PLAYERS from a Swords community football team celebrated another successful season so far in the comfort of their sponsors at the weekend.

Columba's Rovers have been lining out for nearly a decade and their cause this year has been helped by the support of the Old Schoolhouse Restaurant.

The team gathered in the venue at the weekend for their Christmas party and vice-chairman, Darragh Ryan, explained how they originally formed.

' We're a break-away from a club in Portrane and a lot of the lads living in the area decided to form a team,' Darragh told the Fingal Independent.

'All of our players are from around the Columba's area and we have a squad of 22, playing in the AFL Premier Saturday League.

' We all run the club ourselves and all of the lads have jobs to do. For example, I'm the vicechairman, and everyone else helps out marking pitches or putting up nets at our pitch in Newbridge House. Everyone does their part.'

Rovers have been successful in recent years, winning a Sunday league title five years ago, while last year they lifted the Maher Cup, beating Beaumont Athletic 3-2 in the final played at the NDSL.

' We're second in the league this year and it's been a good season so far,' Darragh added. 'The Old Schoolhouse have sponsored our away kit and Masterson's have sponsored our home kit.

'I'd like to thank Jay and all the staff at the Old Schoolhouse for supporting us and we've had a number of functions up there also.' No doubt Rovers will be hoping for more celebrations in the pub come the end of the season.

- Robin KIELY