Strong first-half paves way for Cuala win over Brigid’s in SHC ‘A’ quarters

DUBLIN SHC ‘A’ QUARTER-FINAL

CUALA 1-26 ST BRIGID’S 2-14

Holders Cuala kept their ambitions of back-to-back titles on track when defeating St Brigid’s by nine points in Sunday’s Dublin SHC ‘A’ quarter-final at Parnell Park.

The Dalkey side, who lined out without Con O'Callaghan, laid the platform for their victory with a dominant wind-assisted first-half display to lead by 11 points at the half-time break.

Brigid’s, led by Cian O’Sullivan, improved in the early part of the second-half but this repeat of last year’s final never turned into the close-fought battle many had anticipated.

Cian O’Sullivan’s brilliantly executed goal from 20 metres in the second minute of the second period raised his side’s hopes but the freetaking accuracy of David Treacy ensured Cuala kept their opponents at arm’s length.

Ten minutes from time Diarmud O Floinn’s goal put an end to any slight hopes Brigid’s of a late fightback – though Ruairí Convery did hit an injury-time consolation goal, with a brilliantly times overhead pull to send the sliotar flying past keeper Seán Brennan.

Crucually Cuala put in a strong opening half and by the break they were 0-19 to 0-8 ahead, that after Brigid’s had scored the last two points of the half through David Breslin and a Cian O’Sullivan free following a foul on Eoghan Dunne.

The opening minutes were even before the champions of last year established a very strong foothold.

Points from Diarmuid O Floinn (Cuala), Ciarán Kellett (St Brigid’s), a David Treacy free (Cuala), Cian O’Sullivan (St Brigid’s) saw the sides level before two David Treacy points (one free) pushed his side 0-4 to 0-2 up after five minutes.

Cian O’Sullivan, with his second point of the contest, brought equality again before Cuala reeled off four points in quick succession – Colm Cronin, David Treacy (two, one free), and Niall Carty, following an intercept from Darragh O’Connell, on target.

Cian O’Sullivan converted a free before Cuala put clear daylight between the sides with seven unanswered points.

David Treacy started the sequence with a point before Seán Moran, Darragh O’Connell, Liam Murphy, Niall Carthy, Murphy again and Jake Malone raised white flags to propel the Dalkey side into a 0-15 to 0-4 advantage.

Ciarán Kellett reduced the gap for Brigid’s but again they were put on the back foot as a long-range David Treacy free, a point from play off his left by the same player, and Mark Schutte tagging on another to push the lead out to 13 points, 0-18 to 0-5.

SCORERS – Cuala: D Treacy 0-14 (0-10f), D O Floinn 1-1, L Murphy 0-3 (0-1f) N Carty, M Schutte 0-2 each, D O’Connell, J Malone, S Moran, C Cronin 0-1 each. St Brigid’s: C O’Sullivan 1-9 (0-5f, 0-1 ‘65’), R Convery 1-0, P Winters, C Kellett 0-2 each, D Breslin 0-1.

CUALA: S Brennan; O Gough, Cian O’Callaghan, M Conroy; J Sheanon, D O’Connell, J Malone; S Moran, N Carty; S Treacy, D Treacy, C Cronin; D O Floinn, M Schutte, L Murphy. Subs: E Murphy for Carty (39), C Sheanon for Cronin (50), S Timlin for Conroy (53), K Kirwan for J Sheanon (56), N Kenny for D Treacy (58)

ST BRIGID’S: A Nolan; C Doyle, D Ryan, J O’Neill; A Dunphy, D Plunkett, M Kavanagh; L Purtill, K Mullaly; C Kellett, E Dunne, K Callaghan; P Winters, C O’Brien, C O’Sullivan. Subs: D Breslin for Callaghan (22), E McKeigue for Mullaly (29), R Convery for O’Brien (52), C Burke for Kellett (55).

REF: D Aston (Naomh Mearnóg).