Cuala claim victory over Skerries Harps in Quarter-Final - PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship

CUALA 1-21 SKERRIES HARPS 0-19​

A strong start to the second-half proved pivotal as Cuala got the better of Skerries Harps by five points in their PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship quarter-final at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon. 

Cuala trailed for the bulk of the first-half but finished with 1-2 on the bounce thanks largely through a Conor O’Brien goal to lead by 1-9 to 0-11 by the turnaround. 

They maintained that momentum upon the restart and while their lead was reduced to two points early in the final quarter, Cuala’s accuracy in front of goal saw them finish with a fair degree of comfort. 

Despite falling behind to a Charlie McMorrow point inside twenty seconds, it was Skerries that enjoyed the bulk of possession in the early stages as they levelled matters through Paddy Kelly in the 3rd minute. 

Ciaran Murphy pointed to hand Harps the lead soon after and they should have added to their tally but for some errant shooting as they enjoyed an early control around midfield. 

With Cuala forced to be more precise and patient into the wind, they eventually created a gap for O’Brien to restore parity in the 8th minute but two excellent points in quick succession from Stephen Smith saw Skerries rewarded for their bright start. 

Con O’Callaghan (free) and Eoghan O’Connor Flanagan traded points to leave Skerries leading by two points by the end of the first quarter. 

The lively start continued with O’Brien and Luke Whelan exchanging scores before Cuala got back on level terms by the 19th minute following unanswered points by O’Callaghan (free) and Eoin Kennedy. 

The stalemate was eventually broken in the 23rd minute as Harps finally made the most of the breeze at their backs as Finn McGinnis and Adam Fearon kicked two-pointers to put some daylight between the teams. 

Far from building on that momentum, Skerries saw their lead eroded in the closing stages of the half as McMorrow and O’Callaghan pointed before they struck the solitary goal of the half in the 30th minute. 

The origin was a superb block deep in his own defence by Eoghan O’Callaghan and after a number of transfers, O’Brien delivered an improvised finish to palm to the net from close range.  

There was plenty of activity but no addition to the scoring in the early stages of the second-half prior to Con O’Callaghan providing the inspiration with a shoulder on Kelly before splitting the uprights in the 35th minute. 

Kennedy added a classy two-pointer soon after while another O’Callaghan point from play extended Cuala’s lead to five points before Smith opened Skerries’ second-half account when converting a 38th minute free. 

Further scores by Peter Duffy and Con O’Callaghan added further comfort to the Dalkey side but Skerries refused to lie down with substitute Eoin Wilde and O’Connor Flanagan pointed before the end of the third quarter. 

Harps were handed further momentum as goalkeeper halved their deficit when converting a two-pointed free in the 48th minute but Cuala dug deep to restore their control thanks to scores by Conor Groarke, Con O’Callaghan and McMorrow. 

Cal Doran began to dictate play in the closing stages as late points by Cillian Dunne, David O’Dowd and Dan O’Sullivan were sufficient to withstand some late Skerries pressure.   

Scorers – Cuala: C O’Callaghan 0-8 (3f); C O’Brien 1-2; E Kennedy (1 P2), C McMorrow 0-3 each; P Duffy, C Groarke, C Dunne, D O’Dowd, D O’Sullivan 0-1 apiece. Skerries Harps:S Smith 0-4 (2f); C Murphy 0-3; F McGinnis (P2), E O’Connor Flanagan, A Fearon (P2), S Davis (F2) 0-2 each; L Whelan, P Kelly, E Wilde, G McEneaney 0-1 apiece.

Cuala: R Scollard; D Conroy, M Fitzsimons, E O’Callaghan; D O’Dowd, C McMorrow, E Kennedy; P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, P Duffy; C Dunne, C Doran, C Mulally; C O’Brien, C O’Callaghan, J Conroy. Subs: D O’Sullivan for J Conroy (43), C Groarke for Mulally (43), D Drummond for E O’Callaghan (44), K O’Shea for Dunne (55), J Keenan for O’Brien (58). 

Skerries Harps: S Davis; E Smith, P Wilde, A El Shamy; A Fearon, J Smith, E O’Connor Flanagan; E Dunne, G McEneaney; P Kelly, T Deering, F McGinnis; L Whelan, C Murphy, S Smith. Subs: E Wilde for Kelly (42), C Emmett for J Smith (45), A Coleman for Whelan (55), R Delaney for McGinnis (57), S Rocks for Fearon (60).    

Referee: Brian O’Connor (Garda Westmanstown Gaels).