Gardai were last night seeking a Clondalkin man in his early 20s, the main suspect in Sunday's gun attack at a local soccer match.
The man, who is unemployed and has no serious criminal record or suspected involvement in drugdealing, is believed to have carried out the shooting as an act of revenge after receiving a beating at a local club, the Blue Banana, on Saturday night.
The suspect lives in Bawnogue where the shooting took place and is well known to many of those attending the match.
On Sunday, a man fired at the crowd from the pillion seat of a motorcycle and gardai are also seeking the driver. Four people, including players, were taken to hospital after being hit by pellets from the sawn-off shotgun.
Mr Rory Kelly (38), a local milkman and the manager of Bawnogue's under-10s team, remained in St James's Hospital last night where he was said to be comfortable. Mr Kelly was standing with his nine-year-old son on the touchline when he was hit in the lower back and arm. Three other people, including the referee, were injured and were treated at the scene.
Det Supt Tony Sourke, of Clondalkin Garda station, said the inquiry centred on several recent disputes in the locality which could provide a link to the attack. "We've ruled out any paramilitary involvement or drugs-related motive and are now moving towards a localised inquiry."
More than 100 witness statements have been taken from local residents, players and spectators at the cup game between Bawnogue Boys and Dublin Celtic.
The motorbike and gun used in the attack have not been recovered. The Garda aerial support and sub-aqua units are assisting in the search, which has stretched north to the Grand Canal.
An area of waste ground off Kilmahuddrick Road, which was the gunman's exit route, remained sealed off last night for forensic examination.
The attack occurred at the end of a fourth round match for the Giffney Cup, a competition organised by the Leinster Football League involving almost 200 clubs.
Mr Kevin Byrne, secretary of the league, which is affiliated to the FAI, said it was clear "the incident had nothing to do with football" or the game in question. He did not believe the attack would discourage other teams from playing in the area.
Bawnogue Boys had already fallen behind on their match schedule as a result of recent stolen car incidents, which caused damage to the pitch, and an attack on the club's dressing rooms.
Det Supt Sourke appealed for people with any knowledge of the attackers to come forward. "We know there are members of the community who have a lot of information and we are appealing for them to talk to us, particularly in light of the fact that there were children as young as nine at the game and they could have been seriously injured," he said.
He stressed the area was not associated with serious crime. "This should have been a happy event for the community but instead it turned into an occasion of terror," he added.