Top of the Table clash doesn't disappoint
2 heavy weights of this division went head to head this evening
As many commentators expressed - this isn't the lower devisions of old - this is a generation of fit, highly motivated players who give everything for their club and team mates.
This was end to end like you wouldn't believe in this sport. Round Towers Lusk coming to knock their challengers off their perch!
Looking at the league table, Round Towers hadn't lost a single game in this campaign (an unfortunate COVID ridden W/O against Naomh Mearnóg) and wow did they bring to this clash - a young, fit, mobile, intelligent pack of ultra hungry ANIMALS! There was no doubt before this clash - looking at this highly motivated squad - that Margarets were ripe for the picking!
Margarets have bet teams in this division with a huge mixture of experience and youth - a few teams complaining about several of the squad being too young - but this evenings clash brought to the fore, 2 clubs and teams that were genuinely focused on bringing through youth under the guidance of experience!
A clash of the titans ensued
Round Towers chose to play downhill in the first half and started brightly - their mobile, fast team passing with great accuracy and pace scoring 0-2 within the first 5 minutes.
St Margarets as seems to be the norm in this league felt their opposition out and more quickly than more recent outings got into the game more quickly - Jay Shanahan, Paul Lumley and Tommy Flood scoring sneaky points - 02-02 after 9 minutes
There is nothing to excite the hard core of Gaelic Football than seeing a mobile team like this Round Tower side combine accurate passing and intelligent movement to conjure opportunities - but this is the state of play in Lusk - all of their teams are full of talent now - this is a club truly destined for the stars!
Having said that - Lusk in the opening 15 - could have been another 5 points up was it not for some really narrow wides! They're inaccuracies more to do with the feverish defensive unit of Tucker Daly, Robbie Lumley and Thomas Kennedy putting in last minutes tackles!
Margarets were still feeling out this opponent and it was hard to understand whether they were intimidated by the challenge! Round Towers were swaggering with confidence and seemingly destined to take over at the top!
But this side have had many challenge this year - and this side have been behind many times - against more physical teams - where there could have been no way back (Mearnog, Erin Isles) - and they slowly started to work the ball up the park and settle
But mid way through the first half - the unthinkable occurred - St Margarets had a man sent off with a straight red! As occurred in the previous encounter with Peregrines, star midfielder - Philly Mc Carthy received a straight red for an awkward tackle it has to be said! It was late and it could have been nothing - but the ref decided that it was overly aggressive and Margarets were down to 14 with 15 minutes played
What ensued for the next 7 minutes is how ever how every team reacts to having a numerical advantage - hold the ball and let the side line figure it out in time! Round Towers moved the Margarets half backs and half forwards around with the ultimate ease and calm. Shell shocked - Margarets tried to cover spaces and man mark - but the ultimate punishment came a few moments later when Round Towers inflicted the first hammer blow of the game - a goal from a well worked passage of play by the Lusk forwards!
At this point normal teams would lost their head (as seen by Monicas) - and this is not saying St Margarets didn't as they tried to manoeuvre from a storm - players arguing, the sideline being warned, the referee being berated - but eventually the leaders took control - Declin Cowley, Pat Daly, David Martin calmly figuring out positions and talking to younger players - Margarets gradually came to terms with the Lusk bombardment - limiting this relentless team to a goal and 2 - Lusk up 1-04 to 0:03 - every man out on their feet covering for each other - actually extraordinary!
The half ended with - what would prove to be - a pivotal moment - when keeper Richie Cantwell saved from a squared ball from a super Lusk movement - and rather than being 4 pts up going into the 2nd half - Lusk had to settle with being a point up against a now ferociously motivated / backs against the wall - Margarets defence!
The previous week - Margarets (v Peregrines) had been spooked with the ease at which a 14 man unit can cause the right sort of chaos to win any game - and on this occasion they realised just that - firmly taking the wind out of Round Towers sails and putting doubt in the minds of this whirl wind side!
The sides went in at 0:03 to 1-04 at half time! The low scoring nature of this encounter reflecting the gravity of this tie - essentially a winners take all encounter?
[Half time inspirational talk by coach Robert Byrne - to follow (when author gets some sleep) ..]
[Amazing 2nd half - to follow (when author gets some sleep) ..]
Final score St Margarets 3-09 (18) Round Towers Lusk 3-06 (15)
Great to see Gearoid Farrell back playing in this game - no damage done! Warrior!
Next up for this (Club) unbeaten team is an away game against Parnells this Sunday (03/06/2022) @ 3pm
All welcome!
Team
Richie Cantwell
Robert Lumley | Thomas Kennedy | Pat Daly
Breffni Conaty| John Kennedy | | Sean Flood
Philly McCarthy | David Martin
Ciaran Bruton | Declin Cowley | Scott Kennedy
Paul Lumley | Thomas Flood | Jason Shanahan
Chatter
Div 11 North on Reservoir Dubs
Results
as of 01:05 01/07/2022
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With Garristown and Mearnog drawing - Margarets just need to win 1 of their remaining 2 fixtures t0 secure top spot.
Live results here
Table
as of 01:05 01/07/2022
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as of 13:28 22/06/2022
Live table here
