DCU is responsible for much of Dublin’s success in recent years, according to Dublin’s Evan Comerford.
16 players on the Dublin panel were DCU students including Bernard Brogan, Philly McMahon, Jonny Cooper and Conor McHugh.
Comerford is a third year Athletic Therapy and Training student and he made his first championship start this summer. He played a part in creating history as Dublin won four in-a-row.
“All of us from Ballymun who play for Dublin went to DCU, they’ve been great to us, and we owe a huge amount to them.”
Comerford made his senior club debut with Ballymun Kickhams in 2015. He won multiple honours last year, including the All-Ireland as number two goalkeeper, and an All-Ireland under-21 title.
The Ballymun Kickhams goalkeeper thinks that university GAA is good for young players to break into their county starting teams and to get game time at a high level playing with other inter-county players.
“The good thing about college football is every year a new crop of lads are coming in.”
Dublin captain, Stephen Cluxton was forced off during the Leinster semi-final win against Longford after being tackled and Comerford replaced him after 20 minutes into the game. Cluxton was then forced out of the Leinster final with the rib injury.
It had been almost two years since someone other than Cluxton stood in Dublin’s goal for league or championship.
Comerford was given the No 1 jersey for Dublin’s last two league games earlier this year. Cluxton made his return as starting goalkeeper for the league final.
Speaking about his start in the Leinster final, the 20 year old said that some of the older players gave him advice. “There was a bit of pressure there. We don’t really read the media. Most of the pressure I felt came from myself. I wanted to prove to Dublin supporters and the rest of the lads on the panel that I was ready for it.”
Amy Donohoe
Image Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.