Resilience and patience are precious qualities in football, and Erin's Isle seem to have them in abundance. The Finglas team suffered three successive defeats in senior county finals before finally producing the coup de grace yesterday in front of a crowd of 9,000 at Parnell Park.

St Sylvester's had their chances to retain the title they won last year, but their manager Brian Talty admitted afterwards: "We were beaten by a better team on the day."

Erin's Isle overcame a 10-point deficit to beat St Vincent's in an extraordinary semi-final. Yesterday's fast-moving and absorbing final in almost perfect conditions produced nothing quite as dramatic, but Erin's Isle showed remarkable spirit after St Sylvester's equalised with a Shay Keogh pointed free 18 minutes into the second half.

Up to that stage, St Sylvester's had been playing catch-up football as a result of a shock, but brilliantly-executed, goal finished by Robbie Boyle in the third minute.

Erin's Isle were clinically efficient in the last quarter, after St Sylvester's had levelled the scores. Two quick points, from man-ofthe match Ciaran O'Hare and Keith Barr (briefly offset by a Niall Guiden point), were followed by a classy goal from O'Hare, after a little shimmy, and a Damien Collins point.

This barrage put the Finglas team in a commanding position (2-10 to 0-11) in the 59th minute.

Sylvester's had a consolation goal from a Declan Barnes penalty entering injury time - it was needed a lot earlier.

Lady luck had opted to frown on St Sylvester's around their opponents' goal. Guiden, for example, had a goal disallowed when only two points divided the sides 15 minutes into the second half. Keogh somehow kicked over the bar moments later when a goal seemed the easier option and Colm Earley struck a post with a shot which seemed bound for the net.

St Sylvester's' second half territorial advantage, gained to a considerable extent by the Barnes brothers, Brian, Martin and Declan, seemed to deserve a better return. They had trailed by 1-6 to 0-5 at the interval. Erin's Isle centre back Mick Deegan instigated many of the team's best attacks.

He scored a point, as did his flankers, Damien Collins and Gary O'Connell. "We battled on and got the scores," Deegan said. Nobody would argue with that. O'Connor (19) in is one of the four younger players in the side who were not involved when Erin's Isle won their first title in 1993. He must be considered as a huge find for the Dublin county team. The winners' team captain Ken Spratt marshalled his defence well.

Keith Barr and his brother John in midfield were most effective in the first half. Charlie Redmond played an astute roving role, while O'Hare and Boyle spelt danger for the opposition defence whenever they won possession. However, Erin's Isle may yet be fined for breaking away from the pre-match parade far too soon.