15cm longer than its tallest sleeper

BEAUTYBits TV PRESENTER Lucy Kennedy has been announced as the new SS2020 brand ambassador for iclothing.com, featuring in their brand-new campaign.

Renowned for her effortless style, Lucy is known for her enviable casual wardrobe. Iclothing.com has taken that style and added more occasion and even red carpet looks to her wardrobe.

This latest collaboration with the queen of Irish TV marks a new direction for the brand. Launched in 2012, iclothing.com started off as a very small venture. Within 10 years the brand has grown hugely and now sells in both Ireland and the UK. Lucy Kennedy – the new ambassador of casual

iclothing.com India tie-waist culotte jumpsuit in mushroom €44.95

Pastelsgotech  Rachel D’Arcy, Style Editor THE WEATHER is brightening up, so why shouldn’t our wardrobes, too? River Island has just dropped its latest menswear edit, with pastel brights, to boot.

The Pastel Tech collection provides perfect holiday wear in lightweight t-shirts and shorts, as well as jackets and cover-ups.

Ranging in shades from lilac to a more rose-red, the colour story for the edit delivers a subtle Summer palette as we make the transition from a dreary Irish Winter to the (slightly) warmer Irish Summer – or the two weeks in June, as they’re more commonly known! With colour blocking the theme of River Island’s collection, the wearable nylon and jersey fabrics also prove powerful for packing in a suitcase and jetting off to warmer climes, or even bringing along to your favourite festival this summer.

As detailed by River Island themselves, the Pastel Tech edit is designed to “catch attention for directional yet effortless ‘thrown together’ styling”.

The items on offer are available to buy from RiverIsland.com, and in selected stores, with prices ranging from €22 to €65. Pastels

THE BELOVED Dutch brand Viktor&Rolf has unveiled its latest eyewear collection at Specsavers, Viktor&Rolf Vision. The 15 optical styles, and three styles of sunglasses, are priced at €239 and are available now in all Specsavers Ireland stores.

The range embodies the avant-garde aesthetic of the brand, but remains wearable for day-to-day wear. Traditional glasses shapes are reinvented and brought to life in a rich colour palette of burgundy, bright yellow, silver and gold. New eyewear collection

PADRAIG CONLON

CYCLING is a wonderful, stimulating and healthy activity with so many benefits for young and old alike.

With the arrival of Spring, and better weather, now is the time to maybe consider getting back in the saddle. Improved cardiovascular and mental health are just two of the many benefits you’ll gain from regular cycling.

Because it’s an aerobic activity, cycling gives your heart and lungs a great work out while also reducing your blood pressure and your cholesterol level.

Cycling also releases endorphins – chemicals that make us feel good, and the increased health and fitness gained by regular cycling helps to create a happier and improved outlook on life.

Here in Dublin, we are lucky with the climate as it generally never gets too hot, wet or cold to cycle and the city is relatively flat.

In comparison to cities with a similar population density, for example, Dublin gets less freezing weather than Copenhagen, and less rain than Amsterdam.

However, a lack of good cycle lanes is an issue in Dublin, and calls are increasing for the implementation of the GDA (Greater Dublin Area) Cycle Network Plan.

First put forward by the National Transport Authority in 2013, the plan will see the number of segregated cycle routes in and around Dublin increase from 500km to 1,485km in length.

The roll-out of the GDA Cycle Network Plan has been stalled over the past seven years, but some routes have been built – among them the 7km Canal Way, and 3km of the Sutton to Sandycove route.

Despite this, there are still some excellent cycle routes which are safe and well worth a spin.

MY OWN THREE FAVOURITES ARE: • Clontarf to Howth (12km): Taking you along the coast, you can detour into Dollymount Strand along the way for some added excitement. St Anne’s Park can also be included in this route. •Sandymount - Dun Laoghaire (8km) Another coastal route with great views of Dublin Bay, highlights include a lovely park between Booterstown and Blackrock village, the 40 Foot bathing area, Bullock Harbour and Collimore Harbour, with stunning views of Dalkey island. • Dodder Valley Park (6km) Tallaght to Rathfarnham: Even though this route brings me to work, it is lovely! This route takes you along the banks of The Dodder with plenty of trees thrown in for good measure!

SHANE DILLON

HOW much would you want a tech platform to pay you a month for access to your contacts?

While you couldn’t pay me to hand over that info, plenty of other people have a price they’d settle for, according to a key new multi-country study by a US thinktank.

The Technology Policy Institute carried out a study of people living in the US, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Columbia and Argentina, in a bid to see how people value their private and digital information.

Germany came out on top of the study, with our European friends saying they’d want the tech titan to pay them about $8 per month for sharing their contact information with third parties. However, US users would only seek $3.50.

