Round Towers 4-11 Dunderry 3-10

Round Towers claimed the Christy Reynolds Cup after a monumental 4-11 to 3-10 comeback victory over a determined Dunderry outfit on Saturday in Dunganny.

It was the Kells side that started the brighter with the ball in the back of the opposition net within the first 30 seconds of play, courtesy of Towers' talisman Hughie Corcoran. A monster point followed from Corcoran which had his side up and running. Dunderry's Shane Bell replied with a free, before Towers' target man Adam O'Higgins found the net for his side's second goal. A fantastic start for the boys in green.

Final nerves settled - or maybe not - as the healthy early lead was soon extinguished, as the Dunderry men made the most of the ball with a flurry of scores with Liam Rattigan, Liam Coogan and Bell raising white flags and full forward Liam Coogan finding the net for the first of his brace - the men in black and white were building up a head of steam. 

Round Towers were dealt a further blow when forced into an early personnel change, joint-captain Eoin Meegan limping off with a leg injury - Jack Canavan entering the game in his place. Towers midfielder Conor Kirwan pointed for the Towers to get his side back on track. Captain Luke Galligan was his industrious self on the 40 and breaking the line to score from range narrowing the gap further. Dunderry made the most of their superior height advantage and were dominant in midfield, duly extending their lead with further points from the measured boot of Shane Bell either side of a Jack Conneely point.

A superb Towers' point from the unrelenting Lewis O'Donnell stemmed the flow before Dunderry made Round Towers pay for some slack defending with two quick-fire goals - the first from wing back Ross O'Connor and a second of the game for Liam Coogan. Towers shootstopper Tiarnan Timmons unhappy with his defence for leaving him so exposed at a crucial time in the game. Dunderry tails were up and rightly so, and as referee Patrick Clarke blew for halftime, it was Paddy Darcy's troops that found themselves seven points to the good on a scoreline of 3-08 to 2-04. 

On the other side manager Noel Corcoran had a job on his hands, he needed to rally the men in green, who were outplayed and outmuscled in key areas of the field.

Panic is not something the Towers do and with the ball back in play for the second half it was the Kells parish side that started the brighter. Talisman Hughie Corcoran, now with the wind at his back, evaded the clutches of the tight-marking Dunderry captain Danny Egenton opening his second half account, two expertly dispatched frees followed cutting the deficit to four.

The major swing came in the third quarter with full forward Adam O'Higgins raising the green flag again - having had two earlier goals scratched off - to make it a one point game. O'Higgins' height, hands and head causing all sorts of problems for No.3 Ben Feeney and his fullback line. Dunderry were reeling, their lead down ti one and now failing to regain that first half dominance around the middle of the field. Forwards Luke Galligan and Lewis O'Donnell proving a real handful, linking up with the two Conors - Kirwan and Leonard - who were now relishing the combative nature of the game and winning their aerial duels in midfield.

Whatever was said to the Towers back six at half-time worked - Oisín Brady and Alix Balfe spearheading a much improved defensive unit. The Towers snuffing out attack after attack. A tireless pressing game from the powerful defensive quartet of Carl McGovern, Josh Hennessy, Alex Flood-Norton and the tigerish Canavan now paying dividends. Dunderry ultimately being limited to only two second half scores from Shane Bell placed balls. As the whistle blew for the water-break it was the Towers with the momentum, outscoring their opponents 1-03 to 0-01 in the third quarter. 

A fine showing from the selfless wing-forward Cameron Feehan was rewarded with a fine score of his own on the 50 minute mark. Kirwan too doubling his final tally with a fine fisted effort to draw things level 3-09 apiece.

A massive moment in the fate of the Reynolds Cup occurred when playmaker Luke Galligan lofted a dangerous ball into Adam O'Higgins, Adam taking three Dunderry defenders out of the equation to set up Towers' No.10 Padraig Caffrey finishing with aplomb to the back of the net. No more than Padraig deserved for his performance on the day.

But credit to the Dunderry men, they never stopped and gave the men in green some scares in the closing minutes of the game with a couple of near misses. However, it was a Towers team that had hit top form, playing a high intensity running game, during in all positions. A strapped-up Jake Balfe, who suffered a bad injury in preparing for the final,  made a big impression when entering proceedings in the closing stages to tighten up a tiring Towers' full back line. 

O'Higgins topped off a fine day at the office (2-01) with a pointed free and his team mate Corcoran (1-05) sealing an incredible final comeback for his side with a free to make it a memorable day for Round Towers - back in the winner's enclosure on scoreline of 4-11 to 3-10.

Joy for Round Towers, disappointment for Dunderry - who must be noted as a very fair and sporting side during and after the  game - a credit to their families and club.

Joint captains Luke Galligan and Eoin Meegan thanked their opponents, team-mates, families and supporters for their efforts. A note of thanks also for both parent clubs Kilmainham and Drumbaragh Emmets, and an acknowledgement of team sponsors Cooper Insulation for their continued support - all before hoisting the Christy Reynolds Cup aloft in the splendid September sunshine as 2020 minor champions.

Round Towers: Tiarnan Timmons, Alex Flood-Norton, Oisín Brady, Carl McGovern, Josh Hennessy, Alex Balfe,  Eoin Meegan (C), Conor Kirwan 0-02, Conor Leonard, Padraig Caffrey 1-00, Hughie Corcoran 1-05, Cameron Feehan 0-01, Luke Galligan (C) 0-01, Adam O'Higgins 2-01, Lewis O'Donnell 0-01.

Subs: Scott Lynch, James Kearney, Kian Brodigan, Mikey Mongey, Sean Heffernan, Shea McManus, Jack Canavan, Pat Carry, Jack Galligan, Michael Hoey and Kyle Phillips.

Subs Used: Jack Canavan for Eoin Meegan, Jake Balfe for Alex Flood-Norton, Michael Hoey and Shea McManus.

Manager: Noel Corcoran

Selectors: Liam Ward, Adrian Corcoran & Wayne Hennessey 

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