Cuala Triumph Over Ballymun Kickhams to Reach First Dublin Senior Final in 36 Years

Picture Courtesy Sportsfile

CUALA 0-16 

BALLYMUN KICKHAMS 1-8

Cuala progressed to their first Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship decider since 1988 when overcoming a disappointing Ballymun Kickhams by five points at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

Their margin of victory was an accurate barometer of the dominance that they exerted, particularly in a second-half in which they held their opponents scoreless for twenty-two minutes.

With the wind at their backs, it was Cuala who enjoyed a slender 0-7 to 0-6 lead at half-time with Con O’Callaghan leading the way with three points while Robbie Bolger was the pick of the Kickhams attack with a brace of points from play.

The Dalkey side pushed on after the break as Con O’Callaghan kicked five scores on the bounce and they were rarely troubled at the opposite end despite a goal in added time from Dean Robertson.

It was Kickhams that seized the early initiative with a point into the breeze from Paddy Small in the 3^rd minute with Niall O’Callaghan levelling matters with a cracking point from distance four minutes later.

Con O’Callaghan edged Cuala in front through a straightforward free in the 8^th minute but Robbie Bolger worked sufficient room to curl over an excellent point to restore parity once again.

The Dalkey outfit missed three presentable chances from placed balls and another couple from play in the opening quarter, failing to avail of the strong breeze at their backs as they fell behind to a Dean Rock free in the 13^th minute.

James McCarthy doubled the Kickhams lead in the 18^th minute but Kickhams lost a degree of momentum as John Small was temporarily replaced in the 20^th minute with Cuala consequently enjoying their most productive period of the half.

Another free by Con O’Callaghan preceded a Luke Keating point and the former regained the lead for the Dalkey side when converting from a ‘mark’ in the 23^rd minute.

Scores from Bolger and Rock ensured that Ballymun were gaining a healthy return on their limited sorties into enemy territory while a Keating free approaching the break saw the teams deadlocked for fifth time.

Substitute Cillian Dunne was exerting a strong influence for Cuala at midfield while Charlie McMorrow was similarly involved and it was Dunne who eked out an interval lead for his side when pointing with the last kick of the half.

A sublime score from McCarthy within thirty seconds of the resumption saw Ballymun back on parity but that didn’t last long as Cal Doran showed lightning pace and a composed head to restore his team’s lead a minute later.

It was of scant surprise to see the teams back on level terms as Davy Leonard curled over from Bolger’s pass in the 39^th minute.

It looked like only a goal could put real daylight between the teams and after Con O’Callaghan had edged Cuala clear once again, it nearly arrived in the 43^rd minute but Seán Currie showed great reflexes in repelling a powerful effort from Dunne.

With Michael Fitzsimons making a series of inspired runs from deep, Cuala were beginning to create greater pressure on the Kickhams defence and a brace of points from Con O’Callaghan pushed their lead to three points by the 48^th minute.

Ballymun’s fatigue was all too obvious at this stage as they conceded further points to Con O’Callaghan, Niall O’Callaghan in addition to substitutes Conor Groarke and Conor O’Brien.

Robertson managed a consolation goal for Ballymun in the first minute of added time but that score arrived far too late to spare them their fate as Cuala managed out the closing three minutes in relative comfort.

Scorers – Cuala: C O’Callaghan 0-8 (6f, 1 mark); L Keating (1f), N O’Callaghan 0-2 each; C Doran, C O’Brien, C Dunne, C Groarke 0-1 apiece. Ballymun Kickhams: D Robertson 1-0; D Rock (2f), R Bolger, J McCarthy 0-2 each; P Small, D Leonard 0-1 apiece.

Cuala: R Scollard; D Conroy, C McMorrow, E O’Callaghan; E Kennedy, M Fitzsimons, D O’Dowd; P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, P Duffy; J Power, C O’Callaghan, C Doran; L Keating, N O’Callaghan, C Ó Giolláin. Subs: C Dunne for Duffy (7), M Conroy for D Conroy (34), C Mulally for Power (36), C Groarke for Keating (47), C O’Brien for Ó Giolláin (54).

Ballymun Kickhams: S Currie; E Dolan, L Young, E Hill; C Tighe, J Small, D Leonard; J McCarthy, A Elliot; D Robertson, P Small, C McCormack; D Byrne, R Bolger, D Rock. Subs: F Andrews for J Small (Temp sub, 20-26), F Andrews for Elliot (half-time), D Conlon for Dolan (half-time), D Keating for Byrne (46), C McManus for Leonard (52), A Hubbard for Tighe (60).

Referee: Dan Stynes (St Peregrine’s).