DALKEY DELIGHT AS CUALA DUO GOALS SECURE TITLE
Hartnett and O’Mahony efforts fire Cuala’s way to final victory
DUBLI MFC ‘B’ FINAL
CUALA………………………………………………. 3-8
CLONTARF………………………………………… 0-13
Daire Walsh
SECOND-HALF goals from Gavin Hartnett and Joseph O’Mahony were vital at Alfie Byrne Park on Sunday morning, when Cuala secured the Dublin Minor ‘B’ Football Championship title at the expense of Clontarf.
With the central attacking duo of Kevin Lillis and Tom O’Flaherty leading by example, ‘Tarf impressed during the early exchanges of the contest. However, following O’Mahony’s three-pointer on the stroke of 50 minutes, the determined Dalkey men held out for a hard-earned triumph.
The past few weeks have been unforgettable for all connected with Cuala, as they followed up their Dublin Senior Hurling Championship success by adding the Dublin SFC ‘B’ crown to their trophy cabinet.
They can also look forward to an upcoming Leinster SHC decider against Oulart The-Ballagh, but with just three minutes gone in the Clontarf Road venue, they were facing into a three-point deficit.
DEADLOCK BROKEN
Centre-forward Lillis broke the deadlock from ‘Tarf’s opening attack of the game, and after O’Flaherty had opened his account with a fine score from play, Lillis registered a second point off his reliable left-foot.
The Cuala rearguard was under severe pressure at this stage in the play, but corner-forward Dara Spillane’s fourth-minute point finally allowed them to settle.
Indeed, they subsequently moved into the ascendancy, when midfielder Jack Flynn and the lively Spillane combined to set-up a goal-scoring opportunity for Hartnett.
The influential full-forward found the net in clinical fashion, but with Kevin Mangan acting as a sweeper at the heart of the ‘Tarf defence, Cuala scores remained at a premium during the first-quarter.
Papi McCaffrey’s side were still able to retain a potent attacking threat as well, and courtesy of unanswered scores by Joe McDonagh, Lillis and midfielder Nathan Doran, they were two points to the good (0-6 to 1-1) on 13 minutes.
However, this proved to be their final score of the half, and even though Maurice O’Callaghan’s charges received a major let-off in first-half stoppage time – when a powerful Lillis strike rebounded off the outside of the post – points from inside forwards Niall O’Callaghan (two) and Hartnett ensured that Cuala brought a 1-4 to 0-6 cushion into the interval.
‘Tarf were somewhat unfortunate to be in a losing position upon the resumption, but thanks to points from Lillis and O’Flaherty either side of a Spillane free for Cuala, they were on level terms with just five minutes gone in the second period.
They suffered a major set-back from the resulting attack, though, as a perfectly-executed chip by Hartnett found its way past ‘Tarf netminder Neil O’Hanlon.
This threw down the gauntlet to ‘Tarf, but in a similar vein to the opening half, they issued a swift reply to this goal.
O’Flaherty and Doran found the target from distance, and owing to a much-needed brace by Lillis, the Cuala advantage had been wiped out once more.
‘Tarf had to contend with the loss of corner-back Cathal O’Mahony to a black-card at the end of the third-quarter, but swapped scores between O’Callaghan (free) and McDonagh meant that the game was still very much in the melting pot.
Half-time substitute O’Mahony was making his presence felt on the edge of the square, however, and he grabbed the decisive score ten minutes from time.
After Spillane gathered at a left-hand angle, he flashed the ball across the goal, where O’Mahony was on hand to palm home.
This was a morale-boosting score for Cuala, and after O’Callaghan and Spillane enhanced their own personal tallies, they created a seemingly unassailable five-point lead.
‘Tarf captain Barry Davis’ 54th-minute piledriver crashed off the crossbar, but Lillis’ close-range free on the hour was the only score they could muster.
Tempers did fray in the latter stages of the action, and Clontarf’s Doran received a second yellow-card for dissent after the final whistle had sounded, but Cuala ultimately finished with four points to spare at the end of an enthralling showpiece.
MATCH FILE
Scorers – Cuala: G Hartnett 2-1, N O’Callaghan 0-4 (3f), D Spillane 0-3 (2f), J O’Mahony 1-0. Clontarf: K Lillis 0-6 (2f), T O’Flaherty 0-3, N Doran, J McDonagh 0-2 each.
CUALA: D O’Reilly; P McKeon, E Kelly, D Collopy; T Lane, J Lahert, J Byrne; J Flynn, J Hartnett; O Murphy, D Twomey, C O’Kelly; N O’Callaghan, G Hartnett, D Spillane. SUBS: T McGee for Murphy (14), J O’Mahony for O’Kelly (h-t), P O Coifigh-Byrne for Collopy (37).
CLONTARF: N O’Hanlon; C Kyne, C Doran, C O’Mahony; J Higgins, L Howley, K Mangan; N Doran, S O’Quigley; B Davis, K Lillis, J McDonagh; M Holloway, T O’Flaherty, B Perryman. SUBS: R Clarke for Holloway (33), C Bartley for O’Mahony (46), K Miller for Perryman (52), B Minihan for Higgins (58).
MENTORS – CUALA: M O’Callaghan, K Fitzgerald, D Murray. CLONTARF: P McCaffrey, J Gahan, O Mangan, B Smyth.
REFEREE: Darren Lennon (Liffey Gaels).
WIDES – Cuala: 4 (1+3). Clontarf: 6 (3+3).
CONDITIONS: Breezy at times, but also dry and sunny conditions.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Gavin Hartnett (Cuala).