Understandably, financial data, including bank balances, held the most value for individuals, with location data commonly considered the least valuable data to share, with a range of metrics besides contacts info up for access consideration – at a price.

Averaging out the multi-country data, across all the people studied, consumers would have to be paid a monthly $8.44 to share their bank balance information, $7.56 to share fingerprint information or $6.05 to read an individual’s texts, while at the lowest end of ‘worth’, consumers would only want to be paid $1.82 per month to share their location data, and nothing to be sent advertisements via text message.

With tech giants increasingly in the news over data privacy concerns, there’s a growing academic, consumer and lawmaker interest in the ways in which such data is monetised.

PICTURE this: think of a film where The Hero has been yakking away on his iPhone to save the day/city/planet. You’ve probably already thought of someone in a recent film or TV show, where the iPhone has been an incidental but obvious bit of product placement.

Now think of the last time you saw the Bad Guy on an iPhone, and, and, and ...

Well, good luck with that, as it’s just been revealed that Apple won’t let its products be used by ‘the bad guy’ in films.

Director Rian Johnson (Looper, Star Wars: The Last Jedi) let slip in a Vanity Fair video that particular nugget of cinema info, which won’t surprise anyone when they

Dr Evil might ask: “Hello? Where can I get a frickin’ iPhone? Hello?!”

think of Apple’s firm, positive image control of its brands. As such, you’ll often see plenty of characters using Apple products – but now canny viewers will know that the character they’re focused on can’t be The Bad Guy, or a killer, or a terrorist, if they’re ever shown using an iPhone ...

DECLAN GLYNN

BACK IN 2002, Ford launched its very first fast Focus, the ST170.

Now, three generations later, petrol power for Ford’s latest Focus ST comes courtesy of a 2.3-litre four-cylinder (EcoBoost) engine, which boasts 280bhp, and a whopping 420Nm of torque for swift acceleration.

The all-new Focus ST boasts an aggressivelysculpted signature exterior, with a large rear spoiler designed to enhance aerodynamic performance.

An all-new selectable drive mode feature (conveniently located on the steering wheel) lets the ST driver tailor the car’s drivability to suit the road conditions at hand.

These modes comprise Normal, Sport, Slippery, and Track options, with each mode capable of providing the driver with the requested assistance at all times.

The Ford Focus ST is also available with a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel unit producing 190bhp, while a slick six-speed manual gearbox comes as standard, as does front wheel drive.

There is no automatic gearbox or all-wheel-drive option available in the new fast Focus.

My review car was a 2.3- litre EcoBoost Ford Focus ST-2 5-door, which was finished in Ford Performance Blue paintwork.

Featuring anti-lag and Electronic Limited Slip Differential (eLSD) technologies, the new Focus ST is the most powerful, agile, and responsive yet, and is the product of engineering genius from the Ford Performance professionals. Petrol power for Ford’s latest Focus ST comes courtesy of a 2.3-litre four-cylinder (EcoBoost) engine

QUICK FACTS The standard equipment in the new Focus ST is impressive, with a host of optional extras available for the ultimate in individual personalisation.

Capable of a top speed of 250kmph, the Focus ST can go from 0-100kmph in just 5.7-seconds.

Co 2 e m i s s i o n s o f 179gpkm translates into annual road tax of €750, while a fuel return of 8.2l/100km is possible from a combined driving cycle.

On the road, the new Focus ST really does show its true colours, with exhilarating driving dynamics and effortless acceleration taking centre stage, while strong brakes ensure that the Focus ST stops with the same urgency with which it accelerates.

Providing exciting handling, and everyday usability, the new Ford Focus ST could very well be the only performance car you could ever need.

With pric ing from €41,099 (ex-delivery), the Focus ST adds affordability to the performance car mix, too. 1) Exhilarating driving dynamics 2) Petrol or diesel engines 3) Slick 6-speed manual 4) Created for road and track 5) On sale now

New Puma ready to pounce on market JUST arrived in Ireland, the new Ford Puma introduces Ford’s advanced, fuelsaving mild-hybrid powertrain technology alongside class-leading practicality and head-turning design for compact crossover customers.

Powerful, responsive performance and optimised fuel efficiency is expertly delivered using Ford’s EcoBoost Hybrid 48-volt technology – seamlessly integrating electric torque assistance with a low-friction, three-cylinder 1.0 litre EcoBoost petrol engine, delivering 125PS.

In Ireland, the new Puma is offered in three series: Titanium, ST-Line and STLine X, with pricing from just €24,465 (ex-delivery).

An impressive array of comfort, convenience, safety, infotainment, and security features come as standard across the entire range, with a whole host of optional extras available for total personalisation.

