Cuala Clinch Historic First All-Ireland Football title with Thrilling Win Over Errigal Ciarán

Picture Courtesy Sportsfile

CUALA 3-14 

ERRIGAL CIARÁN 1-16

Three first-half goals proved pivotal as Cuala claimed the Andy Merrigan Cup for the first time in their illustrious history when overcoming Errigal Ciarán by four points at Croke Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Dalkey outfit were sublime during the opening period, finding the net on three occasions through Cal Doran, David O’Dowd and Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne on their way to an emphatic 3-9 to 0-5 interval lead.

Errigal improved immeasurably in the second-half, driven on by Peter Harte, and his goal in the 39^th minute ensured a far more nervy conclusion for Cuala, who ultimately joined their hurlers of the last decade at the top table as All-Ireland champions.

In doing so, they became just the second club in the country to achieve All-Ireland senior success in both codes, mirroring the feat of St Finbarr’s from the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.

Cuala could not have wished for a more positive start, forcing two turnovers before they finally opened the scoring in the 4^th minute through Niall O’Callaghan’s left boot.

Their ability to strike from deep was evident soon after as another move down the right culminated in Michael Fitzsimons releasing Cal Doran for a smart, low finish beyond Darragh McAnenly from ten yards.

While Thomas Canavan replied with a 7^th minute free for Errigal Ciarán, Cuala continued to control matters with points in quick succession by Luke Keating (free) and Con O’Callaghan propelling them five points clear by the 9^th minute.

The latter added a ‘45’ three minutes later before Cuala enhanced their supremacy as David O’Dowd slotted home from close range following a pass by the hugely influential Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne.

The procession towards the Errigal Ciarán goal continued unabated, helping yield frees by both Keating and Con O’Callaghan, before the latter turned provider in the 25^th minute as he released Ó Cofaigh Byrne for a cool finish across McAnenly.

Joe Oguz registered Errigal’s first score from play as late as the 26^th minute and they derived some encouragement in attack as they added to their tally through Ruairí Canavan and Odhran Robinson.

However, the half finished as it had begun with both Niall O’Callaghan and Con O’Callaghan (free) on target as Cuala entered the break with a mammoth thirteen-point buffer.

Errigal Ciarán were a hugely different proposition upon the resumption, despite having lost talisman Darragh Canavan through injury, as they dictated the early tempo following three points in as many minutes from Harte, Thomas Canavan and Ciarán McGinley.

A sublime Con O’Callaghan score at the opposite end should have settled Cuala but the precision of their first-half showing was becoming a distant memory as they played second fiddle for the large part to their determined opponents.

Frees from both Thomas Canavan and Ruairí Canavan reduced Errigal’s deficit even further and despite O’Dowd kicking a crucial point in the 39^th minute, Cuala were rocked soon after as Harte fired a rocket into the top left-hand corner of Ryan Scollard’s net.

While Keating and Peter Duffy clipped over points for Cuala as the contest evolved, their opponents remained in touch with substitute Pádraig McGirr kicking an excellent score to leave just four points separating the sides by the 54^th minute.

Another Harte score reduced Cuala’s lead even further but a smart incision from Con O’Callaghan allowed Conor Groarke to chance to fist over the insurance score, completing a wonderful day for club football and hurling in the capital.

Scorers – Cuala: C O’Callaghan 0-5 (2f, 1 ‘45’); P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, D O’Dowd 1-1 each; C Doran 1-0; L Keating 0-3 (2f); N O’Callaghan 0-2; P Duffy, C Groarke 0-1 apiece. Errigal Ciarán: T Canavan 0-6 (4f); P Harte 1-2; R Canavan 0-3 (2f); J Oguz, C McGinley, O Robinson, M Kavanagh, P McGirr 0-1 apiece.

Cuala: R Scollard; D Conroy, M Fitzsimons, E O’Callaghan; D O’Dowd, C McMorrow, E Kennedy; P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, P Duffy; N O’Callaghan, C Doran, C Dunne; L Keating, C O’Callaghan, C O’Brien. Subs: C Groarke for O’Brien (42), M Conroy for Dunne (49), C Ó Giolláin for D Conroy (54).

Errigal Ciarán: D McAnenly; Ciarán Quinn, A McCrory, Cormac Quinn; P Óg McCartan, N Kelly, T Colhoun; B McDonnell, J Oguz; T Canavan P Harte, C McGinley; O Robinson, D Canavan, R Canavan. Subs: M Kavanagh for D Canavan (Temp Sub, 22), E Kelly for McGinley (48), P McGirr for Robinson (52), R McRory for T Canavan (63).

Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon).