Raheny Get The Better Of Cuala In Go-Ahead Senior 1 Football Championship Opener

RAHENY 1-10 

CUALA 1-6 

A 36^th minute goal from Cian Ivers proved pivotal as Raheny got the better of Cuala by four points in their Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship Group 3 encounter at O’Toole Park on Saturday afternoon.

The winners struggled in the opening-half, scoring just a solitary point as they trailed by 1-3 to 0-1 at half-time, but they improved significantly the longer the contest evolved to secure a well-merited win.

Indeed, the margin of victory could well have been greater but for some less than distinguished shooting on their behalf but with Cuala offering little threat at the opposite end, it mattered little by the final whistle.

An excellent Con O’Callaghan point in the 2^nd minute offered hope of a free-flowing and exciting encounter but that proved a false dawn with Cuala failing to create many chances despite the elements in their favour.

Very little ball was played directly into their forward line, minimising their effectiveness in the process, and while Raheny showed greater intent, their marksmanship proved their undoing initially.

A wonderful block from Ben McHugh to deny Niall O’Callaghan in the 13^th minute kept Raheny well in the game but they failed to heed the warning signs as Cuala found the net five minutes later.

The goal was as simple as it was impressive as Ryan Scollard’s restart found Con O’Callaghan at midfield and his lengthy delivery found its way to Luke Keating, who finished impeccably to the net across Rob Hennelly.

Crucially, the Dalkey outfit failed to build on that score with Raheny finally opening their own account in the 27^th minute through a point by Colin Hehir.

Cuala finished the half impressively however as late points from James Power and Niall O’Callaghan pushed them five points ahead by the turnaround.

Brian Talty opened the second-half scoring with a tidy point in the 32^nd minute but Cuala looked to have found some fluency into the wind with Con O’Callaghan kicking a brace of points to enhance his side’s position.

The contest turned however as Ivers gathered a deflection close to goal with his precise finish mirroring that of Keating as it nestled in the bottom right corner of the goal.

Darren Lunney chipped in with two points to leave the bare minimum between the teams and while Con O’Callaghan doubled his team’s lead in the 44^th minute, it proved Cuala’s final score of the contest.

Brian Fenton and Ivers brought the teams level by the 49^th minute and with Cuala struggling on their kick-outs, Raheny enjoyed a monopoly on possession as they edged clear for the first time through a free from Hennelly in the 50^th minute.

Scollard made two excellent saves to deny Patrick Reid in the second-half but the momentum remained with Raheny as they moved three points ahead thanks to Brian Howard and Hennelly.

There was one final chance for Cuala to grab a share of the spoils as Niall O’Callaghan released Con O’Callaghan through on goal but his shot drifted agonisingly wide of the upright with Hennelly well beaten.

Scorers – Raheny: C Ivers 1-2 (0-2f), R Hennelly (2f), D Lunney (1-f) 0-2 each, C Hehir, B Fenton, B Howard, B Talty 0-1 apiece. Cuala: C O’Callaghan 0-4, L Keating 1-0, N O’Callaghan, J Power 0-1 apiece.

Raheny: R Hennelly; D Shatwell, B McHugh, D Byrne; C Hehir, S McMahon, R Real; B Fenton, B Howard; D Lunney, B Talty, S McCarthy; A McLoughlin, C Ivers, A McAweeney. Subs: P Reid for McAweeney (half-time), J O’Kane for Talty (43), S Grenham for McLoughlin (46), L Fahy for Lunney (54).

Cuala: R Scollard; D Sheerin, M Fitzsimons, E O’Callaghan; M Conroy, E Kennedy, D Ó Floinn; P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, P Duffy; J Power, C O’Callaghan, C Doran; L Keating, N O’Callaghan, C O’Brien. Subs: C Ó Giolláin for O’Brien (half-time), D Spillane for Doran (43), C Dunne for Ó Floinn (46), S Mangan for Power (54), J Fitzsimons for Kennedy (62).

Referee: David Sweeney (St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER)