Gaelic Games Dublin SFC Final/Malahide CS 1-7 St Declan's, Cabra 0-5: That the defending outshone the attacking tells its own story. Yesterday's Dublin Colleges senior football A final saw St Declan's, aiming to retain their crown, come up short as Malahide claimed their breakthrough title at DCU Sports Ground.
Malahide centre back and captain Russell Cleere, a Dublin minor, fulfilled his leader's role. Five pointed frees aside, his distribution and a crucial second-half intervention underlined his promise.
Malahide defended superbly and at a crucial stage in the first half, wing back Colm McIntyre denied Dean Lawless a goal. St Declan's dropped in the high ball to full forward Philip Brogan, who had impressed in his last game, but this time Adam Keaney kept him scoreless.
Paul Brogan, son of Dublin 1970s legend Bernard, had had things pretty much his own way in midfield.
Malahide led 0-3 to 0-2 at the break and followed up with three points which included back-to-back frees from Cleere. That put Malahide up by 0-6 to 0-2 before St Declan's came back with substitute Karl Costello firing two points. However, Dominic McDonnell sealed victory with a goal in the closing stages.
MALAHIDE CS: K Ryan; L Dixon, A Keaney, B Ryan; C McIntyre, R Cleere (0-5, all frees), S Klinkenberg; D Keogh, A Grey; S Hogan (0-2), D McDonnell (1-0), R Palmer; D Smeaton, G Morgan, E Fanning. Subs: C Hickey for Fanning (20 mins).
ST DECLAN'S, CABRA: M Fogarty; C O'Friel, K Hurley, E McManus; E Treacy, P Curtin, S Maddock; Paul Brogan, V Byrne; R Corcoran (0-2, one free), G McCormack, G Brennan, D Lawless (0-1), Philip Brogan, D Harte. Subs: K Costello (0-2) for Brennan (half-time), J McDonald for Harte (46 mins), P McDonagh for Philip Brogan (53 mins); A O'Neill for McManus (58 mins).
Referee: G McCormack (Naomh Barróg).
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)