By DUBLIN SCHOOLS SF ‘C’ FINAL

Thursday March 01 2012

ST MAC DARA’S CC 0-14, ST PAUL’S COLLEGE 1-5

ST MAC DARA’S Community College overcame the second-half sending-off of Luke Sharkey to secure the Dublin School Senior Football ‘C’ title in impressive fashion at O’Toole Park on Tuesday afternoon, writes Daire Walsh.

The Templeogue school had started the game brightly, as points from Tom Devlin, Diarmuid McLoughlin and Darren Murphy (free) edged them into an early lead, and even though St Paul’s centre-back Rutherson Real was prominent in the opening stages, a Michael Woods point for Mac Dara’s kept a comfortable distance between the sides.

The Raheny boys received a lifeline on 21 minutes when they found the back of the net following a goalmouth scramble, but late scores from Devlin and captain Eoin McLoughlin meant that Mac Dara’s took a slender lead (0-6 to 1-2) with them into the second period.

Indeed, their advantage would increase to five soon after the re-start, thanks to a brace of points from Diarmuid and Eoin McLoughlin, whose influence was growing.

Paul’s were proving to be somewhat wasteful in front of goal, but their prospects of coming out o n top in this decider were given another boost when Sharkey was dismissed for a second yellow card offence.

Mac Dara’s responded extremely well to this set-back, however, and further scores from Woods (two), Murphy and Devlin eased them over the line on a day when they had outstanding performances from the likes of Daragh Ryan, Woods, Diarmuid McLoughlin and Eoin McLoughlin.

– DUBLIN SCHOOLS SF ‘C’ FINAL