Cuala finish strong to defeat Lucan in SHC ‘A’ semi-final

DUBLIN SHC 'A' SEMI-FINAL

CUALA 1-17 LUCAN SARSFIELDS 0-13

Holders Cuala kept their hopes of back-to-back titles alive when they put in a storming last quarter to defeat Lucan Sarsfields in Sunday’s Dublin SHC ‘A’ semi-final at Parnell Park.

Cuala, who had been playing catch-up for most of the earlier part of the contest, outscored their opponents 1-6 to 0-1 in the closing ten minutes plus added time.

A CJ Smith point gave Lucan a 0-12 to 0-11 lead in the 48^th minute but their only other score before the finish was a 50^th Ben Coffey free as Cuala took control.

Con O’Callaghan, now operating at full-forward, was central to Cuala’s scoring surge, in his first game back after missing recent games in both codes owing to injury.

Seán Moran’s 49^th minute goal, following good work by Con, was the crucial score as it gave the Dalkey side the lead for the first time since the opening minute.

Con O’Callaghan tagged on a point and after Coffey’s free Cuala struck the last five points of this physical contest.

Seán Moran put over a free, following a foul on Con O’Callaghan, and further scores from Seán Treacy, a fine Colm Cronin point and another from Colum Sheanon saw Cuala six points clear before Con O’Callaghan added the final point.

Lucan held a 0-7 to 0-5 half-time lead, though they had lost defender Alan Murphy to injury, and the second half continued in much the same fashion as the first with Lucan slightly holding the edge.

Chris Crummey struck over a great point following an excellent fetch and layoff from this younger brother Paul in the 36^th minute.

Then Con O’Callaghan gave a few glimpses of what was to follow later in the half when he lost his hurley close to goal but was fouled in the process for David Treacy to convert.

With 20 minutes remaining keeper Seán Brennan picked O’Callaghan out with a long puck out and the Dublin senior footballer did the rest to cut Lucan’s lead to 0-9 to 0-8.

The game had opened up now and Lucan had made it 0-11 to 0-9 when Kevin Fitzgerald struck a brilliant long-range point after being placed by a well directed Cillian Murray puckout.

Points from Diarmuid O Floinn and David Treacy, a free after a foul on Seán Moran, had the sides level 0-11 before CJ Smith pointed to briefly give Lucan the lead.

However, their big-game experience showed over the conclusion as Willie Maher’s side drove on for victory.

Lucan enjoyed the better of the opening half and by the half-time interval led 0-7 to 0-5.

Lucan started the first half on top and despite Cuala opening the scoring it was mostly Sarsfields until the first half water-break.

Seán McCaffrey’s men brought great intensity to the battle and gained the upperhand to lead 0-5 to 0-1 after 15 minutes.

Niall Carty got Cuala off the mark in the first minute but they failed to score again in thce first quarter.

Two Ben Coffey frees as well as scores from Kevin Fitzgerald, punished a misplaced pass from Cuala keeper Seán Brennan to Michael Conroy, and Paul Crummey saw Lucan on top.

Just before the water-break Peter Kelly struck over with great accuracy from 60 metres following good work by defender Alan Murphy.

From then to the interval Cuala improved and tested Lucan keeper Cillian Murray on two occasions.

David Treacy struck two frees after the water-break as did Lucan’s Ben Coffey but the game opened up slightly progressing toward the interval.

In the 30^th minute Cillian Murray showed good reflexes to stop and effort from Seán Moran with Liam Murphy pulling the rebound wide.

Before the break Mark Schutte angled through on goal but his effort high to the near post was parried out for a ‘65’ by the Lucan netminder, David Treacy converted it to make it a two-point game.

SCORERS – Cuala: D Treacy 0-7 (0-6f, 0-1 ‘65’), S Moran 1-1 (0-1f), Con O’Callaghan 0-3, D O Floinn 0-2, N Carty, S Treacy, C Cronin, C Sheanon 0-1 each. Lucan Sarsfields: B Coffey 0-7 (0-7f), K Fitzgerald 0-2, P Crummey, P Kelly, C Crummey, CJ Smith 0-1 each.

CUALA: S Brennan; O Gough, Cian O’Callaghan, M Conroy; D O’Connell, J Sheanon, J Malone; N Carty, S Treacy; S Moran, M Schutte, D O’Floinn; D Treacy, Con O’Callaghan, L Murphy.Subs: C Cronin for Carty (ht), S Timlin for Conroy (51), C Sheanon for L Murphy (46), E Murphy for D Treacy (58).

LUCAN SARSFIELDS: C Murray; P Claffey, J Bellew, A Murphy; P Rigney, J McCaffrey, M McCaffrey; R Smith, K Fitzgerald; P Kelly, C Crummey, B Coffey; C Dowling, P Crummey, CJ Smith. Subs: C Walsh for Murphy (25), H Ladd for Kelly (53), Eoghan Ó Conghaile for CJ Smith (55).

REF: S Stack (Parnell’s).