My full review of the amazing new Ford Puma will be coming soon.

Codewords are like crossword puzzles - but have no clues! Instead, every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number, the same number representing the same letter throughout the puzzle. HOW TO SOLVE

All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number! To start you off, we reveal the codes for two or three letters.

As you find letters, enter them in the key and into the grid. Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.

FIND THE HIDDEN WORDS ANNEXATION BALACLAVA BEER COPIOUS DESCRIBING DODO ENDEAVOR ESCALATOR FLUSHED IMPEDIMENT INVITED IRAQ MALAGA METRO OUTSPOKEN PANT PERSECUTED POOCH QUARTO SKINS SUAVE WAGERS

CALL 01 60 10 240 YOUR LOCAL PAPER ! YOUR LOCAL NEWS !

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S U P P O R T L O C A L B U S I N E S S

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS INFORM YOU OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORES OF YOUR FAVOURITE TEAMS THE BEST IN DUBLIN SPORT HARPS START IN STYLE: FOOTBALL:SKERRIES Harps got the best of St Brigid’s for the second season running as they opened up their AFL Division One campaign on a winning note at Russell Park. The season had ini tially been due to get under way on February 16 but Storm Ciara washed out the first date with Clontarf for Skerries; they hit the ground run ning in this one.  GAZETTE PAGE 31

 sport@dublingazette.com

RAMPAGING Academy lock Ryan Baird helped himself to a memorable hat-trick in Leinster Rugby’s 55-19 Guinness PRO14 bonus point win over Glasgow Warriors at the RDS Arena. The former St Michael’s College student took just three-and-a-half minutes to crash over, the hosts’ thun derous attack producing further scores for Dave Kearney, James Lowe and captain Scott Fardy to create a 24-7 halftime lead.

Kyle Steyn deftly doubled Glasgow’s try tally, adding to Tommy Seymour’s slick 25th-minute effort, but Lowe completed his brace before Baird bril liantly accelerated away in the 55th minute and then went over again past the hour mark.

Kearney finished with a hat-trick of his own, cancelling out an Alex Allan score, on a night that Leinster moved 20 points clear at the top of their Con ference A.

The hosts got over from their very first attack, a scrum penalty allowing them to carry with great intent before Baird expertly burrowed over from a couple of metres out. The heavilyinfluential Harry Byrne converted to the right of the posts.

Leinster tidied up lineout ball after an overcooked Pete Horne kick, and another powerful carrying spell forced Warriors backwards. Armed with a penalty advantage, Byrne’s long pass put Kearney over in the corner to make it 12-0 after as many minutes.

The Warriors did clip the lead back to five points through Seymour’s try off George Horne’s inside pass but Fardy soon outfoxed two defenders with a scooped offload to send Lowe raiding over for a seven-pointer.

Luke McGrath’s initial break sparked a furious late hunt for the bonus point, Fardy duly delivering it off a close-in ruck.

However, Glasgow had an encour aging start to the second half. Skipper Ryan Wilson was involved as quick hands released Steyn for a superb inLeinster’s Ryan Baird breaks through a tackle. Picture: John Crothers

and-out finish from his own 10-metre line.

Leinster cancelled out that score in the 51st minute, Will Connors’ turno ver and another burst by Baird leading to Lowe spinning free.

It got even better for the table-top ping province when Baird stormed over from 45 metres out, stunning scrum half Horne and the chas ing wingers with his pace. The St. Michael’s College product picked from a ruck to add a much more straightfor ward third try with 63 minutes on the clock.

Leo Cullen’s side pushed through the 50-point barrier, Fardy starring in the build-up to Kearney’s second of the night before Jones’ loose offload gave the Ireland winger his third.

SPORT CONTACT INFO SPORTS EDITOR: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com

THE details of the Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship First Round matches are announced. Castleknock play Oliver Plunkett’s on Friday, April 17th in Parnell Park at 8.15pm.

Congrats to everyone in Castleknock Community College and of course the many Castleknock players involved in CCC’s victory over Malahide Community School 4-11 1-4 in the Dublin Schools Senior ‘B’ Football Final. CCC now advance to the Leinster Semi-Final.

No Lotto Jackpot winner. Next week’s Jackpot €4,800. Fifteen Match 3 Winners win €20 each – David Byrne, Cormac Dowling, Alan Geraghty, Emma Kirwan, Conor Tiernan, Maureen Conway, Ronan Duffy, Mark Keane, Irene O’Brien, Declan Tobin, Pearse Corcoran, Sandra Fetherston, Tadgh Kelleher, Padraig Purcell and Niall Tutty. Lucky Dip €30 winner – Damien Mahon.

