GAELIC GAMES ROUND-UP
Mac Dara’s prove to be Abbotstown aces
Daire Walsh
WEDNESDAY last week (24 January) was a red-letter day for St Mac Dara’s Community College, who celebrated a majestic double triumph at the National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown.
The Templeogue side were nine-point victors (3-8 to 1-5) over Lucan CC in a morning time Dublin Schools Juvenile Football ‘C’ decider, and also came out on top in a nail-biting Senior Hurling ‘C’ showdown with St David’s CBS.
An impressive success at the expense of Colaiste Choilm (also in Abbotstown) on 15 January helped Mac Dara’s to advance to the final of the U14 football competition, and a brace of Michael Lawlor points allowed them to settle into their stride against Lucan. A magnificent solo goal by Pádraig McNally subsequently increased their advantage, but as the half wore on, their Esker Drive opponents began to settle.
However, thanks to an outstanding Killian Carolan score from long range, Mac Dara’s brought a 1-3 to 0-2 cushion into the break.
They were odds-on to secure the ‘C’ crown when Lawlor set up Adam Danaher for another three-pointer on the resumption, but Lucan worked their way back in contention by registering 1-1 without reply.
Yet, after Lawlor settled their nerves with some eye-catching points, a spectacular Ciaran Keogh goal guided Mac Dara’s towards a commanding win.
Their senior hurlers were next up in a 12.30pm clash with David’s, but it was the Artane school who made the brighter start.
ACCOUNT
They eventually opened their account with a Kevin Roberts point on 10 minutes, though, and this was quickly supplemented by a Kevin Lahiff goal.
Alan Connolly, Conor Nolan, Dylan Ryan and Adam McDermott were also on target in the first half, as Mac Dara’s found themselves in driving seat at the midway stage.
Strong defensive displays from Shane Lawlor and Ethan Rooney kept the David’s attack at bay for long stretches, and when McDermott raised a green flag after the restart, Mac Dara’s looked set for their first success at this grade since 2011/12.
A resilient David’s did respond with a couple of quick-fire three-pointers, but following a late effort from the industrious Michael Foley, the Wellington Lane outfit finished with four points to spare (2-14 to 3-7).
Meanwhile, Skerries Community College booked their place in the Dublin Schools Senior Football ‘B’ semi-final with a 6-17 to 0-12 win over Colaiste Eanna at Ballyboden GAA on Monday morning.