Young man cracking all the codes

Mark Vaughan brings a rich array of footballing skills to tomorrow's game,reports Gavin Cummiskey

2003 has certainly been a year to remember for Mark Vaughan. Tomorrow he is chasing a rare double - an All-Ireland medal in two separate codes; he picked up the soccer equivalent last April with Blackrock College.

However, he is not the first Blackrock student to enjoy multiple sporting successes at underage level. In the early 1990s Hugh Carolan won a minor All-Ireland with Meath and a Leinster Schools Cup with Blackrock and represented the Irish schoolboys in soccer.

In 1995 Shane Deering, son of former Irish rugby international Shay, played half back for the Westmeath minor team which won the All-Ireland - that side was managed by Luke Dempsey. Deering also went on to gain another All-Ireland medal, at under-21, in 1999.

With 17 goals in nine matches, Vaughan was undoubtedly the star of his school's odyssey to their historic first national soccer title, an achievement all the more noteworthy considering Blackrock's reputation involves the oval ball.

His remarkable balance while in possession allied with an ability to use either foot makes the transition through different sports almost seamless.

The 18-year-old planned to repeat his Leaving Certificate in Blackrock and play on the senior cup team this year, but a rule change means he is overage, so rugby, a sport he hasn't played for three years, is unlikely to benefit from his talents for now.

Like all players of genuine class, he tends to save his finest performances until they are required most. In the Leinster schools' soccer final against Chanel College, Coolock, not only did Vaughan score in the penalty shoot-out but he went in goal and made the decisive save as well.

The Dublin minor manager Ciarán O'Hare was there that day and couldn't help being impressed by Vaughan's vast array of skills on the field.

"It was Roy of the Rovers stuff. He did a great job going in goal and saving those penalties. He is a good soccer player but if he wants he can make it at the Gaelic. In fact, he'll be on the under-21s next year if he puts his mind to it."

The All-Ireland schools' final showed soccer's broad appeal in this country as it pitted the premier breeding ground for rugby internationals against St Patrick's College, Cavan, a school steeped in the traditions of Gaelic games.

Again, Vaughan ensured one name would dominate the next day's headlines with two assists and a wonder goal in the 4-1 win over the Ulster opposition.

His reward for these performances was a trial with the Irish under-19 squad, the first player not with a club to be asked. But as the summer months loomed the focus began to shift towards donning the sky blue jersey.

After some magnificent displays for Kilmacud Crokes on their march to the county championship, and yet another winner's medal for Vaughan, O'Hare's Dublin came calling .

Vaughan's minor debut was actually as a replacement against Down back in February, and he promptly landed two points to ensure that, although occasionally out of sight, he remained in the management's plans. "We knew of him before he came into the panel," says O'Hare. "But he had other commitments, what with soccer and all, and there was no point in increasing the workload on him.

"Ger O'Mara was in a similar position as he was the minor hurling captain and was also playing for Dublin Colleges, so we decided to leave them until later in the campaign when those other commitments were complete."

Vaughan might have been the standout individual in the soccer set-up but none of this year's talented minor group was prepared to relinquish his position without a fight. Vaughan had to come off the bench for the first two matches of the championship, against Meath and Louth, but a five-point contribution over these two games - including some long-range frees - ensured he was given a starting berth for the semi-final replay against Louth.

Not for the first time Vaughan took his chance when the spotlight was at its brightest, with a well-taken goal and two points, as he played a pivotal role in setting up a trip to Croke Park for the Leinster final.

Laois and Fermanagh were dismissed, yet the All-Ireland semi-final against Cork was the first championship match in which he failed to register on the scoresheet, though some trademark runs and a strong workrate were evident throughout.

"I didn't play well myself, I had my worst performance so far. I wasn't happy with that but it was nice to win by so much. It's nice to be in two All-Ireland finals. It would be nice to win both of them as well and hopefully we will."

With the peroxide hair and the light blue Mohawk streak - put it down to youthful exuberance - he is instantly recognisable, and he has superstitiously kept hold of the number 24 jersey that brought him good fortune in the early rounds. Such quirks will be remembered for many a year if he repeats the knack of producing the goods on the big stage one more time.