Cuala Set Sights on All-Ireland Glory in Semi-Final Showdown

By Conor Martin

Image Courtesy Des Pearson

They have a first ever Dublin Senior Football title in the bag, a first-ever Leinster Football title...and now Cuala look to keep their dreams of a first All-Ireland Football title alive, when they take on Coolera-Strandhill at Kingspan Breffni, Cavan in the AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Football Semi-Final on Saturday. 

Cuala won the Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship with a 100% record in 2024, claiming the Clerys Cup at the expense of Kilmacud Crokes, who were aiming for a fourth Dublin senior title in a row. 

In Leinster, a solid showing against Naas and Tullamore in their quarter and semi-finals respectively saw the Dalkey side earn a spot in the Leinster final, where they went on to beat Ardee St Marys by a point. 

Brothers Niall & Con O’Callaghan have been key to Cuala’s success in the county and provincial championships and will look to have a big say on Saturday. 

They can also call upon the likes of Luke Keating and Cillian Dunne to enhance the attacking threat. At the back, the experienced Michael Fitzsimons brings stability alongside the remainder of a talented half-back and full-back line that Cuala manager Austin O’Malley can rely on. 

Coolera-Strandhill won’t let Cuala have it all their own way; the Sligo senior football champions defended their title in 2024 and became county champions for the fifth time, beating Naomh Molaise Gaels in the Sligo decider for the second year in a row.

They navigated the early rounds of the Sligo championship with relative ease, with their only defeat coming at the hands of Shamrock Gaels. They would advance into the final with a win over St Mary’s despite only having one point to their name at the break. Niall Murphy was key to the semi-final, scoring an impressive seven points in the 0-10 to 1-4 win.

They would battle back in the final as they did in their previous outing; Ross Doherty equalised inside the final five minutes while Murphy top-scored for his side again as Coolera-Strandhill earned themselves a replay and a second bite of the county glory apple.

Murphy would continue his good form in the replay with three points, but the Coolera-Strandhill hero would be their captain, Peter Laffey, with two scores that proved crucial as they retained the Sligo title by a point.

Advancing into the provincial championships, they would take on Mayo champions Ballina Stephenites, who had beaten North London Shamrocks in the English capital in the previous round. 

Murphy would send the semi-final to penalties with two late scores and would deliver from the spot after the game had finished 0-9 to 0-9, with Coolera-Strandhill winning the shootout 5-4 and playing in the provincial final. 

Their experience of extra-time did them a favour in the Connacht final as they came back from five points down to beat Roscommon’s Pádraig Pearses to become Connacht champions for the first time ever. 

Murphy and former Dublin dual player Ross O’Carroll were on form, as were Sean Taylor, substitute Adam Higgins and Kevin Banks, who would take the game to extra-time with a 59th-minute point.

Ross Doherty would find the net after he flicked on Murphy’s free, which gave them a two-point lead at the halfway point in extra-time, while Higgins was influential, as he helped his side see out the game and become Connacht kings.

Both teams have achieved their own milestones in this Championship and after claiming their respective provincial trophies, both teams have the chance this weekend to go one step further in their quest to become All-Ireland champions.

You can buy tickets for Saturday's semi-final here

The game will also be shown live on TG4, throw-in 5pm.