Colmcille’s edge out brave Lucan
GAELIC GAMES: DUBLIN SCHOOLS SFC ‘C’ FINAL
ST COLMCILLE’S………………………………………….. 1-14
LUCAN CBS………………………………………………….. 2-06
By Daire Walsh
ST COLMCILLE’S of Knocklyon were crowned Dublin Schools Senior Football ‘C’ champions on the St Brigid’s Astro Pitch last Monday afternoon, when a strong second-half display helped them to secure a five-point triumph over Lucan CBS in a gripping decider.
By and large, this Colmcille’s outfit was almost identical to the one that represented the school in a Leinster Post-Primary Schools Hurling showpiece against Wexford CBS in the same grade at Arklow two days beforehand.
The south Dubliners suffered a 4-9 to 1-3 reversal to the Slaneysiders in that clash, but they reverted their attention to the big-ball game with consummate ease.
Playing with the aid of a breeze, Lucan made a strong start to the proceedings, and managed to register two goals before the end of the opening period. However, it certainly wasn’t one-way traffic during the first half, and with ace marksman Adam Carney proving to be adept from dead-ball situations, and the likes of Cian Bates, Darragh Grogan and Rob Leddy also chipping in with scores, the sides were on level terms (0-8 to 2-2) at the midway point.
This ensured that AJ O’Malley’s side were well in contention upon the resumption, although they were still wary of the goal threat posed by Lucan.
Much like their counterparts in the initial period, Colmcille’s began the second half with much gusto, and when Carney coolly converted a penalty in the early moments after the restart, the pendulum has swung in their favour.
Lucan continued to pose a threat as the action wore on, but a dominant midfield performance, and a strong work rate through the pitch, offered the Scholarstown Road boys a richly deserved success.
When you consider they were missing a number of players through injury, this was an extremely impressive victory for Colmcille’s, but the squad will have another short turnaround, as they are set to embark on Leinster duty in Ardee, Co Louth this very afternoon.