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GAA

19th Oct 2018

Dublin GAA club flying home goal machine for county final

Michael Corry

The power of the club…

Dublin side Round Towers Lusk take on Naomh Barrog in the Dublin intermediate championship final next Saturday in Parnell Park, and the club have went above and beyond the call of duty to bring home one of their key men.

Cathal ‘The Bomber’ Bollard has been outstanding all year for Round Towers en route to this weekend’s final. Known for his famous flick of the wrist, The Bomber has scored a total of 13-17 in 13 games.

That’s a goal every game from the big full forward.

Unfortunately, young Bollard organised to go China on erasmus at the beginning of September, and as a result missed out as Round Towers booked their place in the final.

As the semi final celebrations died down, some began to think of their towering full forward and how on the biggest day in Round Towers history, their ‘Hand of God’ hero will be thousands of miles away and unable to experience what will be a momentous day for the community of Lusk.

As a result, Bollard’s friends rallied around and started a Go Fund Me page in order to get their star man home for the county final.

Eoin Gaffney admitted the donation’s page started out as a bit of a laugh, but soon enough, it started to grab peoples attention.

“A few of the lads said fuck it, we’ll set up a Go Fund Me, it was actually just a bit of a laugh as much as anything else. 

“Next thing it kicked off, and the local GAA team shared it.”

What started as a piss-take eventually grew some legs. The lads originally asked for €500 in order to bring home, The Bomber.

However, the flight from China cost €605.

They need not have fretted though, as the community managed to raise €738, which means not only will The Bomber make the county final, but there’s over a €100 left for pints afterwards.

“Hes coming home for the final” said Gaffney.

“Basically the way he’s been playing all year, he’s our full forward and his job was to the flick the ball into the net.”

Round Towers know that when push comes to shove against Naomh Barrog, Bollard’s services may need to be called upon, and if history is anything to go by, The Bomber has it in his locker to make a hero of himself next weekend.

“He scored 13 goals in 13 games. If we are two points down with two minutes to go there’s only one man coming on!

“I would love to see that happening.”

Best of luck to Cathal Bollard as he returns home to help Round Towers go all the way.

The Bomber also turns 21 the week of the final, not a bad birthday present is it?