Congrats to Cliona Hewson on being included in the Dublin Camogie U-16 Panel for their opening Leinster Championship match against Wexford om March 22.

Another historic evening for Castleknock with Eoin O’Brien’s first National Football League start for Dublin at full-back and the first time that two Castleknock players, the other one being Ciarán Kilkenny, have started for Dublin in the National League. Dublin lose to Tyrone but still a proud occasion for the Club.

Castleknock Seniors return to AFL Div.1 results in defeat in Rush as the team go down by 0-12 1-12 to St. Maur’s. In Div.4 Castleknock open the season with a hard-working win over Man O War 0-12 0-8. CASTLEKNOCK

Membership 2020 Overdue for players : Membership can now be paid on line. http://www.fingallians.com/ index.php/membership Annual Club Awards Night: Monday 16th March – Further detail to follow. Tickets €10 per person and available from the bar.

Packie Barnwell & Gerry Greene: The club held a surprise thank you night for two great servants of ladies football, on Saturday evening.

Camps Dates & Times 2020: Easter camp, April 6 – 9th; Cúl camp 1, July 6 – 10th; Dual Camp, July 20 – 24th; Cúl camp 2, 27 – 31st July; Dual advanced camp (13 – 16 year old) 3 – 7th August & Dual camp 2, October 27 – 30th. All Camps are 9am – 1.30pm. Kellogg’s Cúl Camps: The website goes live (2nd March) for registration. Numbers are limited so it will be on the first come first served basis. https://kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie

Pitch update: Balheary, Kettles Lane, Holywell and Newbridge House are currently unplayable. (this includes training)

Athletics Update: Well done to our Juveniles who represented Fingallians in the Dublin Indoor Championship, at Abbotstown.

Bingo & Lotto - Change: This will be moved from St Patrick’s Day to Wednesday 18th March (8 – 10pm). The Paddy’s Day special will have extra cash prizes for all taking part.

Seachtain na Gaeilge. Táimid ag céiliúradh an Ghaeilge ó 1-17 Márta.

Beidh seisiún Gaeilge sa bheár ag a 9 a chlog ar an gCéadaoin 4ú agus 11ú Márta.

Beidh Tráth na gCeist (table quiz) ag CLG Átha Cliath sa DTwo, Harcourt St. ag 7.30 ar an 6ú Márta.

Beidh cóisir ollmhór in ár Halla Mór tar éis an paráid i Sord Cholm Cille ar Lá fhéile Pádraig.

Bainigí taitneamh as do theanga.

Abbottstown 2020: A big thank you to all, who made the use of the indoor facility a great success. We finished up for the season last week. FINGALLIANS SOCCER: HUGE AWAY WIN FOR HHFC AFTER POOR RUN TO GET BACK IN THE HUNT Harts’ desire for top four finish in Senior 1B

LSL SUNDAY SENIOR 1B St Francis 1 Hartstown Huntstown 3  DAVE DONNELLY sport@dublingazette.com

HARTSTOWN Huntstown manager Dave Byrne says a change in mindset helped the Blanch club record a potentially season-chang ing win away to St Francis last Thursday night.

A brace from Sean O’Reilly, and a goal of the season contender from striker Winny Lombe, saw the forward-thinking club moved back into conten tion for one of the four promotion spots.

A trip to one of the inform teams in the division – unbeaten in nine before last week’s defeat to lead ers Kilbarrack United – was always going to be tricky. HHFC led 2-0 at the break, however, following a spectacular O’Reilly free kick and a second as the winger latched onto Kenny Clinch’s through ball.

The Saints pulled a goal back after the break but the visitors sealed the win in outrageous fash ion as 19-year-old Lombe

breezed by a succession of challenges before nonchalantly chipping the keeper. “We knew we were going out to their ground, a fabulous astro, and we knew it was going to be a tricky game,” Byrne told Dublin Gazette. “They’re very danger ous going forward, but we set up with the focus on defending and keeping our structure with a lone man up front to do the donkey work.

“The ability has been there all season – we start ed the season strong – and then we had some lacklustre results.

“A few weeks ago we had a real shock loss out at Pegasus St James’ where we really weren’t at the races at all. The lads need ed to re-invent themselves for the last few games.

“We focused on attitude over the last few weeks as opposed to aptitude. There’s plenty of ability there. It was just wanting to win, wanting to be first to the ball and to win your individual battles.

“Wanting to give eve rything for your first and coming off not having any regrets about leaving anything out there. I think the lads have shown that.”

Four, rather than three, sides will be promoted to the third level at the end of the season following the dissolution of CIE Ranch on the eve of the campaign and HHFC aim to be one of them.

