Cuala v Ballymun Kickhams ends in stalemate - PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship

PTSB DUBLIN SENIOR 1 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP 4

CUALA 1-19

BALLYMUN KICKHAMS 2-16

By Daire Walsh

Con O’Callaghan came to the rescue of Cuala at O’Toole Park on Sunday as his successful two-point free deep into second half stoppage-time earned the 14-men Dalkey outfit a share of the spoils with Ballymun Kickhams at the end of a cracking Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship Group 4 encounter.

Despite losing Peter Duffy to a red card towards the end of the opening period, Cuala dug deep to ensure they got something out of this compelling battle. In total, O’Callaghan (a six-time All-Ireland senior winner with Dublin at inter-county level) amassed a personal haul of 0-9, though he was ably-assisted on the day by midfielder Cillian Dunne (1-2).

Even though he is now part of the Dublin senior men’s management team, Dean Rock remains a key figure for Ballymun and his 0-8 tally helped the northsiders to get into the reckoning for a potential win on the day. Longford native Keelin McGann also recorded 1-3 of Kickhams’ final tally and on the basis of this particular contest, both of these teams could have a big say in the destination of this year’s Senior 1 silverware.

Managed by former Mayo footballer Seamus O’Shea (who enjoyed countless battles with players on either side in the past with the green and red), Ballymun enjoyed a dream start to the action when wing-forward Cameron McCormack got on the end of a swift move to rattle the net with just 15 seconds gone on the clock.

This major was quickly complimented by points from McGann and Jamie Grant as Ballymun were looking to put out a strong statement of intent. Yet Cuala eventually got up and running with scores from Dublin senior duo Charlie McMorrow and Con O’Callaghan (free) and while ex-Sky Blues stalwart James McCarthy kicked a fine two-pointer at the far end, Ballymun were subsequently reined in by their opponents.

After Dunne and Niall O’Callaghan both joined McCarthy in registering two-point scores, a free from the latter’s brother Con helped Cuala to restore parity just shy of the first-quarter mark. Full-forward McGann proceeded to trade scores with his opposite number Con O’Callaghan, before Ballymun once again asserted themselves when a John Small point was immediately followed up by a McGann goal on 21 minutes.

Yet Ballymun suffered a temporary set-back moments later when midfielder Aaron Elliot picked up a black card and in his absence, Cuala once again created a sustained period of attacking momentum. While Rock did kick a point from play for Ballymun, Dunne struck a superb solo goal in between white flag efforts from the half-back pair of McMorrow and David O’Dowd to levelled matters once more.

However, Cuala received a blow when Duffy was sent off with the interval fast approaching and a later two-point free from Rock meant Ballymun were 2-9 to 1-10 in front on the restart.

There might have been an expectation that a Ballymun side who were now restored to their full compliment were going to push on in the second half. Even though Eoghan O’Callaghan kicked a score all of eight minutes after the resumption for Cuala, a Rock two-pointer from play offered Ballymun additional leeway.

Nevertheless, Con O’Callaghan was on target either side of another McGann point as Cuala were beginning to make light of their numerical deficiency. A fisted point from substitute Jamie Conroy edged them a step closer to the four-time senior champions and they finally restored parity on the stroke of 50 minutes when the ever-reliable Con O’Callaghan split the posts from play.

In fact, after a Rock free had seemingly settled the Ballymun nerves, Con O’Callaghan and Conroy had Cuala in the ascendancy for the very first time with 58 minutes played.

This ramped up the tension in O’Toole Park, but Ballymun once again showed their mettle when Paddy Small curled over a tricky free off his left boot.

Rock looked set to earn his side a hard-earned victory when he added yet another two-pointer from play, but this was the cue for Con O’Callaghan to rise to the occasion and he superbly knocked over an orange flag free under immense pressure in the 63rd minute to ultimately leave the teams inseparable at the finish.

Scorers – Cuala: C O’Callaghan 0-9 (1 F2, 5f), C Dunne 1-2 (1 P2), N O’Callaghan 0-2 (P2), C McMorrow, J Conroy 0-2 each, E O’Callaghan, D O’Dowd 0-1 each.Ballymun Kickhams: D Rock 0-8 (1 F2, 2 P2, 1f), K McGann 1-3, C McCormack 1-0, J McCarthy 0-2 (P2), P Small 0-1 (f), J Grant, J Small 0-1 each.

Cuala: Darragh O’Dowd; D Conroy, M Fitzsimons, E O’Callaghan; E Kennedy, C McMorrow, David O’Dowd; C Dunne, P Duffy; D O’Sullivan, C Doran, C Mullally; C O’Brien, C O’Callaghan, N O’Callaghan. Subs: J Conroy for O’Sullivan (42), J Keenan for David O’Dowd (46), C Groarke for O’Brien (54).

Ballymun Kickhams: E Comerford; E Hill, L Young, C Fagan; J Grant, J McCarthy, D Robertson; A Elliot, J Small; F Andrews, P Small, C McCormack; D Keating, K McGann, D Rock. Subs: D Leonard for Andrews (39), C McManus for McCarthy (45), D Kane for Keating (49), C Burgess for Robertson (59).

Referee: Mark O’Shea (Na Fianna).