Mayo’s Ballymun Boys go in Search of County Title

Ballymun Kickhams v Kilmacud Crokes, Parnell Park, 7.45, Referee Sean Gahan

AFTER Moy Davitts Celebrity Bainisteoir success on Friday night, tonight’s Dublin county final will see two more Mayo men go in search of silverware in Parnell Park.

Mayo football has been well represented in the Dublin county championship down through the years. Kevin O’Neill with Na Fianna, Andrew Gardiner with Ballyboden and more recently Brian Maloney and Pat Kelly with St. Vincent’s, have all experienced success with their adopted clubs.

Tonight Shane Forde and James Burke, representing the rising force in Dublin GAA that is Ballymun Kickhams, will attempt to emulate their success.

The former St. Pat’s students have been playing for Ballymun since their college days and were involved in two historic U-21 successes for the club that have laid the platform for their strong senior showing in recent years.

Burke, whose brother Cian represented Ardnaree in the Junior final replay on Saturday, has been involved with county minor and U-21 teams in the past and featured in the senior set up in 2011. He played a big part in Ballymun’s march to the county semi-final twelve months ago and has been a constant a wing back again this year.

Forde returned to Dublin this year after three seasons playing for his native Ballycastle. Since his return he has been a part of a prolific inside line that includes Dean Rock, son of former Dublin legend, Barney.

Forde briefly came under James Horan’s radar back in 2010 when he impressed during the trial matches organised at the beginning of Horan’s reign. No further call came but after a lack of stand out forward performances in last week’s county final, it will be worth noting how Forde performs in the final of a championship where the standard has been consistently high in the last number of years.

Kilmacud are 4/6 favourites heading into tonight’s clash, but from a Mayo perspective let’s hope for a Ballymun victory (sure they play in green and red) and maybe a few more viable options for James Horan in the new year.