Plunkett’s take SFC ‘B’ honours

St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh are 2016 Dublin SFC ‘B’ champions after defeating last year’s winners, Cuala, 0-12 to 0-11 in Wednesday night’s decider at Parnell Park.

The Navan Road side opened very impressively but were made battle all the way in a competitive battle.

Plunkett’s led 0-7 to 0-6 at the break having moved 0-4 to 0-0 clear inside just six minutes.

Leigh Herron, Tomás Corrigan (free), Gareth Smith and David Kelly were all on target before Cuala finally opened their account.

But the Cuala lads fired back with scores from James Power, Luke Keating, Niall Carthy and a free from goalkeeper Darren McBrien to draw level by the 18^th minute.

It got better for the southsiders when a Luke Keating free edged them in front as Cuala slotted their fifth points without reply.

Niall Walsh got Plunkett’s first point in 15 minutes before a second free from Tomás Corrigan put the Navan Road side back in front, 0-6 to 0-5 in the 22^nd minute.

But in this ding-dong battle Luke Keating equalised before against Plunkett’s forged ahead again thanks to a point from Alan Brogan.

The second half continued along the pattern established towards the close of the opening one.

A Tomás Corrigan free extended Plunkett’s lead to 0-8 to 0-6 but Con O’Callaghan reduced it to the minimum again.

The sides continued to exchange points til late in the battle with points from Pádraic Lee and a Gareth Smith free had Plunkett’s 0-12 to 0-10 clear with five minutes left.

Luke Keating, with a free, cut the deficit to one with three minutes to go but Cuala could not muster the winning scores or force the game into extra-time.