Fri, 17th January 2025
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By Conor Martin
After a year of firsts, Cuala are just one step away from club football’s biggest prize.
The Dalkey men are aiming for All-Ireland glory again- as they look to add to the pair of All-Ireland Senior Hurling titles won in 2017 and 2018.
Standing in their way this weekend, however, is the large threat of Tyrone’s Errigal Ciaran in Sunday’s AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Football Final at Croke Park (3.40pm).
Cuala are looking to complete a hat-trick of first titles this weekend.
They won the Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship with a 100% record in October, claiming the Clerys Cup at the expense of Kilmacud Crokes thanks to Eoin Kennedy’s dramatic late point.
In Leinster, they beat Naas and Tullamore in the quarter and semi-finals to reach the Leinster final, where Ardee St Mary’s pushed them all the way before Luke Keating's injury-time free secured a maiden provincial football crown.
In the All-Ireland semi-final, Cuala were guilty of letting yet another comfortable lead slip once more as they were seven points up with 20 minutes on the clock left. Their task of holding on for the win was made harder when Eoghan O’Callaghan was black carded with six minutes left and it was left to his two brothers, Con and Niall, who saw Cuala home with an additional four points to book a place in the All-Ireland final.
Austin O’Malley is blessed with a strong panel and the O’Callaghan brothers have been key to Cuala’s success so far in this campaign and will look to have a big say at HQ in club football’s biggest game.
Cuala’s veteran attacker Keating will be looking to cap a remarkable club career with club football’s biggest honour while the likes of Cillian Dunne and Peter Duffy bring an increased flair to the side.
O’Malley can be thankful his side possesses the talent of Michael Fitzsimons at the back, who is more than capable of dealing with this Sunday’s talented opposition alongside the rest of a strong Cuala defence.
Errigal Ciaran have been hugely impressive from the start of the Tyrone Senior Football Championship up to now.
The Tyrone championship format is a straight-knockout competition and with there being no room for second chances, Errigal Ciaran have had to be on top of their game from the very first round in what is a very competitive championship.
They beat Pomeroy by three in the first round as they proceeded into the last eight where they overcame Clonoe after a replay.
They were then drawn into a real dogfight in their semi-final against Killyclogher emerging 1-12 to 2-8 victors thanks to a late Peter Harte score in the fourth minute of injury-time.
The reigning Tyrone champions, Trillick St MacCartans, would await them in the final and once again Errigal would be one-point winners. Ruairi Canavan would score six points as his side regained the Tyrone crown and began senior champions for the first time since 2022.
They would then end a long wait for Ulster success when they navigated the first two rounds of the Ulster championship before they booked their place in the provincial final with a one-point win over Clann Éireann. The sons of Tyrone legend Peter Canavan, Ruairí and Darragh, have been shining lights for their club this championship, as has their cousin Tommy Canavan, with all three members of that family leading the line in front of goals, with Ruairí scoring nine for himself.
A goal from Joe Oguz and significant contributions from Tommy Canavan and Peter Óg McCartan saw them overcome Kilcoo 1-8 to 0-10 as Errigal Ciaran lifted the Seamus McFerran Cup for the first time in 22 years.
In their All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry’s Dr Crokes, the Tyrone and Ulster champs showed they have the legs to go the distance as they eventually emerged 2-18 to 1-18 winners after extra time.
Once again the Canavan brothers were key to their club's success, with Darragh notching up 1-6 and 0-7 from Ruairí. McCartan would be Errigal’s hero with a late score in injury-time before Oguz would score at the start of extra-time to put the northerners in the driving seat.
Ben McDonnell and Mark Kavanagh also answered their club's call with scores to ensure a date in the All-Ireland final at Croke Park could be booked in the diary.
Enda McGinley is also spoilt for choice in this talented Errigal Ciaran panel, which also includes Peter Harte and Ronan McRory, bringing years of experience and talent that can work with the talent of the Canavan family and an impressive defensive and attacking line to help the northern club become All-Ireland champions for the first time.
With history beckoning for both clubs this weekend it’s bound to be an enterianing affair with history being made and a new name on the Andy Merrigan Cup.
