Cuala claim final spot after epic battle with Na Fianna in the PTSB Dublin SHC1

CUALA 2-21

NA FIANNA 1-19

Cuala progressed to the final of the PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship when getting the better of Na Fianna by five points in their hugely enjoyable last-four clash at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon. 

In doing so, they ended the four-in-a-row ambitions of the holders but also kept their double dream alive with their football counterparts contesting the SFC1 decider next Sunday afternoon.  

Cuala raced out of the blocks with a 4th minute goal by Conall O’Toole goal setting the tone as they enjoyed a deserved 1-11 to 0-11 lead by half-time. 

An AJ Murphy goal in the final quarter helped bring Na Fianna back on level terms but their opponents controlled the closing stages with Colm Cronin pouncing for the game’s decisive score in the 58th minute. 

Cuala were full value for their early lead as O’Toole popped over in the 3rd minute prior to benefitting from battling play from Cronin before bursting through and batting past Jonathan Tracey in the Na Fianna goal. 

Cronin added a cracking point from under the stands to leave five points between the sides by the 5th minute before the holders finally opened their account through a 7th minute free from Seán Currie. 

Na Fianna’s Brian Ryan and Cuala’s Liam Murphy traded points soon after while O’Toole and late addition Donal Burke did likewise in what was an enterprising start from both sides. 

A brace of Currie points saw the Glasnevin outfit close the gap further but Cuala replied with points in quick succession by O’Toole and Aodhán English to lead by 1-7 to 0-5 by the end of the first quarter. 

AJ Murphy and Tom Brennan brought Na Fianna back to within three points and the scores continued to come thick and fast from various sources with Peter Feeney ambling forward to telling effect for the holders while Cian O’Callaghan split the uprights when afforded too much space. 

With the scores eventually drying up, Cuala saw their lead eroded drifting towards the break as unanswered points by Currie (free) and Ryan left the bare minimum between the sides. 

However, Cuala regrouped well in the closing stages of the half and their pressure up front yielded a brace of Murphy frees as they pushed three points clear by the turnaround.  

A sublime sideline within forty seconds of the restart brough O’Toole’s personal tally of 1-4 while Murphy clipped over another free to extend the Cuala lead to five points by the 34th minute. 

A wonderful solo score by Sean Moran two minutes later franked their control of matters with Na Fianna, much as they had in the first quarter, struggling for any kind of foothold in the contest. 

Colin Currie replaced his brother Seán on placed balls with no instant improvement as he dragged his first attempt well wide before substitute Ciaran Stacey finally got Na Fianna’s second-half scoreboard ticking over when pointing ten minutes into the half.    

They added momentum to their challenge courtesy of a Colin Currie free and a Jack Meagher score and their deficit was down to two points by the 46th minute as Seán Currie jinked inside for a well-taken score. 

With Peter Feeney and Liam Rushe mopping up superbly at the back, that margin was halved through a Colin Currie free three minutes later before Conor Groarke ended a scoreless period of fourteen minutes for Cuala with a classy strike from distance. 

That point proved a catalyst for further scores by Moran and Murphy but from a position of dominance, a defensive slip allowed AJ Murphy to slip through on goal and while Séan Brennan blocked the initial effort, he was powerless to prevent the rebound from crashing into the unguarded net. 

Back came Cuala as Kevin Kirwan’s presence caused consternation in the Na Fianna defence and Cronin was on hand to sweep to the net to finally break the champions’ resistance. 

Murphy clipped over a trio of points as Cuala calmly closed out the dying minutes with Malone popping over the final score to complete a memorable display by the Dalkey side.       

Scorers – Cuala: L Murphy 0-8 (5f); C O’Toole 1-4 (0-1 sideline); C Cronin 1-1; J Malone, S Moran 0-2 each; A English, C O’Callaghan, D O’Shea (f), C Groarke 0-1 apiece. Na Fianna: S Currie 0-5 (3f); C Currie 0-4 (4f); AJ Murphy 1-1; B Ryan 0-2; P Feeney, W Wheatley, J Meagher, T Brennan, D Clerkin, D Burke, C Stacey 0-1 apiece. 

Cuala: S Brennan; C O’Callaghan, E O’Callaghan, S Roche; D Ó Floinn, S Moran, A English; D O’Shea, C Groarke; G O’Toole, J Malone, J Conroy; L Murphy, C Cronin, C O’Toole. Subs: K Kirwan for G O’Toole (44), J Twomey for O’Shea (53).      

Na Fianna: J Tracey; C Kelly, C McHugh, S Burke; P O’Dea, L Rushe, P Feeney; D Clerkin, S Currie; J Meagher, B Ryan, C Currie; AJ Murphy, D Burke, T Brennan. Subs: K Burke for O’Dea (30), C Stacey for Clerkin (half-time), J Tierney for Ryan (46), W Wheatley for Meagher (51), S Barrett for D Burke (60).   

Referee: Rory Hanley (St Brigid’s).