Cuala Progress To Senior 1 Semi Finals with victory over Castleknock

Courtesy Shay Hogan

CUALA 2-13 

CASTLEKNOCK 1-10 

Cuala progressed to the last four of the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship following their six-point victory over Castleknock at Parnell Park on Friday evening.

The Dalkey outfit enjoyed a 1-6 to 0-4 interval advantage with Eoin Kennedy’s goal in the 27^th minute the pivotal moment of the half.

A Con O’Callaghan goal in the 42^nd minute effectively settled the issue with Conor Chawke’s goal three minutes from time arriving far too late to spare Castleknock their fate.

Despite taking the lead through a fine Niall O’Callaghan point in the 4^th minute, Cuala ‘s attack struggled to fire initially as their opponents levelled matters through a Luke Swan free a minute later.

Niall Kilroy turned down a presentable goal chance two minutes later as he elected to punch over after an incisive run by Kevin Stephenson, edging Castleknock in front in the process. 

Having spurned two earlier chances, Con O’Callaghan finally found his radar with a booming effort in the 12^th minute and he popped over a tricky free within two minutes to regain the lead for Cuala.

Another free, this time from Luke Keating, doubled their advantage at the start of the second quarter and while the impressive Swan replied with his second free of the half, Cuala restored their marginal two-point buffer through a ‘lesser-spotted’ point from full-back Michael Fitzsimons.

Castleknock still remained a threat up front as Ger McDermottroe popped over a facile free following a lively counter-attack but Con O’Callaghan converted a less straightforward free in the 25^th minute to keep his side on the front foot.

Their position was greatly enhanced two minutes later as Kennedy burst down the left flank and while seemingly short of options, he found sufficient space to cut inside and plant a low shot beyond Morven Connolly.

Cuala’s five-point interval lead was increased by a second Keating free and a fisted Peter Duffy effort and their dominance was even more pronounced as Niall O’Callaghan fired over the crossbar from fifteen metres in the 35^th minute.

His elder brother Con fisted over to push Cuala nine points clear and while Swan and McDermottroe replied with scores in the 39^th minute, Charlie McMorrow’s mishit attempt deceived Connolly as it bounced over his crossbar.

Matters deteriorated for Castleknock in the 42^nd minute as Con O’Callaghan was handed far too much room close to goal and his rising effort crashed into the net via the helpless hand of Connolly.

Admittedly, they responded well to this body blow, kicking the next three scores through a brace of McDermottroe frees and a superb Swan effort but the goal required to ignite a genuine comeback proved elusive, for the time being at least.

Despite Cuala finishing the game with fourteen following a black card for Eoghan O’Callaghan, they never looked likely to cede their control on proceedings despite a deflected effort by Conor Chawke in the 58^th minute that nestled in the top corner of Ryan Scollard’s net.

Scorers – Cuala: C O’Callaghan 1-4 (0-2f); E Kennedy 1-0; L Keating (2f), N O’Callaghan 0-2 each; R Scollard (‘45’), M Fitzsimons, C McMorrow, P Duffy, C Doran 0-1 apiece. Castleknock: G McDermottroe 0-5 (4f); L Swan 0-4 (2f); C Chawke 1-0; N Kilroy 0-1.

Cuala: R Scollard; D Conroy, M Fitzsimons, E O’Callaghan; E Kennedy, C McMorrow, D O’Dowd; P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, P Duffy; C Doran, C O’Callaghan, J Power; L Keating, N O’Callaghan, C Ó Giolláin. Subs: C Dunne for Power (37), C Groarke for Ó Giolláin (50), J Fitzsimons for O’Dowd (56), C Mullally for Kennedy (60), C O’Brien for N O’Callaghan (60).

Castleknock: M Connolly; E Walsh, R Shaw, T Shields; A Hughes, R O’Shea, C Murphy; K Stephenson, L Swan; G McDermottroe, C Chawke, N Kilroy; B Galvin, C Kilkenny, E Sawyer. Subs: T McDaniel for Sawyer (38), D Leonard for Hughes (42), E McSherry for Galvin (43), T Lowe for Kilroy (51).

Referee: Darren Delaney (Wanderers).