coming on following good work from Ella McKenna.
Ruby Swayne and Jemma Pluck also arrived as reinforcements off the bench ensuring that Clondalkin finished strongly with a last minute goal from Eabha Brady providing the cherry on top as their strong second half performance saw them cruise to a win against tough opposition.
