Cuala Claim dramatic Win over Kilmacud Crokes to Secure QF spot

Image Courtesy Paul Barrett

CUALA 0-26 

KILMACUD CROKES 1-21

Cuala preserved their title aspirations when overcoming southside rivals Kilmacud Crokes by two points in their thrilling Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship encounter at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon. 

In doing so, the 2017 and 2018 All-Ireland winners progressed to the knockout stages and they were full value for their win in an absorbing contest that went right down to the wire. 

Having played with the breeze in the first-half, a vibrant Cuala could feel justifiably disappointed to lead by just 0-17 to 1-9 at half-time with an injury time goal from Brian Hayes puncturing their optimism at a critical time.

The introduction of Dara Twomey brought fresh impetus to the Cuala attack in the second-half as he scored three crucial points with Donal O’Shea scoring the final two points of the game to clinch a vital victory.  

Sean Moran served early notice of Cuala’s intent when pointing inside thirteen seconds with Kilmacud levelling matters in an instant through Dara Purcell. 

The Dalkey outfit impressed in the initial jousts, regaining their lead through points by Liam Murphy and Jamie Conroy before pushing ahead thanks to further scores by Donal O’Shea and Con O’Callaghan. 

Brian Hayes and Purcell replied with scores at the opposite end for Crokes but they had to play second fiddle to a Cuala side that enjoyed a dominance at midfield through their influential pairing of Conor Groarke and Jake Malone. 

Murphy, Malone and O’Callaghan all added to the Cuala tally as the half evolved while wing-back Stephen Roche slalomed through the Crokes defence on his way to a superb solo score in the 18th minute. 

The scores continued to flow freely as Oisín O’Rorke helped himself to a brace at the church end but those points were nullified in little time as David Treacy, Malone and Murphy made the most of the chances that came their way. 

However, Brian Hayes was continuing to impress from wing-forward and after his third point from play in the 30th minute, he cut inside David Ryan before wrong-footing Seán Brennan at his near post, trimming the Crokes deficit to five points by the turnaround. 

O’Rorke and O’Shea traded frees in the early stages of the second-half while Moran and O’Rorke did likewise soon after as we awaited our first score from play of the half. 

A sublime sideline ball from Treacy extended the Cuala lead to six points but that margin was nearly halved in the 40th minute but for Brennan’s sprawling save to deny Alex Considine’s low shot. 

Cuala substitute Dara Twomey made an instant impact when introduced soon after as he popped over a brace of points before the end of the third quarter but the Crokes comeback was gaining momentum as the fourth quarter kicked in. 

O’Rorke added two further scores before points by Purcell, Considine and Conal Ó Riain left just a solitary point between the teams by the 50th minute. 

Twomey and Purcell continued to impress as they added to their personal tallies before parity was restored in the 55th minute as Brendan Kenny finally escaped from Groarke’s attentions to split the uprights from under the stand. 

O’Shea and Ó Riain scored at opposite ends to maintain the status quo and after the former had popped over two points in added time, the Cuala defence repelled a late free from Eddie Gibbons to preserve their narrow lead. 

Scorers – Cuala: D O’Shea 0-10 (7f, 1 ’65, 1 sideline); L Murphy, D Twomey 0-3 each; S Moran (1f), Con O’Callaghan, D Treacy (1 sideline), J Malone 0-2 each; S Roche, J Conroy 0-1 apiece. Kilmacud Crokes: O O’Rorke 0-7 (4f, 1 ’65); B Hayes 1-3; Dara Purcell 0-5; A Considine, C Ó Riain 0-2 each; B Kenny, F Whitely 0-1 apiece.

Cuala: S Brennan; Cian O’Callaghan, E O’Callaghan, M Conroy; D Ó Floinn, S Moran, S Roche; C Groarke, J Malone; J Conroy, C Sheanon, D O’Shea; L Murphy, Con O’Callaghan, D Treacy. Subs: D Ryan for Cian O’Callaghan (26), J Twomey for Ryan (36), D Twomey for Sheanon (42), C O’Toole for Treacy (54), K Kirwan for Murphy (63).

Kilmacud Crokes: E Gibbons; E Keys, P Linehan, B Sheehy; D Lucey, B O’Carroll, C Ó Riain; B Kenny, M Grogan; B Hayes, O O’Rorke, F Whitely; Dara Purcell, R Hayes, A Considine. Subs: C Conway for O’Carroll (half-time), C Ryan for Keys (42), M Roche for R Hayes (48), C Mac Gabhann for Grogan (60), C Donovan for Considine (60). 

Referee: Chris Mooney (St Patrick’s Palmerstown).