DUBLIN ‘D’ SFC FINAL
Mighty Marian edge out Temple’ in final
Daire Walsh
A SECOND-HALF goal from Dean Fitzpatrick was crucial at Clanna Gael Fontenoy last Thursday afternoon, when Marian College secured the Dublin Senior Football ‘D’ Championship with a 1-6 to 0-8 victory over Templeogue College.
Conor O’Riordan and Simon King combined effectively at midfield for Templeogue in this showpiece encounter, but scores were proving to be few and far between during the opening period.
Yet, thanks to fine scores by Paul Fox (who finished with a personal tally of 0-3), Brendan Kinsella and Daniel Bailey, Marian brought a 0-5 to 0-3 lead into the break. The Ballsbridge school were still wary of the challenge posed by their opponents when the action resumed, and a strong defensive display by Jamie Kavanagh kept Templeogue within touching distance. Marian never allowed their southside rivals to build up a head of steam, though, and Fitzpatrick’s 45th-minute goal significantly boosted their chances of success.
Templeogue did take the game to the opposition in the closing moments, but with Fox, Bailey, Kinsella and Mark Tresson leading by example, Marian College (who are jointly-coached by John McEvoy and Tim Byrnes) held out to become champions of this grade.