Ravens edge out Tower
FINGAL RAVENS…………………………………………………………………. 0-11
ROUND TOWERS, CLONDALKIN…………………………………………. 0-10
By Daire Walsh
THE attacking triumvirate of Alan Casey, Ciaran Norton and Niall Tormey were to the fore at St David’s last night, as Fingal Ravens edged out a spirited Round Towers, Clondalkin by the slenderest of margins in a tense opening round Dublin SFC encounter.
With Dubs man Darren Daly providing plenty of leadership from the half-back line, Ravens opened up a two-point platform.
Having struggled early on, Towers did settle into their stride with four points without reply.
Ravens managed to peg them back before the end of the half, though, and a fine Tormey brace levelled matters at 0-5 apiece in time for the interval.
Ravens increased their advantage to three 14 minutes from time following similar contributions from the increasingly-prominent Norton and Casey.
A fine Corrigan brace reduced the deficit to a minimum late on.
Eoin O’Flaherty provided Ravens with enough of a cushion ahead of the outstanding Corrigan’s sixth and final point deep into stoppage-time.
SCORERS – FINGAL RAVENS: A Casey (2f), N Tormey (2f), C Norton 0-3 each, E O’Flaherty, L Griffin 0-1 each. ROUND TOWERS, CLONDALKIN: C Corrigan 0-6 (1f), C Carthy 0-2, E Finn, C Lestrange 0-1 each.
FINGAL RAVENS: D Mitchell; D Murphy, M Lambe, R Begg; I Kavanagh, Darren Daly, B Caulfield; E O’Flaherty, M Flanagan; L Griffin, A Casey, D Kavanagh; C Norton, N Tormey, Derrick Daly. Subs: K McDonagh for Kavanagh (38), Damien Flanagan for Griffin (49), S Madigan for Derrick Daly (53), A Lawless for Damien Flanagan (55, BC).
ROUND TOWERS: K Graham; D McGregor, M Gahan, S Donegan; E Young, I Ward, J Kelly; L Connolly, E Moran; M Walsh, S McGuinness, E Finn; C Lestrange, C Carthy, C Corrigan. Subs: J Phillips for Lestrange (44), E Moore for McGuinness (44).
REFEREE: P McCabe (Fingallians).