GAA
St Jude’s triumph in Dublin Junior Five All County final
By Daire Walsh
Two Donacha Ryan goals in the space of three minutes helped to guide St Jude’s towards a 2-10 to 0-7 triumph over Lucan Sarsfields in the Dublin Junior Five All County Football Championship decider at 12th Lock on Sunday afternoon.
Consisting mostly of former underage teams managed by Don Lehane, Sean Breheny Sr and Padraig Monaghan, this Jude’s team had progressed to this stage courtesy of a 2-12 to 1-10 semi-final win against St Brigid’s at Tymon Park on October 2.
Lucan recorded a 3-8 to 1-11 success at the expense of Clann Mhuire in Arthur Griffith Park on the same day, with Tommy Mulhall amassing a personal tally of 2-4. The inside forward kicked his side into an early lead off a 35-metre free, but Jude’s subsequently moved into the driving seat with three unanswered points from the aforementioned Ryan.
While Conor McBride also found the target for Kevin Hayes’ men, Lucan kept themselves in touch with Mulhall, Gareth Hamilton and Johnny Doyle all grafting to good effect in attack.
In fact, thanks to a well-executed Paul Sloan mark in the closing moments of the opening period, the sides were level at 0-4 apiece during the interval.
Lucan had squeezed in front by the 41st minute, but a devastating purple patch heralded by a point from lively substitute Tom McKeon ultimately propelled Jude’s into an unassailable position.
Either side of Andrew Glover having a ferocious effort tipped over the crossbar by Lucan netminder Anthony Norton, Ryan finished from close-range for 43rd and 46th minute goals. The hosts were suddenly left with a mountain to climb and despite the best endeavours of Mulhall, Shane Kelly and Doyle, they couldn’t address the balance.
Ross O’Brien got his name on the Jude’s scoresheet and a late two-point salvo brought the outstanding Ryan’s individual haul up to 2-5. The graft of Stephen Early at midfield was also key to their victory and the early introduction of McKeon helped to add an extra dimension to their play.
A number of this Jude’s squad are now in their 40s with most of them returning to competitive football last year after a lengthy absence. They have since gone on to create history as the first team in the club to win back-to-back championships and are showing no signs of stopping based on their performance last Sunday.