St. Vincent's 0-15

Castleknock 0-10

St. Vincent's overcame the dismissal of Ger Brennan to capture their third Dublin SFC title in four years and deny first-time finalists Castleknock a famous win at Parnell Park.

Brennan picked up a second yellow card midway through the second half, but with another former Dub Mossy Quinn in fine scoring form and Diarmuid Connolly supplying the ammunition, the Marino outfit finished the stronger to be crowned champions for a 28th time. Quinn top-scored with five points, three of which came in the third quarter when the game was still in the melting pot.

Castleknock, who have enjoyed a meteoric rise through the ranks of Dublin football since they were formed in 1998, looked nervous in the early stages as a brace of points from ex-Mayo attacker Enda Varley helped the favourites to a 0-3 to 0-0 lead. Ciaran Kilkenny, who like Connolly picked up an All Star award last night, finally opened Castleknock's account in the 13th minute, but further scores from Quinn and Gavin Burke had Vin's 0-4 to 0-1 in front after 17 minutes.

But the underdogs eventually settled to their task and a run of scores from Kilkenny, Kevin Kindlon and free-taker Des Carlos had the sides level on 0-7 apiece at the interval.

St. Vincent's captain Diarmuid Connolly raises the Dublin SFC silverware.
©INPHO/Tommy Dickson.

The winners resumed with four unanswered points, including three from Quinn, before Brennan's dismissal for a high tackle on Kindlon offered Castleknock hope. When Carlos converted the resultant free, the margin was back down to two points - 0-9 to 0-11 - but that was as close as the blue and golds came to catching Tommy Conroy's men who scored four of the last five points through Varley (two), Ruairi Trainor and sub Joe Feeney to seal the deal. 

Next up for Vin's is a Leinster SFC quarter-final against Carlow champions Palatine tomorrow week.

St. Vincent's - M Savage; J Curley, C Wilson, M Concarr; B Egan, G Brennan, Cameron Diamond; D Murphy, S Carthy (0-1); G Burke (0-2), D Connolly, Cormac Diamond (0-1); R Trainor (0-1), E Varley (0-4, 1f), T Quinn (0-5, 2f). Subs: A Martin for D Murphy, J Feeney (0-1) for Cormac Diamond, A Baxter for E Varley.

Castleknock - M Connolly; E O'Brien (0-1), P Bourke, T Shiels; G Hannigan, P Sherry, T Quinn; C Kilkenny (0-2), J Sherry; D Carlos (0-5f), B Galvin, K Kindlon (0-2); M Galvin, S Boland, C Lynch. Subs: M Griffin for M Galvin, J Kindlon for C Lynch, M Brady for B Galvin.

Referee - D Sheppard.

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