Round Towers play Neasden Gaels (Sunday 19th July 2009)
Round Towers opened their championship campaign against Neasden Gaels on Sunday the 19th July in Ruislip. With a strong wind blowing towers opted to play into the wind giving Andy Smith in goals a hard time keeping the ball on the Tee. From the outset both teams were not letting either opponents settle on the ball and forced hurried passes. Neaseden opened the scoring after the first ten minutes with a well taken point this was to be followed by two more in quick succession, before towers registered their first score of the game. With John Quinn at centre field collecting from the Towers kickout he found Niall Egan in space out on the wing turning his marker and at pace cut up the wing before laying the ball off to John Devine in space behind the full back, as john turned and headed for goal was fouled in the square resulting in a penalty. John Quinn stepped forward and firing straight at the keeper only for the ball to rebound into his hands where he slotted into an empty net to bring the sides level.
Both teams then exchanged points with two free from John Quinn before a poor clearence from the Towers keeper let Neasden in on goal to finish into the bottom corner and extent their lead three points. Neaseden then added two more points before John Devine pulled one back for the towers to leave the score at half time Neasden Gaels 1:08 to Towers 1:04.
With only four points between the teams at half time and towers having the wind advantage things looked good for the second half. From the throw in Neasden were not allowing the Towers to settle on the ball and forced mistakes. Towers hurried their shots only to shoot wide of the posts. Towers defence held Strong and prevented Neasden from extending their lead and cleared their line on numerous occasions. Emmet McLoughlan opened the scoring for the towers in the second half with a well taken forty five, this was followed by a third point from John Quinn soon after to bring the towers within two points. Neaseden then extended their lead with some fine passing finding players free and within shooting distance. In the last ten minutes with the Introduction of Sean McGuire and Darren Horan at full forward towers pulled back two scores after a quick one two between Ollie Bennett junior and Darrren Horan, Ollie finding his range shot over for towers this was to be followed soon after with a well taken score from Sean McGuire to leave the score at full time Neasden 1:12 to Towers 1:08.
