Cuala progress to Leinster SHC final

Mon, 21st November 2016

CUALA 1-19 ST MULLIN’S (Carlow) 1-7

Cuala are into the Leinster Club SHC final for the second year in-a-row following their 12-point victory over Carlow champions St Mullin’s in Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday.

The Dublin champions will be hoping to go one better than last year when the face Kilkenny’s O’Loughlin’s Gaels on December 4 after being edged out by Wexford’s Oulart-The Ballagh 12 months ago.

“Obviously, O’Loughlins are going to bring a huge challenge. They’re Kilkenny champions. They’ve form in the All-Ireland series before … they’re going to be a serious challenge and we’re not underestimating what’s coming down the tracks,” said Cuala manager Mattie Kenny afterwards.

St Mullin’s got a great start when 11 minutes in John Murphy fired to the Cuala net to give them a 1-1 to 0-2 advantage.

However, Cuala showed their class to outscore the Carlow men 0-7 to 0-2 before the break to lead 0-9 to 1-3 at the half-time interval.

Eight minutes into the second half Con O’Callaghan followed up on his goal-scoring heroics of the previous round by adding another goal and Cuala were on their way with Seán Treacy playing a leading role for the Dalkey men.

Mark Schutte set up the chance for O’Callaghan who rifled to the net as Cuala drove onto the final dreaming of becoming the first Dublin club since Crumlin in 1979 to taste provincial hurling senior honours.

SCORERS - Cuala: D Treacy 0-7 (0-5f), Con O’Callaghan 1-3, S Treacy 0-3, M Schutte 0-2, J Malone, D O’Connell, C Cronin, C Sheanon 0-1 each. St Mullin’s: J Murphy 1-0, J Doyle 0-3 (0-1f), M Kavanagh (0-1f), J Kavanagh 0-2 each.

CUALA: S Brennan; S Timlin, Cian O’Callaghan, O Gough; S Moran, J Sheanon, P Schutte; J Malone, D O’Connell; C Waldron, C Cronin, D Treacy; Con O’Callaghan, M Schutte, S Treacy. Subs: C Sheanon for Waldron (50), S Stapleton for J Sheanon (57), R Tierney for S Treacy (57), B Fitzgerald for Cronin (59), N Carty for D Treacy (59).

ST MULLIN’S: K Kehoe; P Doyle, J Doran, G Bennett; D Whelan, P Kehoe, G Coady; J Kavanagh, M Walsh; J (Minor) Murphy, M Kavanagh, J Murphy; J Doyle, S Murphy, J Walsh. Subs: C Kavanagh for J (Minor) Murphy (ht), P Connors for J Walsh (50).

REF: P Burke (Kilkenny).