Cuala stem Crokes comeback to secure SHC honours

CUALA 1-15 KILMACUD CROKES 0-15

Holders Cuala are back-to-back Dublin senior hurling champions after edging out southside rivals Kilmacud Crokes in a tense battle at Parnell Park on Sunday.

Crokes had a nightmare opening 20 minutes but came alive in the second period and after trailing by eight points, 1-5 to 0-0, after 23 minutes got in front with less than ten minutes to go.

Sub Dillon Mulligan got three points for Crokes after coming off the bench and his point in the 51st minute put the Stillorgan men 0-14 to 1-9 in front.

But Cuala showed the experience of champions and refused to panic with scores from Nicky Kenny and Colm Cronin bringing the sides level with five minutes of normal time to play.

A fine snapshot from Seán Treacy pushed Cuala in front and his older brother David made it a two-point lead in a frenetic finish.

Oisín O'Rorke converted a free from 75 metres to give Crokes hope before Cronin and Mark Schutte made sure Cuala were champions for the first time in their history for two years in-a-row.

In the opening half Crokes were left to rue a nightmare opening as Cuala settled immediately and bossed the opening half for the most part.

Colm Cronin's fourth minute goal after good pressure from Mark Schutte in the corner forced Crokes to cough up possession.

Cronin followed with a point and in the sixth minute Cuala almost had a second goal but Ronan Walsh was back on the line to scramble the sliotar away.

The Dalkey men followed with a '65' and free from David Treacy and further scores from Mark Schutte and the impressive Nicky Kenny, from a long delivery by Jake Malone, to lead 1-5 to 0-0 after 21 minutes..

Oisín O'Rorke found his range from a '65' to open Crokes account in the 24th minute but points from the hard working Seán Moran and Kenny moved Cuala 1-7 to 0-1 clear.

Crokes did finish the half out well enough to give them confidence for the second period with three O'Rorke points, two from frees to leave Cuala 1-8 to 0-4 in front at half-time.

The second half was a different story as Crokes played with far greater intensity while their touch which had deserted them at times in the opening half was far more secure.

Ollie Baker's men hit eight unanswered points in the second half with O'Rorke (four, including two frees and a '65'), Mulligan, Caolan Conway and Fergal Whitely to lead 0-12 to 1-8 with 13 minutes remaining.

But a long-range David Treacy free from 75 metres halted their scoring streak temporarily before O'Rorke and  Mulligan nosed Crokes back in front again.

It was all to play for in the final five minutes but it was the reigning champions who showed their nerve to get the winning scores.

Cuala face Laois champions, Borris-Kilcotton, next Sunday in Parnell Park (2.0) in the AIB Leinster Club SHC quarter-final.

Check out the highlights from the game:

SCORERS - Cuala: C Cronin 1-3, D Treacy 0-5 (0-3f, 0-1 '65'), N Kenny 0-3, M Schutte 0-2, S Moran, S Treacy 0-1 each. Kilmacud Crokes: O O'Rorke 0-10 (0-5f, 0-2 '65'), D Mulligan 0-3, C Conway, F Whitely 0-1 each.

CUALA: S Brennan; O Gough, Cian O'Callaghan, S Timlin; J Malone, P Schutte, J Sheanon; S Moran, D O'Connell; C Waldron, C Cronin, D Treacy; S Treacy, N Kenny, M Schutte. Subs: Con O'Callaghan for Waldron (43).

KILMACUD CROKES: M Collins; N Corcoran, R Walsh, J Clinton; B O'Carroll, J Doughan, C MacGabhann; R O'Loughlin, N O Riordáin; R O'Dwyer, O O'Rorke, C Conway; F Whitely, R O'Carroll, S McGrath. Subs: D Mulligan for O'Loughlin (29), D Kelly for O Riordáin (54), A Considine for Whitely (58).

REF: S Stack (Parnell's).