LOCAL RIVALS/PORTMARNOCK CS v MALAHIDE CS: LESS THAN a mile apart and with a combined student population of over 2,000, Portmarnock and Malahide Community Schools have a long established rivalry in North County Dublin.
Nowhere more so than in gaelic football, with Portmarnock currently holding the bragging rights after capturing the Dublin Colleges 'A' title for the first time in their history last April with victory over St Benildus.
Considering it was their first year in the top flight, it was a victory that surprised many, although the school's sports co-ordinator, Padraig Ó Cearra, believes steady progress through the ranks prepared the side to make the breakthrough.
"We had a good record at 'B' level and had won quite a few times. There was no challenge there anymore so we moved up to 'A'. It was some achievement as we had no county players on our team, the players were mainly from Naomh Mearnóg, who are a Division two team," admitted Ó Cearra.
They will defend their title without a number of last year's side, with Nathan Mullins, son of Dublin legend Brian, too old to play this year, with the forward ranks suffering most according to Ó Cearra.
"Defensively we have only lost one player, we have lost a very good midfielder in Sean Kenny and most of the forwards are gone so we really have had to build a new team from number nine upwards. But for the last two years we have won Under-16 'B', so there's a lot of players to pick from," he added.
Portmarnock will face a stern test of their ability to defend the title when they host Malahide in a much anticipated clash next week. And plotting their downfall will be past pupil David Aston.
"I've divided loyalties and I've probably trained all the Portmarnock team since they were young so I know them all really well," remarked Aston, who played on teams coached by Ó Cearra during his school days. His respect for his former teacher hasn't dwindled and he believes the Connemara native played a huge part in last year's success.
"Padraig's a great man to get the most out of players and what he did with that team was brilliant, I have to take my hat off to him," conceded Aston.
Malahide have played at 'A' level for a number of years now but Ó Cearra recalls a meeting between the two schools that certainly captured the attention of the student populations.
"We had a very good match in 2002 in a 'B' final. It was a great attraction because we decided to play it in Naomh Mearnog's ground which is halfway between the two schools and the principals from both schools gave a half-day.
"We had 2,000 people at the match, probably the best attended 'B' final ever. We won that time but we haven't met them since."
Aston admits Malahide haven't lived up to their potential over the last few years, but believes his side have turned the corner.
"We've underperformed the last couple of years but it's starting to come good, the bulk of our team are fifth years so we'll be looking to have a good go at it.
"Gary Sweeney would be one of our stronger players, he played on the Dublin minors last year and he's still eligible. There's about four others who have been through the development squad system and they are all coming good now."
With such huge student numbers, the range of sports played between the two schools is diverse, with Aston admitting Malahide's strong sporting infrastructure makes his job a lot easier with over 1,200 students to cater for.
"We have about 20 extra-curricular sports and there's over 60 teams throughout the school. Apart from the big ones like gaelic football and soccer, rugby has also taken off. We also have sailing, cricket, swimming, badminton and athletics."
Sailor Ciara Peelo is one of the school's great success stories and they took great pride in her participation in the Beijing Olympics during the summer.
Down the coast in Portmarnock, they also excel in soccer where they won the Leinster Senior double last year, while Iarlaith Keane has made huge strides in a promising golf career.