Kilbarrack have built a healthy lead at the top but any of HHFC, St Francis, St Kevin’s, Castleknock Celtic, Ayrfield United or Thursday’s opponents Ardmore Rovers could take the remaining places.

Byrne added: “This is the strangest league we’ve ever been part of because the inconsistency has been there for four or five teams, with the exception of Kilbarrack. We know that four are going up from the division this year because of what happened in the division above us. “This league will be won not on ability but on con sistency in the last nine or ten games, and belief and heart to see games through to the end.

“Realistically, we’re aiming for, and what we’re preparing for, is to be one of those four teams that are going up.

“Whether it’s fourth or second, I don’t care, once we come out of that division bearing in mind what’s coming up behind.”

Thunder beat Knights SWORDS Thunder put on a dominant display at home against Tipperary Knights on Saturday evening, running out 76-61 point winners in their last Basketball Ireland Women’s Division One of the regular season.

Balanced scoring from the Dublin side saw Peggy Black, Niamh O’Donovan and Tia Kelly all reaching double fig ures. Courtney Strait put on a great performance for Knights, finishing with a game-high 23 points, but it was Thunder who were able to maintain the strong start to the game and secure a comfortable home win in the end.

The result confirmed Swords finished in third place in the northern conference and it sees them earn a place in the league cup quarter-final

Hartstown Huntstown are back in the mix for the promotion places

THE Ryan sisters Lottie and Bonnie, along with mum, Morah; broadcaster Georgie Crawford; actress Demi Issac Oviawe and fitness enthusiast Leanne Moore, will make up the 2020 Vhi Squad and are calling on women all around the country to run stronger together and join them at the largest all-female event of its kind in the world on May 31! Enter now at www.vhiwomensminimarathon.ie. Picture: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

UCFL DIVISION 3 Mid Sutton Sportslink 2 Glasnaion FC 3  JOHN MOONEY sport@dublingazette.com

MID SUTTON Sportslink missed the opportunity to move into second position in the UCFL Division 3 when they were narrowly beaten by Glasnaion FC in Furry Park on a 3-2 scoreline on Saturday afternoon.

The win threw the visitors a bit of a life line as, with games in hand over both their hosts and second placed Riverside United, they could join the title-chase if they are successful in those games, but that’s down the line.

Saturday saw Storm Jorge hold off until the final whistle sounded but there was a strong swirling wind throughout and it made good football hard to come by.

There was little goalmouth action in the opening half although the home side did break the deadlock on 30 minutes. Sean Dineen slipped a pass into Lorcan Quinn who turned two defenders and laid the ball on a plate for Ciaran Sinnott to slot home. The visitors responded and could have been on level terms minutes later when Keven Bell had a clear shot on goal but he blazed over the bar.

However, the equaliser did arrive straight from the kick-off of the second half as the visitors did what they threatened to do in the first half. Ger Malone latched onto a Niall Dolan pass and crashed home via a post.

With 15 minutes remaining, Glasnaion notched two in two minutes to all but wrap up this tie when Malone fired in an effort that somehow found its way to Dolan and, with the home defence looking for offside, he slotted home.

Two minutes later, it got even better as McKenna chased a through ball, keeper Liam Bailey came out and got to the ball first but it Mid Sutton Sportlinks Lorcan Quinn is held off the ball by Glasnaion FC’s Stephen Meehan

squeezed under him.

As the ball trickled towards goal, defender Brian Tobin got back and stopped it on the line, only for McKenna to follow up and force the ball home.

It looked all over but the home side chased and harried and their effort was rewarded when Dineen crashed home his 17th league goal of the season.

There was time to get an equaliser but no matter how hard they tried, there was no joy for Mid Sutton as Glasnaion celebrated.

Mid-Sutton Sportslink: Liam Bailey, Garvan Morris, Sean Beadie, Brisn Tobin, Tommy Refnan, Billy Hyland, Keith McDonnell, Brian Collins, Lorcan Quinn, Sean Dineen, Ciaran Sinnott, Mick Carr, Conor Phelan, Stephen Redmond, Shane McCarty, Amair Zmalee.

Glasnaion FC: Kevin Darcy, Michael Naughton, James Kelly, Stephen Mark Brady, Kevin Bell, Paul McKenna, Niall Dolan, Ger Malone, Carl Lenihan, Conor Fay, Dan Harrison, Ian Gilligan, Owen McCort, Michael Moore, Larry Lillis, James Collins, Kevin Brady, Stephen Meehan.

MEN’S HOCKEY  STEPHEN FINDLATER sport@dublingazette.com

DUBLIN North moved up to sixth place in Leinster men’s Division One as Shane Dempsey scored a corner in dead time to defeat Kilkenny 3-2 at the NSC.

