AUSTIN O’MALLEY was proud as punch at Croke Park last night after Cuala claimed a first Leinster SFC club title.

But they had to withstand a gallant fightback from Ardee outfit St Mary’s.

Nine points clear with 20 minutes played, the Dublin champions were pegged back when Ardee grabbed quickfire goals through Ryan Rooney and Seán Callaghan moments after Cuala’s Eoin Kennedy was black-carded.

But Cuala dug deep during a tense finish as forward Luke Keating knocked over an injury time free to shake off the Louth men.

And O’Malley said: “I’m just so proud of the guys there. That just went right to the wire and before the game I thought it would.

“We got a run on them in the first half. We had a cushion but the black card had obviously a major bearing on things in the second half.

“I knew that Ardee were going to come and they did.

“They clawed their way back and it’s just such a testament to the spirit of them and obviously the spirit of Louth football. It’s on an up at the moment as well.

“I’m so proud for our boys to hang in there and to not panic. To show the kind of mental resilience and resolve.

“We just kept going through the phases and found the final score there to see it out.

“I’m immensely proud and so delighted for the club. It’s just an amazing and historic night.”

After Michael Fitzsimons and Con O’Callaghan kicked points to supplement another from the latter’s brother Niall, Cuala put daylight between the teams when Conor O’Brien raised a green flag in the 15th minute.

Further points from Con O’Callaghan and Keating moved the Dalkey men into a 1-6 to 0-0 lead before Ardee came to life with three pointed frees from Ciarán Keenan, Jonathan Commins and Tiernan Markey.

But after a fisted point from Kennedy in time added on, Cuala brought a convincing 1-7 to 0-3 cushion into the interval.

The capital side remained in control during the initial stages of the second half.

But St Mary’s were offered a new lease of life when — after Keenan and Daire McConnon pointed — Kennedy was black-carded in the 46th minute.

While O’Malley’s side responded with a Niall O’Callaghan point, Ardee wiped out their deficit by the 50th minute at GAA HQ.

After sub Rooney bagged his side’s first goal of the night when Cuala keeper Ryan Scollard failed to hold on to a high delivery by Tadgh McDonnell, midfielder Callaghan also raised a green flag with a clinical finish.

That threw down the gauntlet to Cuala, who fired back with a Cal Doran point.

Keating also found the range during a hectic period but with Rooney splitting the uprights in a direct reply to both of these scores, Ardee threatened to pull off a sensational victory.

The prospect of extra-time loomed when Con O’Callaghan was short of the mark from a late free but Keating kept his composure to knock over a place-ball effort in injury time.

CUALA: R Scollard; D Conroy, M Fitzsimons 0-1, E O’Callaghan; E Kennedy 0-1, C McMorrow 0-1, D O’Dowd; P O Cofaigh Byrne, P Duffy; C Dunne, C O’Brien 1-1, C Doran 0-1; L Keating 0-3, 2f, N O’Callaghan 0-2, C O’Callaghan 0-4, 2f.

Subs: C O Giollain for Dunne 37 mins; M Conroy for D Conroy 43; C Groarke for O’Brien 43; S Mangan for O’Dowd 57.

ST MARY’S, ARDEE: T Markey 0-1f; T McDonnell 0-1, K Faulkner, E Keenan; J Commins 0-2, 1f, D McKenny, P McKenny; RJ Callaghan, S Callaghan 1-0; C Keenan 0-3f, L Jackson, K Moran; S Matthews, D McConnon 0-1, T Jackson.

Subs: R Carroll for Matthews 43 mins; R Rooney 1-2 for Moran 43; C Gillespie for Commins 53; R Leavy for RJ Callaghan 58.

REFEREE: S Mulhare (Laois).