top two can providea night to remember

Fox-Cabs out to reclaim crown on mouthwatering double-bill

FRIDAY night is Ladies Night at the Swords Super Dome. The Dublin Senior Championship final: Foxrock-Cabinteely v Na Fianna.

It's a repeat of two years ago, when the Fox-Cabs won by three points against the then champions.

Both sides carry unbeaten records to Lawless Memorial Park.

"The football should be of a very high standard. Na Fianna are a very strong side," says Pat Ring of the Fox-Cabs. "It will be a very difficult game, but the season is going well."

Controlled

The Kilbogget club were very impressive as they beat St Sylvester's in the semi-final. They controlled that tie from first bell to last, even though Dublin captain Sinead Goldrick was injured.

She watched from ringside. "It was a fantastic performance from the girls. Really excellent," she reflects. "There is such pride in wearing your club jersey in the county final. We have marvellous memories of our success in Parnell Park two years ago.

"It's a huge honour to represent your club in the county final."

In their group, the Fox-Cabs overcame the holders, Fingallians, St Brigid's and Ballyboden St Enda's. And their experienced management crew includes Peter Clarke, Niall Callan, Colm Kearney and the great Angie McNally, one of the best players ever to have worn the blue.

"We won the title two years ago, but last season was a difficult one for us," explains Pat. "We had injuries and players not being available, but we have a good squad this year and the girls are working hard."

Against Syls in the semi-final, nobody worked harder than half-forward Fiona Claffey of Westmeath.

She covered the turf like a table-cloth, and the tempo that the Fox-Cabs injected to their play was a joy to behold. No sooner had a Syls attack ended than the home team had returned the ball to the edge of the Malahide estuary.

Foxrock have a compact defence. Marla Candon brings so much guile to the engine room, and in attack there's profit in the boots of Ann Marie Murphy, Amy Ring and Amy Connolly.

The opening tie of the double-bill is the Intermediate Championship final, where Kilmacud Crokes play Parnell's. Clontarf took the Coolock club to a replay in the semi-final after Parnell's had four wins from four in their pool, which included Ballinteer St John's, Naomh Mearnog, St Margaret's and Croi Ro Naofa.

Crokes also emerged with a 100 per cent record in their group, which contained Round Tower (C), Clontarf and Garda/Westmanstown, while in the semi-final they accounted for St Margaret's.

Calibre

Crokes possess the calibre of Molly Lamb, who has excelled at midfield in Dublin's successful Leinster Senior Championship campaign.

Molly was also a central figure as Dublin collected the Aisling McGing All-Ireland U21 Championship title in June. Kilmacud's Aoife Kavanagh was also on board.

Parnell's have one of the most exciting players in the city, Lindsay Peat, who also played a major role in Dublin retaining their senior provincial crown. She scored goals in all of the Leinster wins this summer.

But it's her overall contribution to the team that makes her such a valuable presence. She reads the game well, is strong in possession and can open doors for team-mates with those basketball hands.