Cuala hope to write name into history books

Cuala (Dublin) v Oulart the Ballagh (Wexford)

Netwatch Cullen Park, Sunday 2pm

Sunday’s AIB Leinster club senior hurling championship final is a chance for Cuala and Oulart the Ballagh to make some important history.

Dalkey side Cuala, winners of the Dublin title for the first time in 21 years this season, are bidding to be the first Dublin senior hurling club since a star studded Crumlin in 1979 to lift a Leinster senior club title.

While at senior county level the Dublin hurlers have made significant progress in winning a first league title since 1939 in 2011 and then in July 2013 claiming a first Leinster senior championship crown since 1961, their progress at club level has been much slower.

As Dublin hurling continues to make improvements a Leinster club title would be seen as an important part of that development and indeed Cuala will call upon county stars such as David Treacy, Cian O’Callaghan, Colm Cronin and Mark and Paul Schutte in their bid to land a Leinster title, having beaten a fancied Clara from Kilkenny to get here.

Oulart the Ballagh meanwhile are looking to be the first Wexford team since Rathnure in 1998 to bring the Leinster title back to the Model County.

They are no strangers to this setting having contested but lost four finals in a row from 2010-2013.

When they failed to advance beyond the county quarter finals in 2014 it was seen in some quarters as the end of the line for a great team.

But they made light work of that analysis this year to win Wexford again and survived a tough battle with Clough Ballacolla of Laois to steel them for this challenge.

Paul Roche, Keith Rossiter, Des Mythen, Steven Doyle, Rory Jacob and Darren Stamp are serious talents who grew up together and who have not given up on the dream of being Leinster champions.

Tickets for Sunday’s game are no longer available online. However, tickets are available from participating Supervalu and Centra stores and on the day from designated ticket vans operating at the ground. Admission is €15 and Under 16s are admitted FREE. Senior Citizens and Students with appropriate ID can purchase a ticket for €10 – but this offer only applies to tickets bought on the day of the game.

AIB Leinster Club Hurling Championship - Roll of Honour

8 Titles

Ballyhale Shamrocks 1978, 80, 83, 89, 2006, 08, 09, 14

7 Titles

Birr 1991, 94, 97, 99, 2001, 02, 07

6 Titles

Rathnure 1971, 73, 77, 86, 87, 98

4 Titles

St Rynagh’s 1970, 72, 82, 93

James Stephen’s 1975, 81, 04, 05

3 Titles

Buffers Alley 1985, 88, 92

2 Titles

Camross 1976, 96

Glenmore 1990, 95

O’Loughlin Gaels 2003, 10

1 Title

Graigue Ballycallan 2000

St Martin’s 1984

Crumlin 1979

The Fenians 1974

Coolderry 2011

Kilcormac/Killoughey 2012

Mount Leinster Rangers 2013

Leinster Club Hurling Championship by County

Kilkenny clubs 19 Leinster titles – last winners Ballyhale Shamrocks 2014

Offaly clubs 13 Leinster titles – last winners Kilcormac/Killoughey 2012

Wexford clubs 9 Leinster titles – last winners Rathnure 1998

Laois clubs 2 Leinster titles – last winners Camross 1996

Dublin clubs 1 Leinster title – last winners Crumlin 1979

Carlow clubs 1 Leinster title – last winners Mount Leinster Rangers 2013

No club from Kildare, Longford, Louth, Meath, Westmeath or Wicklow has ever won a Leinster Senior Club Hurling title