Dublin’s football environs have welcomed new champions in the form of Cuala. The team, long known more so as a hurling club with its success of back-to-back All-Irelands and not often seen in the county final, surpassed expectations and emerged victorious, bringing to a halt the four-in-a-row dreams of their local rivals, Kilmacud Crokes.
The final match, played amidst the high winds of Storm Ashley at Parnell Park, offered unique challenges. Despite playing under conditions akin to a spectral presence on the field, Cuala seemed to manage better, displaying superior decision-making and execution of shots.
A key highlight was a significant contribution by Michael Fitzsimons, one of the club’s most committed players and joint record-holder of the maximum number of All-Ireland football medals. With his score of 0-2, he was aptly crowned Man of the Match. One of his scores came from a skilful manoeuvre that saw him thwart a defender and score the fifth point. His performance, which can be best described as calm and efficacious, particularly in managing the defence, was commendable.
Austin O’Malley, his manager, was effusive in praise, hailing Fitzsimons as “a unique individual” whose desire for self-improvement and a growing mindset is unparalleled, suggesting that his successful approach to the game would be quite lucrative if it could be sold.
Despite having had the upper hand for most of the match, and there only being 10 minutes remaining to wrap up their victory, the team faced unexpected difficulties in the final stages. This victory, won through persistence and a strong performance, shows Cuala’s ability to navigate challenges on their road to success.
Kilmacud skilfully scored a goal with an impressive kick pass from Paul Mannion to newcomer Luke Ward, who promptly scored the equaliser, taking the score to 0-12 to 1-9. In a stroke of bad luck for Cuala, their star forward Con O’Callaghan was shown a red card shortly after a disagreement with goalkeeper Devon Burns from the opposing team.
With the scores tied and their best player out of the game, Cuala could easily have withdrawn from the match or simply tried to ensure a draw. On the contrary, they forged ahead, temporarily reclaiming the lead with a free kick by Luke Keating, which was soon countered by Mannion after Cal Doran, who showed remarkable prowess with his three points, had overplayed the ball during a defence breakout.
In final moments of injury-time, another free kick was granted against Michael Mullin for handling the ball. Keating’s free kick fell short, and winger Eoin Kennedy brilliantly snatched the lose ball directly in front of goal and skilfully punched it over the bar with considerable poise.
This incredible feat meant the first-ever football champion title for the Dalkey club and solidified its standing in Dublin GAA on their 50th anniversary. The team’s innovative and deserved win in an intense finale that seemed to evade them indicates how this talented team could never be overlooked in a county showdown, despite the numerous hurdles faced by Kilmacud.
Energetic and pinpoint start by Cuala unexpectedly lacked rookie nerves. Within the initial half, they had gained control over the scoreboard with a 0-7 to 0-2 lead, whereas Kilmacud appeared sluggish and struggled with weather conditions.
By the end of the game, the reigning champs were reliant on both Mannion and Shane Walsh’s joint efforts to salvage their title, but they were lacking the vitality of the competition. Outgoing manager Robbie Brennan confirmed that Cuala “did it better…they scored, what, three or four points in the second half by meticulous hand-passing? They had the wit needed to pull it off.”
He’ll be taking over managerial responsibility in Meath, which he described in a rather idealistic fashion.
“It’s certainly peculiar. I reckon my loyalties lie with two sides only, Crokes and Meath,” he mused, likening his transition from the former to the latter to swiftly rebounding into a new romantic relationship after a sudden separation. Regarding the game, he admitted feeling unsettled due to the unnerving aura given off by Cuala. “Cuala had me on edge, to tell you the truth. I couldn’t quite get a grip of the strategy they were to deploy, given that our past frays have typically been with Na Fianna, Ballymun, Boden, or Jude’s. This novelty did throw us off somewhat.”
His triumphant adversary, O’Malley, maintained his faith even when luck seemed to switch sides. Regardless of the hurdles encountered on the pitch or in life, holding on to one’s principles and belief was crucial, he emphasised. “Our team began the year envisioning a championship and remained dedicated to that, all mutual respect intact.”
The next encounter on the cards for the team is a quarter-final faceoff with Kildare champions in the upcoming weeks.
CUALA’s squad included R Scollard, D Conroy, M Fitzsimons, E O’Callaghan, E Kennedy, C McMorrow, D O’Dowd, P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, P Duffy, C Dunne, C O’Callaghan, C Doran, L Keating, N O’Callaghan, and C Ó Giolláin. Substitutions were made during the game, with C Groarke replacing Ó Giolláin in minute 43, C Mulally taking over Dunne in the 48th minute, and M Conroy subbing for D Conroy in the 56th minute.
Kilmacud Crokes’ line-up included D Burns, M Mullin, T Clancy, D O’Brien, M O’Leary, A McGowan, J Murphy, B Shovlin, R O’Carroll, H Kenny (with a score of 0-1), C Dias (0-1), D Mullin (0-1), P Mannion securing a score of 0-4 (including one free kick and one mark), P O’Connor, and S Walsh, who scored 0-3 (one free kick). The substitutes were C O’Connor who was switched for O’Leary at 43 minutes mark, T Fox who replaced Kenny at 45 minutes, L Ward (scoring 1-0) substituting Murphy at 53 minutes, and S Cunningham who came for O’Connor at the 61st minute. The match was refereed by S McCarthy from St Vincent’s.