ST VINCENT’S manager Tommy Conroy paid tribute to the likes of Gavin Burke and Shane Carthy for their role in stepping up in last Monday’s Dublin senior football championship final victory over St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh.
With Diarmuid Connolly and Mossie Quinn marked tightly by the Ashtown club’s defensive set-up, they were limited to just a point each. But scores from all four other forwards aided Vincent’s as they clung on to a 0-14 to 1-10 win, landing their 27th Dublin crown, becoming the first side to win back-to-back titles since Kilmacud Crokes in 2005. Speaking afterwards, Conroy said that Plunkett’s made things very difficult for his Vincent’s team. “Plunkett’s made it very tough for us and full credit to Pat McDonagh for the job he has done with them. It was an unbelievable game,” he Conroy said. “Mossie probably didn’t have his greatest night and nor did Diarmuid but the younger guys, like Gavin Burke, had a great game. Shane Carthy worked very hard.
“Those guys knew before this final a lot of emphasis would be put on Tomas and Diarmuid so they were able to handle it when it came down to two minutes to go and keep possession.
“We had a good look at Plunkett’s and what their system was. As much as we can steer things, the players have to come up with how they do on the pitch. The thing was to be patient and get little openings.”
Vincent’s eked out a 0-7 to 0-5 lead at half-time before making their main move in the 20 minutes after the break. “With 10 minutes to go, they led by six points only for Alan Brogan to fist home a goal that made things tight down the final
stretch. Vincent’s had chances to build a bigger lead but Conroy says his side were just happy to get over the line.
“We should have notched up a few more scores but we didn’t take those chances and then Plunkett’s put a high ball in around the square which is always dangerous. “It was a great goal really so we are delighted to come out of it with a point win. “The players, I couldn’t speak highly enough of them. The whole bunch of nearly 40 guys are just so close and tight with each
other; it’s fantastic. “We said at the start of the year that we weren’t defending anything. We were playing in a new championship and are just delighted the journey is keeping going. To win two Dublin titles in a row is unbelievably difficult.”
