History repeats itself as Rock fires Kickhams
Back in 1982, Ballymun claimed their first Dublin title before striding confidently past Mullingar in Leinster and eventually contesting the provincial decider.
Three decades on, they are Dublin champions again and are also back in the province’s last four thanks to their latest win in Westmeath.
Ray Smyth’s Mullingar men appeared a team devoid of energy and intensity after their breakthrough county final success over Garrycastle and looked a spent docket after 15 minutes when they trailed 1-5 to no score.
Once again, Ballymun had the star forward on the pitch in Dean Rock, who went one better than his county final heroics against Kilmacud Crokes by scoring eight points. His efforts were well supported by corner-forward Ted Furman, who ended with 1-2.
Scorers for Ballymun Kickhams: D Rock 0-8 (6f); T Furman 1-2; D Byrne 1-0; J Whelan 0-2 (1f); K Leahy 0-1.
Scorers for Mullingar Shamrocks: C Curley 0-3 (3f); S Daly (1f), L Smyth (1f), A Clinton & D Daly 0-1 each.
BALLYMUN KICKHAMS: S Currie; Enda Dolan, P McMahon, Eoin Dolan; A Hubbard, K Connolly, J Burke; J McCarthy, D Byrne; E Reilly, K Leahy, J Whelan; T Furman, D Rock, A O’Brien.
Subs: D Byrne for O’Brien 44, J Small for Whelan 52, F Andrews for Furman 54, J Welby for Burke 57, S Forde for Byrne 59.
MULLINGAR SHAMROCKS: R Tyrrell; E Moore, K Gavin, A Purcell; K Daly, D Gavin, M Curley; D Corroon, D O’Donoghue; P Joyce, S Daly, J Ganley; L Smyth, C Curley, S Quinn.
Subs: A Clinton for K Daly 17, D Daly for Quinn 36, A Smyth for Ganley 40, O’Leary for O’Donoghue 46, Paul Christie for Moore 57.
Referee: F Barry (Kildare).
