Cuala progress in high-scoring semi-final duel

Mon, 12th October 2015

CUALA 0-27 BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 1-21

Cuala are through to the Dublin SHC final after an impressive victory over Ballyboden St Enda’s in Sunday’s semi-final at Parnell Park.

In an excellent high tempo, high quality tussle Cuala’s greater firepower was crucial as Boden were over-reliant on scoring sensation Paul Ryan who finished with an individual tally of 1-17.

In the likes of Mark Schutte, who scored 0-6 from play, David Treacy and Colm Cronin Cuala had match-winners up front while their defence played as a solid unit with wing-back Seán Moran also getting two excellent points.

A crucial spell for Cuala came just inside the last ten minutes of the opening half when they hit four unanswered points in quick succession – David Treacy accounting for three and Nicky Kenny the other.

This gave their side huge confidence as they moved 0-11 to 0-5 clear and it was an advantage they held at the interval when leading 0-14 to 0-9.

Cuala continued to hold the upperhand in the second half however Paul Ryan’s converted penalty in the 45^th minute suggested the experienced Boden might make a timely run for home.

Ryan followed with two points to cut the deficit to the minimum, 0-20 to 1-16, with 12 minutes remaining.

But Cuala steadied themselves again and were full value for their victory and now await the winners of the St Jude’s v Lucan semi-final in the county decider.

SCORERS – Cuala: D Treacy 0-14 (0-12f), M Schutte 0-6, C Cronin 0-3, S Moran 0-2, N Kenny, B Connolly 0-1 each. Ballyboden St Enda’s: P Ryan 1-17 (1-0 pen, 0-12f), S Durkin, D Curtin, D O’Connor, F McGarry 0-1 each.

CUALA: S Brennan; S Timlin, C O’Callaghan, R Tierney; S Stapleton, P Schutte, S Moran; D O’Connell, O Gough; C Waldron, C Cronin, N Kenny; D Treacy, M Schutte, S Treacy. Subs: J Sheanon for Tierney (ht), B Connolly for Kenny (42).

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: G Maguire; K Wigglesworth, D Curran, S O’Connor; S Hiney, S Lambert, J Madden; S Durkin, N McMorrow; D Curtin, P Ryan, C McCormack; D O’Connor, C Keaney, C O’Neill. Subs: F McGarry for Curtin (34), D O’Callaghan for McCormack (36), M Weldon for Madden (45), E O’Neill for C O’Neill (48).

REF: A Keating (Setanta).