Photo: The Score (INPHO/Morgan Treacy)
Regular readers will know that, unlike in the inter-county scene, my affiliation at club level rests squarely here in the capital’s Northside. My kids have been playing football, hurling and camogie with St. Vincents in Marino for a number of years and I’ve even got involved in a small way myself in helping to organise one of the underage groups. It’s the only club I’ve ever been active in and the only one I’ve become a member of and so, regardless of the sign over this particular door, it’s only natural that this is where my club loyalties lie.
St. Vincent’s are, of course, a club with a long and proud heritage within the Dublin GAA scene. They’re by far and away the club with most county football titles (they’ve a fair few hurling ones too, by the way – they’re second in that particular roll of honour) and they added another one – their 26th – to the list last night in Parnell Park, where they fought back bravely in the closing stages to edge out holders Ballymun Kickhams in the county final replay.
Last Sunday’s drawn match was, by all accounts (I wasn’t there – we were away for mid-term and only on our way back when the match was being played) an open and attractive affair, as the 0-20 to 1-17 (AET) scoreline would suggest. Last night’s replay – which Vincent’s won by 1-9 to 1-8 with both teams ending the match with fourteen men (a match I also missed as I was away due to work and only got back late last night) – was more of the blood and guts variety but it was nonetheless a great one to win.
The last time Vinnies won the Dublin title, back in 2007, they followed it up by claiming the Andy Merrigan Cup at Croke Park the following Paddy’s Day. The blue and white flags are fluttering once again along Griffith Avenue in anticipation of another possible tilt at national glory but the next hurdle for the Marino lads is already staring them straight in the face. This comes in the form of a Leinster quarter-final tie against Westmeath champs St Loman’s at Cusack Park in Mullingar this coming Sunday (throw-in 2.30pm – this is one I’ll definitely be at).
Diarmuid Connolly’s straight red last night means he’ll miss this one and a player of his calibre will, of course, be a massive loss on Sunday. Still, with a forward line featuring All-Ireland minor medalist (from 2012) Gavin Burke and the evergreen Mossy Quinn, this Vincent’s side are far from a one-man team. There’ll be, I reckon, a bit of heavy lifting to be done all round in Mullingar but hopes are beginning to rise in these parts that this particular campaign may only be starting.
I don’t know what the match was like, nor the quality, but if it was anything like as good as the half time entertainment between the two kids on the pitch, it would have been a highly entertaining affair! Finally brought a smile to face after September!!
That video was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen on Facebook. Pure gold! Apparently they are 2 young relatives of Ger Brennan
Surely a typo…Diarmuid Connolly & a straight red!
Last time the Vins won Mayo had a few reps on the team. Pat Kelly, Brian Moloney and was it Niall Dunne? Standard of club football in Dublin is strong and competitive and that will fuel more talent into the county set up.
Don’t forget we have James Burke on the Kickham’s team.
I thought he looked impressive in the Galway match. I think he may have been a sub (unplayed) in the Roscommon match, but he seems to have sunk without trace.
He’s still been on the panel, just not named to the matchday squads. You could see him sitting with the rest of them on that eircom fanpic thing :p
that’s good. glad he’s still involved. Think he has potential.
Best wishes to Vincents. I never had anything to do with them but I often attended at club fixtures when I lived in the city. They had a great setup back in those days. Most of the lads from the country clubs tended to play with some of the other clubs around the city, that I was more familar with. They have a great chance of becoming Leinster champions at the very least. The standard used to be very high in Dublin and Ballyier almost done it against St Bridgets last year. James Burke is a fine player IMO. Certainly good enough for intercounty. If we have injuries in our defence next year he will get his chance
Lucky man to be in the Eircom pic, I see the high and mighty had themselves blurred out of it. What were the hiding from? Anyway Burke is a good bit of stuff but being a sub defender on the Mayo team amounts to little or nothing. When the corner back went of at half time in All Ireland final the centre forward, the main threat was brought back to fill the slot. We never learn from the past, twice in particular involving Dermot Flanagan also a corner back who saw massive shifting of team V Cork 1993 and V Kerry 1997. Its what makes us Mayo…always give the opposition a head start if at all possible.
Couldn’t agree with you more John, removing Higgins from the forward line allied to the equally nonsensical removal of Freeman earlier cost us the All-Ireland. Two moments of sideline madness that removed the spine from our forward line – the rest is lunacy !
John, you always seem to hit the nail on the head, and what a shame it was, after steering his team to the AIF for a second year and then to make those poor decisions from the sideline.
Right as usual John.
Just watched all stars. No all star for cillian or YPOY. Given to a dub taken off in all Ireland. Mmmmmm. Caff unlucky too. And why O Donaghue? Surely not an all star ahead of cillian.
Just another show of disrespect to Mayo.
No mayo forward in the all stars! Says a fair bit. Surely this must be a big motivator for our lads for 2014.
It was hard to give it to COC given the amount of time he lost due to injury.