Dempsey and Adrian Sweeney put them 2-0 up in the second quarter and they held that lead until eight minutes to go when Eddie Dore scored two in three minutes.

But North regathered their thoughts and fin ished strong with Dempsey’s low flick carrying the day.

Elsewhere, Portrane pushed leaders Clontarf all the way but ultimately came unstuck 3-1.

Portrane took the lead in the first quarter with a low Chris Neville drag flick; Kevin Mullins equalised from a high reverse follow ing a counter attack just before half-time.

The Bulls moved into the lead when Davyn Keu ter scoring his 18th goal of the campaign via a corner goal in the final quarter. Kevin Murray’s tap-in in the closing minutes sealed the win.

The result sees Portrane drop back to fourth place while Clontarf remain clear at the top of the table with 15 wins out of 15 games so far in the competition.

OUR three Adult Football teams played their opening league games of 2020 on Sunday with wins in AFL1 & AFL9 over St Brigids & St Pats (P) respectively while the AFL4 team lost to St Sylvesters.

Unfortunately the weather resulted in all Saturday’s Juvenile fixtures being cancelled.

U15 Hurlers had a good win over Nh Mearnog in Div 3 on Sunday.

Emma Parker played for the Dublin Intermediate Camogie team v Tipperary in the National League on Saturday.

Good luck to Killian McGinnis, Adam Fearon, Ciaran Murphy & the Dublin U20’s in the Leinster Final v Laois this Friday.

We are delighted to announce Allcare Pharmacy as sponsor of our Academy that caters for boys and girls ages 4-7 years providing best in class coaching and fundamental skills to our youngest members in a safe and fun environment.

ZINGO Result Sun 01 Mar 2020: 2-4-1-3-7-5-6 No Jackpot Winner, Dividend Winner - John Ward €150 next weeks Jackpot €2500. Play on line at www.skerriesharps.ie and follow the links. Thanks to all who support the Zingo every week. Draw takes place every Sunday evening at 6.30pm, all welcome!

Skerries Harps GAA & Camogie club is currently seeking new volunteers for the year ahead across all aspects of the club - if you feel you would like to get involved. Contact secretary. skerriesharps.dublin@gaa.ie. SKERRIES HARPS

THANK you to everyone who supported the U10 fundraiser on Saturday morning in the Coffee Shop and the Féile Quiz in Russell Park on Saturday evening. Most underage fixtures were cancelled over the weekend due to a combination of pitch closures and Storm Jorge. AFL10 had a good start to their season against Erin’s Isle as did minor hurlers against Kilmacud Crokes.

There is a big programme of adult and underage games scheduled for next weekend. Senior Hurlers fixed to play Craobh Chiarain in Russell Park at 10.30 on Sunday, Check the website for all details.

There was no Jackpot winner in our Club Lotto draw last Friday. Our next Jackpot rises to €9,400 and the draw will take place on Thursday evening 5th March in Russell Park. Thank you to all who support our Club Lotto and to our great Lotto Committee. Our Club Nursery, in association with Sherry Fitzgerald will be in action this Saturday 7th March from 9.30am to 11am when it will be indoors in Russell Park. All boys and girls aged between 4 and 6 are welcome, especially new families.

Club Shop with @ oreillyssports opening hours are now Monday, Wednesday and Friday - 5.30pm to 7.30pm, Saturday - 9.30am to 1.00pm. Please email: stbrigidsgaaclubshop@gmail.com for further information. Click on the button on the website to view the clothing range.

Our Club Bar is available for functions and Birthdays (21st parties and older). Ring 018202484 after 8.30pm any evening or call in and speak to Paddy.

Juvenile Handball Training continues every Wednesday evening at 7pm in Russell Park. All are welcome. Contact Enda on 086 8288308.

Keep up with all our news on our website www. stbrigidsgaa.com, our free to download Club App and our Facebook and Twitter pages.

LEINSTER SENIOR CUP Clongowes Wood College 29 St Vincent’s Castleknock College 19  sport@dublingazette.com

CASTLEKNOCK College’s hopes of a first Leinster Senior Cup final appear ance since 1983 were dashed as Clongowes Wood produced a superb second half performance at Donnybrook.

A 21-point haul in the second half was more than enough to overturn the six points they trailed Castleknock by at halftime.

Tries from Calum Dowl ing and a quickfire brace in the closing 10 minutes from Eddie Carr and Oisín Devitt sealed their spot in the last two despite the worrying opening to the game.

A lively start from Castleknock was reward ed in the sixth minute when winger Will Hennessy crashed over for the first score.

He found himself in acres of room on the right wing and full back Alex Watson fed him a perfect ly weighted pass.

