Round Tower, Clondalkin are continuing to make their move toward the top end of the AFL Division 2 table following a strong 3-13 to 0-8 win over St Anne’s at Monastery Road this week.
With previous divisional pace-setters Templeogue Synge Street suffering a 0-15 to 3-12 reversal at the hands Scoil Ui Chonaill, it has narrowed things up markedly at the head of the table.
Fingallians went top courtesy of a derby win over Fingal Ravens, allowing Towers to close in too with just two points between them in third and the leaders.
After registering a brace of goals in the same venue against Whitehall three days earlier, Micheal Walsh also rattled the net for an in-form Towers. With former county stars Derek Murray and Ian Ward delivering impressive displays, they led 1-7 to 0-5 at the interval.
The forceful play of midfielder Conor Flannery also aided the home team’s cause, as they sought a seventh league victory of 2018.
Jason Joyce joined Walsh in securing a third major in the space of two games, while netminder Gary Cleary kick-started a fast-paced move that eventually led to a goal from marauding corner-back Niall Byrne.
Towers are now gathering pace ahead of their trip to Glenauline Park and St Patrick’s, Palmerstown on July 28. The Clondalkin club also had the measure of Whitehall Colmcille at Monastery Road – 4-12 to 1-11 the final score.
Although they suffered an early set-back when Dublin senior hurler Eoghan O’Donnell rattled the net for the Collins Avenue outfit, Towers recovered sufficiently to take a slender cushion into the break.
Thanks to a brace of Walsh goals, they found themselves in the box seat on the half-hour mark. Alongside impressive netminder Gary Cleary, Chris Berry and the vastly-experienced Derek Murray significantly curbed the influence of the Whitehall attack in the second period.
Conor Flannery was also a dominant figure in midfield, which in return afforded the Towers forwards the platform to enhance their side’s advantage. Owing largely to Jason Joyce’s two-goal salvo, Towers had 10 points to spare over their northside opponents on the final whistle.
In AFL1, Naomh Maur defeated Lucan Sarsfields on a scoreline of 2-10 to 0-13 in Rush. With Ciaran Archer leading the way in front, Maur’s brought a 0-9 to 0-7 cushion into the interval.
Two second half goals – including one from Danny Byrne – placed the hosts in the driving seat, before Lucan rallied to set-up an exciting conclusion.
Maur’s held firm to claim maximum points, though, and are now just behind Na Fianna on score difference.
Elsewhere, Thomas Davis got the better of St Jude’s (1-15 to 2-7) and Ballymun Kickhams enjoyed a home success over Cuala – 0-14 to 1-7.
