Last season was a disappointing one for the senior footballers of St Maurs’, but they look intent on righting those wrongs this time around.
A pair of one point defeats at the hands of Whitehall-Colmcille and Templeogue Synge Street defined 2018 for the Rush based club but they’ve begun the 2019 championship on a better footing.
Round Towers of Clondalkin – quarter finalists in last year’s Senior two championship – were the first opponents up but it was the northsiders who came home with maximum points after a convincing win.
Their Dublin senior panellist Ciaran Reddin was again inspirational, the half forward kicking a number of crucial scores for his side but it was inside forward Conor McGuire who came away with the headlines.
It didn’t look like there was much on when Reddin lamped a long-distance free in the corner forward’s direction in the first half, but his anticipation and application was rewarded when the ball hopped up lovely on the Balgriffin turf.
No better man to take advantage, an opportunistic McGuire opted against taking it into his hands to steady himself. Instead, he met it on the half volley with a swinging left boot that would take both teammates and opponents by surprise.
Even more surprised was the umpire who jumped out of the way when McGuire’s looping half volley sailed majestically into the left corner of the net.
What’s a goalie supposed to do about that?
The Maurs’ kicked on in the second half with half forwards David Carthy and Stephen Clarke keeping them on top while wing back Jack Burke was also very impressive as they sealed a 1-16 to 1-10 victory over their rivals.
Fingallians and Cuala are on the other side of this group and they’ll prove stern tests for St Maurs’, but this is a great start for them and they won’t fear anybody going forward.
Hat tip to Rob Reynolds for sending this our way, and to McGuire for that piece of genius.
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