The powerful running of Ciarán McCarrick was the driving force behind their relentless early attack.

But it was from a burst down the left flank from Jake Rooney that granted them the field position to score their second try. Clongowes prepare for their semi-final showdown with Castleknock College

When Clongowes were penalised for a high tackle just shy of their own goal line, quick-thinking Castleknock captain Louis McDonough went it alone, carried the tackle and dotted down.

Clongowes hit back quickly and lock Jack Kearney dotted down after a clever collabora tion between Rory Morrin and flanker Dowling allowed the latter to break the line.

As Dowling was tracked down by ’Knock, Kearney provided a good support line and the big second row was able to finish the move.

Castleknock’s speed of attack continued to cause problems for Clongowes and, but for some clever interventions, they could have been further behind at the break. Instead, it was just 14-8 at half time after David Wilkinson’s penalty cut the deficit.

The Clane school began the second period with plenty of possession but couldn’t get deep enough into Castleknock territory. Centre Fionn Gibbons came up with a big turno ver at a critical time in his own 22.

C l o n gowe s f i n a l l y edged in front in the 57th minute when Dowling bundled over from close range after countless phases across the Castle knock goal line. Wilkinson’s conversion made it 15-14.

However, that lead wasn’t to last long as Hennessy broke free once more before spreading the ball to Gibbons, then Wat son and onto the opposite winger Jake Rooney who

BALBRIGGAN man Andrew Coscoran was a dominant winner in the men’s 1,500m at the Irish Life Health National Indoor Athletics Championships in a new championship record of 3:41.36. In so doing, he eclipsed the old mark of 3.44 set by James Nolan in 2006. He had two seconds to spare over Raheny Shamrock’s Brian Fay – who also breached the old record – with a performance that could provide valuable world ranking points. Coscoran sat on Fay’s shoulder before pushing out the pace with 500 metres to go with a blistering turn of speed. Picture: sam Barnes/SPORTSFILE Coscoran smashes old 1,500 indoor record

grounded in the corner under pressure.

Such was the nature of this second half, Clon gowes came right back at Knock and a quickfire double made sure of their place at the RDS Arena on St Patrick’s Day.

First, replacement prop Carr grounded under neath the posts before scrum half Devitt broke clear from his own half and weaved his way to the line impressively.

Wilkinson added the extras to both tries to put Clongowes out of sight.

Harps off to a flying Skerries Harps’ Stephen Smith on the attack. Picture: Martin Doherty

AFL DIVISION ONE ROUND-UP  sport@dublingazette.com

SKERRIES Harps got the best of St Brigid’s for the second season running as they opened up their AFL Division One campaign on a winning note at Russell Park.

The season had initially been due to get under way on February 16 but Storm Ciara washed out the first date with Clontarf for Skerries; they hit the ground running in this one.

Terry McGinnis, returning for a sec ond stint of management, faced a dificult task in fielding a bare 15 for this opening away fixture with at least nine first team players unavailable for various reasons, intercounty call-ups among them.

The aftermath of Storm Jorge meant conditions were not the best with Harps facing a howling gale in the first half on an all-weather surface.

A brilliant early goal from Stephen Smith set up the Skerries side to lead at half time 1 -2 to 0-4, angling his shot into the top corner for the game’s defin ing moment.

With the wind at their back, Harps just did enough despite losing midfield er Donal Cotter to injury. Rob McKey and Robbie Clinton landed points while Ciaran Murphy added two more while Smith was to end the con test with 1-2 to his name.

Next on Skerries’ agenda is a derby date with St Maur’s on March 15. The Rush side got off to a winning start with Chris Carthy putting in an outstanding performance in their defeat of Castle knock.

Having suffered relegation in 2018, Knock responded by sealing the Divi sion Two title in fine style last year.

They edged up front during a lowscoring opening in Rush, before Carthy rattled the net on the stroke of 20 min utes. The dynamic attacker continued to lead by example for the remainder of the half and the hosts ultimately brought a 1-5 to 0-5 buffer into the interval.

It remained finely-balanced on the restart and Castleknock twice trailed by a single point in the closing moments of the contest. However, Maur’s struck a brace of late points to register a 1-12 to 0-12 success.

Naomh Mearnog fell to Kilmacud Crokes on day one, 2-14 to 0-8.

In Division 2, Ballyboughal enjoyed a productive 2019 in Division Two and began their latest odyssey with a 1-15 to 2-9 triumph over Whitehall Colmcille at Collins Avenue, thanks in no small part to a number of long-range scores from Gerry Seaver.

