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CUALA 3-16
LUCAN SARSFIELDS 0-8
Cuala took another positive step towards the defence of their Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship title when defeating Lucan Sarsfields by seventeen points at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.
Despite not overly impressing, it was the holders that led by three points by half-time with Niall O’Callaghan in fine form as he amassed three points from play.
A strong start to the second-half that yielded goals from Eoin Kennedy and Peter Duffy allowed Cuala to click into gear and Con O’Callaghan put a flattering gloss on the final scoreline when netting in the 60th minute.
Both teams took their time settling into the match, admittedly in slippery conditions, before Cillian Dunne eventually opened the scoring for Cuala in the 6th minute.
Lucan enjoyed some generous amounts of possession in the opening quarter but failed to create gilt-edged chances as they fell further behind in the 10th minute through Niall O’Callaghan’s well-taken point.
Sarsfields eventually gained tangible reward for their efforts as they levelled matters through Jordan Delmar’s two-pointer in the 12th minute only for Eoin Kennedy to restore Cuala’s lead forty seconds later.
Parity was restored by the end of the first quarter through Conor Gallagher before Matthew Guilfoyle edged Lucan in front in the 17th minute following a strong surge down the middle.
Points from Niall O’Callaghan and Con O’Callaghan (mark) saw the holders regain their narrow advantage but the tightness of the early exchanges remained as Cormac Coffey converted a levelling ‘45’ for Lucan in the 23rd minute.
Cuala began to exert a dominance around midfield in the second quarter and kicked the final three points of the half through Con O’Callaghan (free), Dunne and Niall O’Callaghan to lead by 0-8 to 0-5 by the interval.
That momentum was enhanced in the opening minute of the second-half as Kennedy, who scored the dramatic winning point in last year’s county final, availed of some defensive hesitancy to fire home the opening goal.
The holders introduced both Peter Duffy and Conor Groarke soon after and the former made an instant impact as he crashed home past Alec Birnie in the 39th minute.
Niall O’Callaghan continued to impress as he tagged on two further points in the third quarter but a spirited Lucan ensured they carried a threat as they replied through points from Brendan Gallagher and substitutes Cian Gavin and Rian Doherty.
However, with their efforts beginning to take their toll, Cuala dominated the closing stages and it was no surprise to see Con O’Callaghan add a third goal entering injury time.
Scorers – Cuala: N O’Callaghan 0-6; C O’Callaghan (0-2f, 0-1 mark), E Kennedy (1 P2) 1-3 each; P Duffy 1-0; C Dunne 0-2; C Doran, L Treacy 0-1 apiece. Lucan Sarsfields: J Delmar 0-2 (P2); M Guilfoyle, C Coffey (’45), B Gallagher, C Gallagher, R Doherty, C Gavin 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, C Dunne; O Hussey, C Doran, J Keenan; N O’Callaghan, C O’Callaghan, C O’Brien. Subs: P Duffy for Keenan (37), C Groarke for O’Brien (37), M Conroy for E O’Callaghan (46), J Conroy for Hussey (46), L Treacy for D Conroy (55).
Lucan Sarsfields: E Birnie; E Kilduff, D Cahill, F Bruton; D Kane, A Murphy, J Smith; C Behan, D Gavin; C Coffey, B Gallagher, M Guilfoyle; J Delmar, M Lavin, C Gallagher. Subs:H Keogh for Coffey (38), C Gavin for Behan (38), R Doherty for C Gallagher (38), J Carey for Guilfoyle (46), A Salmon for Murphy (55).
Referee: Ian Howley (O’Dwyer’s).