Treacy forces replay for Cuala with late extra-time free

Sat, 17th March 2018

CUALA 1-22 NA PIARSAIGH 2-19 (After extra-time)

Cuala's dream of back-to-back All-Ireland club SHC titles is still alive after they forced a draw on two occasions in Saturday's AIB All-Ireland final at Croke Park.

At the end of normal time Seán Moran drove a 64th minute free from 20 metres to the net to force extra-time and again when the Limerick champions looked poised for victory at the conclusion of extra-time David Treacy converted his 12th free of the day, this one from 63 metres to force a replay.

It was a competitive, intense battle from start to finish and Cuala only got into their stride in short periods, they led 0-4 to 0-1 after 13 minutes but then lost their way as Na Piarsaigh began to edge the physical battles.

But they defended the crown like true champions as they never relented even when the game looked like it was veering Na Piarsaigh's way on several occasions.

The Limerick club, who were founded in 1968 by former Dublin and St Vincent's hurler Noel Drumgoole, led by four points in the 33rd minute following Peter Casey's goal.

And with the tactics Na Piarsaigh were utilising you know that goal chances were going to be very hard earned at the other end.

However, a string of impressive points from Jake Malone, Seán Treacy, Darragh O'Connell and Colum Sheanon had Cuala level by the 40th minute, 0-13 to 1-10.

But going down the straight Na Piarsaigh held the upperhand with points from David and Adrian Breen as well as a Shane Dowling free.

Late points from the influential duo of Kevin Downes and Shane Dowling looked to have given the Munster men enough to see them home before Moran was the late, late hero for Mattie Kenny's men.

In extra-time David Breen's goal inside the first minute, after Con O'Callaghan had given Cuala the lead, looked like it could be the golden goal but Cuala refused to buckle.

Two David Dempsey scores for Na Piarsaigh were followed by a David Treacy free and at the break in extra-time Na Piarsaigh were up by one, 1-20 to 2-18.

There was time for more drama when after Treacy (free) and David Dempsey had exchanged scores Treacy again had the accuracy and range to snatch a draw.

The replay will be held on Saturday 24th March at 17:30 in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise.

SCORERS – Cuala: D Treacy 0-12 (0-12f), S Treacy 0-3, S Moran 1-0 (1-0 pen), D O’Connell, C Cronin, C Sheanon, M Schütte, Con O’Callaghan, N Kenny 0-1 each. Na Piarsaigh: S Dowling 0-6 (0-4f), P Casey 1-2, A Breen, K Downes 0-4 each, D Breen 1-1, D Dempsey 0-2.

CUALA: S Brennan; O Gough, Cian O’Callaghan, P Schütte; J Sheanon, S Moran, D O’Connell; C Sheanon, S Treacy; J Malone, C Cronin, D Treacy; N Kenny, Con O’Callaghan, M Schütte. Subs: S Stapleton for J Sheanon (48), N Carty for Kenny (53), C Waldron for Malone (62), J Malone for Waldon (on for extra-time), Kenny for Carthy (on for extra-time), S Timlin for S Treacy (67), D O’Flynn for Cronin 69), S Treacy for Kenny (75).

NA PIARSAIGH: P Kennedy; A Dempsey, M Casey, J Boylan; N Buckley, C King, K Kennedy; R Lynch, W O’Donoghue; S Dowling, D Brennan, D Dempsey; A Breen, K Downes, P Casey. Subs: M Foley for Buckley (70), G Brown for Boylan (76), K Ryan for Kennedy (80).

REF: C Lyons (Cork).