An impressive second half perfor mance from Cormac Costello was not enough to save Whitehall from defeat. It was a mixed opening to the new league season for Fingallians and Tem

Skerries’ Sean Rocks. Picture: Martin Doherty pleogue Synge Street, who clashed on the first weekend of last year’s Division One campaign.

Fingallians suffered a 1-9 to 0-10 reversal at the hands of St Sylvester’s at Broomfield, while Templeogue played out a 1-11 to 0-14 draw with Round Tower Lusk in Dolphin Park. CASTLEKNOCK had two starters in the Dublin senior football team for the first time last weekend as Eoin O’Brien lined out at full-back with Ciaran Kilkenny for their tie with Tyrone at Healy Park, Omagh.

A Rory Brennan goal in the 69th minute saw Tyrone to victory.

The Dubs lost possession inside the Red Hands half and were punished to the full by a clinical Brennan finish. As the game moved into injury-time, Kevin McManamon had a ‘half-chance’ of bringing the sides level but his left-footed effort went wide.

This was Dublin’s first defeat of their league campaign following wins over Mayo and Donegal and draws with Kerry and Monaghan. They face Meath in two weeks before concluding their regulation games against Galway. In a very difficult night for football, Tyrone’s handling was arguably better and the deadball accuracy of keeper Niall Morgan was central to their victory; he slotted four points.

It was level at halftime before Peter Harte edged Tyrone ahead. Dublin responded with scores from Cillian O’Shea, following good interplay with Paul Mannion, Niall Scully and a Dean Rock free to move 1-5 to 0-6 in front by the 41st minute. However, Tyrone through successful frees from Darren McCurry and Morgan moved ahead, 0-10 to 1-6, with five minutes to play.

Rock equalised but the injury time goal decided matters.

SKERRIES’ TOP START IN AFL1 FOOTBALL: Skerries Harps win well against St Brigid’s despite being down to the bare bones for the first day of AFL1. SEE P31

RUGBY:The long wait to contest the Leinster Senior Cup final continues for St Vincent’s Castle knock. SEE P30

SOCCER: Sutton stunned by Glasnaoin as the race for UCFL promotion keeps swinging back and forth. SEE P29 MID-SUTTON STUNNED

 DAVE DONNELLY sport@dublingazette.com

BRIAN McCarthy hopes it’s second time lucky as he looks to take his St Mochta’s side into the FAI Intermediate Cup final for the first time.

M c C a r t hy w a s i n charge of the Clonsilla side when they reached t h e s e m i - f i n a l s i n 2014/15 and lost 2-0 to a Tolka Rovers side at the peak of their powers.

He hopes to go one step further in two weeks’ time when the Saints make the short trip north to face Malahide United at Gannon Park.

Malahide, like Mochta’s, have never reached the final of ama teur football’s biggest cup competition and are currently riding high at the top of the Sunday Senior Division.

Mochta’s can over take them with games in hand, while Killester Donycarney and Bangor GG are also contenders in one of the most open title races in years.

Killester face a trip to Cork to face the winner of Ringmahon Rangers and College Corinthians, but the familiarity between the two Dublin clubs adds a little extra spice to their encounter.

“As much as Malahide would know us, we’d know them a lot,” McCa rthy told Dublin Gazette. “They’re a good side with very good players. Ger [Coughlan] is doing a very good job up there. Sometimes you’d rather play a team you know St Mochta’s celebrate a goal during their 2-2 draw with Malahide United in February

“ Sometimes you’d rather play a team you know than a team you don’t know. “ than a team you don’t know. It’s going to be a tough game – there’s no doubt about that. I just think whatever team, on the night, wants it that bit more will win, and hopefully that’s us.”

McCarthy led Mochta’s all the way up the inter mediate pyramid before guiding them to their first-ever top-tier title in 2016/17. The one accolade the current Leinster Senior League representative manager is lacking from his impressive CV is an Intermediate Cup – and his players are just as hungry to get their hands on it.

“It’s huge – it’s the second-biggest cup com petition next to the FAI Senior Cup.

“From that perspec tive, to win it would be a huge achievement.

“I know the players are desperate to win it, and I’d love to win it as a manager.

“You want to win eve rything you’re in at the start of the season, to win as much as you can.” The prospect the two teams will be duking it out for the league title come April and May adds another layer of intrigue to add to the tie.

With just three league defeats between them all season, there is unlikely to be an awful lot to sep arate the sides – both on the pitch and in terms of the league table.

“The two of us are going well and we’ll be there and thereabouts at the end of the season. There’s always lots of twists.

“The year we won [the league], in the fourthlast match of the season I thought we’d blown it. Then we won three in a row and won it.

“It will be a good cup tie on a good pitch and a good crowd, being a local game.

“We’ll look forward to it and see what hap pens.”