Sharp Skerries topple Temple’

Daire Walsh – 07 February 2013 10:35 AM

DUBLIN SCHOOLS JF ‘C’ FINAL

SKERRIES COMMUNITY COLLEGE 4-10

TEMPLEOGUE COLLEGE 3-6

A 2-3 haul from corner-forward Stephen Smith proved decisive in Ballymun Kickhams GAA last Tuesday afternoon, as Skerries Community Colleges held off a strong second-half fightback from 14-man Templeogue College to secure the Dublin Schools Junior Football ‘C’ title.

Playing with the aid of a strong breeze, Skerries had a dream start to the proceedings, as Smith found the back of Andrew Timmons’ net with the very first attack of the game.

Templeogue were finding it hard to create opportunities against the wind, and they suffered a major setback 20 minutes into the action when half-back Conor Power was dismissed for a striking offence.

This left them with a mountain to climb, and following further majors from Smith and Luke Timmons, they were facing into a seemingly insurmountable 17-point deficit at the mid-way point (3-8 to 0-0).

The Templeville Road school were determined to rein in the Skerries challenge to some degree, however, and lively inside forward Mark Maguire finally opened their account with an early second-half three-pointer. Skerries were quick to reply, though, and a goal by influential full-forward Shane Rice proved to be the decisive score of the tie.

To Templeogue’s credit, they refused to throw in the towel, as goals from Paul Bracken (who, like Maguire, finished with a tally of 1-2) and sub Aaron O’Reilly showed exactly what the southsiders were capable of.

The early dominance of Skerries was crucial in the end, though, and with Lorcan Jones and captain Donal McIlgorm joining Smith and Rice in delivering fine displays, they had more than enough in reserve to see off a gallant Templeogue.