Cuala hang on against Errigal Ciarán to win historic All-Ireland football title
Cuala made it a Dublin double and completed their senior set of All-Irelands themselves with this edgy win over Errigal Ciarán.
The Andy Merrigan Cup heads to the southside of the capital after a resounding first-half performance paved the way for this success. But it sure was squeaky.
Cuala were 3-9 to 0-5 ahead at the interval and appeared to be coasting to victory in front of a 31,267 attendance in Croke Park.
However, an Errigal Ciarán rally in the third quarter including a rasper of a goal by Peter Harte in the 39th minute brought Enda McGinley’s side as close as six points.
The deficit was down to five by the 53rd minute and four a minute later when substitute Pádraig McGirr landed a point from distance.
Harte’s second point brought Errigal Ciarán within a score in the 58th.
Cuala produced just five second-half points but their opponents had left themselves too much to do and substitute Conor Groake fisted over the insurance point in additional time.
Early doors, Errigal Ciarán appeared as shellshocked as Na Fianna did in the hurling decider.
The signs were ominous as Darragh Canavan messed up a simple solo early doors but the warning light appeared five minutes in when Cal Doran slipped a goal past Darragh McAnenly having been put in for the chance by Mick Fitzsimons. Harte had been dispossessed for the score.
The Ulster champions were being turned over cheaply in Cuala’s half of the field but their problems extended to their kickouts too. Con O’Callaghan’s ninth minute point came seconds after Luke Keating had sent over his first free.
O’Callaghan’s point was the second score in an unanswered 2-4 by Cuala across 16 minutes. The second goal arrived in 13th minute from another kickout turnover, David O’Dowd the scorer.
Frees followed from Keating and Con O’Callaghan prior to the latter pushing the ball through for Ó Cofaigh-Byrne to net a third goal in the 25th minute. Joe Oguz and Ruairí Canavan flew over points to ease some of Errigal Ciarán’s pain but the damage was substantial. Star man Darragh Canavan also made way with suspected concussion in the 22nd minute.
The margin was 13 at the break as the O’Callaghan brothers added further points in a half of dreams for Cuala. But after heaven came hardship.
