Cuala claim PTSB Dublin SFC1 final spot after epic battle with Ballyboden St Endas

CUALA 0-21

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 0-17

Cuala finished in a dominant fashion as they dethroned holders Ballyboden St Enda’s by four points in their thrilling PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship semi-final at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.

The clubs met at the corresponding stage with Boden edging a cracking contest by two points but revenge was a dish best served cold for the Dalkey outfit who finished like a train to secure a well-deserved success.    

Cuala were full value for their 0-9 to 0-6 interval advantage with Cillian Dunne, Jamie Conroy and Conor O’Brien all chipping in with two points against their wasteful opponents.

Despite playing against the breeze in the first-half, it was Cuala that made the brighter start as Dunne kicked an excellent point off his left boot in the 1st minute.

He repeated the trick off his more favoured right foot a minute later before the holders opened their own account after a strong run and finish by Colm Basquel.

Con O’Callaghan escaped the shackles of Cathal Flaherty to release Conroy for a Cuala point but their lead was short-lived as Céin D’Arcy levelled matters with the first two-pointer of the contest in the 6th minute.

The lively start continued as Colm Basquel and Ryan O’Dwyer added to the St Enda’s tally before a classy O’Brien point ensured Cuala remained in the hunt by the end of the first quarter.

The pace of the game dropped from that point with Boden failing to convert a number of two-point chances that came their way in the second quarter, allowing their opponents to draw level in the 20th minute through wing-back Eoin Kennedy.   

St Enda’s continued to struggle in terms of their fluency up front, looking ponderous when in possession, and it was no surprise to see them fall behind again as Con O’Callaghan (free) and Conroy pointed to reflect Cuala’s growing confidence.

Indeed, Ballyboden were indebted to both D’Arcy and Basquel for some excellent last-ditch defending to deny goal chances at one end but they were powerless in preventing Eoghan O’Callaghan from joining the attack and fisting over the crossbar.

Another sumptuous O’Brien point pushed Cuala four points clear before an injury time point from Daire Sweeney ended a scoreless period of nineteen minutes for the holders as they trailed by three points at the break.      

That lead was trimmed to the bare minimum as Colm Basquel’s two-pointer arrived within forty seconds of the restart before Kennedy ambled forward to kick his second point of the day two minutes later.

A sublime Con O’Callaghan two-pointer extended Cuala’s lead to four points soon after but the holders responded like champions as they dominated matters for the ensuing ten minutes.

Points arrived thick and fast from Ross McGarry, Peter Healy, Ryan O’Dwyer and a Sweeney brace as they overtook their opponents by the 44th minute, benefitting from the stranglehold that they exerted at centrefield.

The tireless Kennedy handed the 2025 All-Ireland winners a massive boost when kicking a two-pointer at the start of the final quarter but Sweeney and Ryan Basquel replied at the opposite end as the contest reached fever pitch.

Dunne and Conor Groarke kept Cuala right in the mix but with Sweeney’s influence increasing with every passing minute, Ballyboden held on a marginal lead by the 54th minute.

Parity was restored once again as substitute Niall O’Callaghan made a vital impact off the bench and Cuala completely took over from that point, kicking four more scores through Dunne, O’Brien, David O’Dowd and Charlie McMorrow to end Boden’s reign and book a final berth against Castleknock on Saturday week.     

Scorers – Cuala: E Kennedy (1 P2), C Dunne 0-4 each; C O’Brien, C O’Callaghan (1f, 1 P2) 0-3 each; J Conroy 0-2; C McMorrow, E O’Callaghan, D O’Dowd, N O’Callaghan, C Groarke 0-1 apiece. Ballyboden St Enda’s: D Sweeney 0-6 (3f); C Basquel 0-4 (1 P2); C D’Arcy (P2), R O’Dwyer 0-2 each; P Healy, R McGarry, R Basquel 0-1 apiece.

Cuala: Darragh O’Dowd; D Conroy, M Fitzsimons, E O’Callaghan; E Kennedy, C McMorrow, David O’Dowd; P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, P Duffy; D O’Sullivan, C Doran, C Dunne; C O’Brien, C O’Callaghan, J Conroy. Subs: N O’Callaghan for J Conroy (42), C Groarke for O’Sullivan (42), D Drummond for D Conroy (63).  

Ballyboden St Enda’s: H O’Sullivan; B Bobbett, S Clayton, C Flaherty; H Donaghy, P Healy, C Duggan; C D’Arcy, A Waters; J Holland, C Basquel, R McGarry; R O’Dwyer, R Basqeul, D Sweeney. Subs: P Curry for Duggan (half-time), J Madden for Waters (half-time).   

Referee: Seamus Farrelly (Ballinteer St John’s).