Leinster Club SHC final:
Cuala (Dublin) 3-19 O'Loughlin Gaels (Kilkenny) 1-16
DUBLIN champions Cuala put the disappointment of losing last year's Leinster club senior hurling final behind them when they proved too strong for O'Loughlin Gaels in O'Moore Park on Sunday.
The victory also ended the famine experienced by Dublin clubs, with the title not heading to the capital since 1980. That year, they beat Laois champions Camross, with two goals coming from Dublin county footballer Bernard Donovan. Coincidentally this year, another Dublin footballer, Con O'Callaghan, has been on fire in front of goal and raised another two green flags in the final.
Cuala were always in the driving seat, but had to withstand a revived O'Loughlin Gaels in the third-quarter, during which they saw their five-point half-time advantage cut back to three. Having weathered that storm, they kicked on and the result was never in doubt.
For manager Mattie Kenny, the result was justification for the intensity he brought to Cuala's play. But he did admit he was a little disappointed his side did not score more goals.
“Their goalie pulled off a few great saves. We created some openings in the first 10-15 minutes and came away with one goal. I was hoping to get a second or third. If we'd got them, it would have given us a real momentum," Kenny said.
“I encourage the lads that, when they get the chance, to go in and get the big score. When I came to Cuala, they were happy to take the scores from outside. Sometimes, you can keep tipping the points over all day and, next thing, you conceded a goal and that gives the momentum to the opposition."
That said, the fact Cuala came back to win the title after losing last year's decider was particularly satisfying: “It's a great feeling," Kenny added.
"It's a year ago since we came out of Carlow very disappointed. We put it behind us. Last year, we were on a bit of a journey, so we decided to go back, win the Dublin county championship and have another crack at this. It's a great relief, a great honour and a great privilege to be with these guys.”
The sides had matched each other point-for-point in the early minutes, David Treacy converting a brace of frees for Cuala, with Mark Bergin twice on target for O’Loughlin Gaels, one of those from a free.
Then, six minutes in, Con O’Callaghan struck for the first of his two goals. When Anthony Forristal misjudged a long delivery and the sliotar fell in behind him, O’Callaghan gathered, cut inside and drove to the net.
Points followed from Treacy, O'Callaghan and Mark Schutte to give Cuala a six-point lead at the end of the first-quarter. O'Loughlin Gaels pulled back two through Martin Comerford and Bergin, while Treacy and Bergin then exchanged frees.
With nine minutes remaining to half-time, Cuala took a firm grasp on the game thanks to O'Callaghan's second goal. When David Treacy won the ball out around the 50-metre line, it was swiftly moved through the hands of Sean Treacy and Schutte, who passed to O'Callaghan and the net rippled again.
However, the Kilkenny champions finished the half strongly, with points from Alan Geoghegan, Comerford, Bergin and a massive free from his own 50-metre line from goalkeeper Stephen Murphy. The best Cuala could manage was a brace of points from O'Callaghan and Treacy, but still they held a five-point advantage at the break, 2-8 to 0-9.
O'Loughlin Gaels emerged with far more intensity and, while Waldron edged Cuala further ahead, the Kilkenny side rattled off four points, three Bergin frees and Mark Kelly from play. Cuala did score a single point in the period, yet another Treacy free.
O'Callaghan and Bergin swapped points, as did Treacy and Bergin, but Cuala were now looking the more settled, while O'Loughlin Gaels looked to have shot their bolt. The new champions were to shoot the next three points, thanks to Darragh O'Connell, a magnificent sideline cut from Treacy and the same player with a free. Bergin and Tracy exchanged frees and, with nine minutes remaining, Cuala held a two-goal advantage.
That was soon extended with points from O'Connell and O'Callaghan, but O'Loughlin Gaels still had one last kick left in them. In a crowded square, a shot for goal was cleared off the line, but Danny Loughnane was on hand to pull first time to the back of the net in the 57th minute.
As they say, it was too little too late and Cuala finished in style, with Treacy converting his ninth free and, with the game in injury-time, Schutte got on the end of a Treacy free to hammer to the net.
So now, it is onwards and upwards, although Mattie Kenny has only one thing on his mind - the All-Ireland semi-final against Ulster champions Slaughneil.
MATCH STATS
Cuala: S Brennan; O Gough, C O'Callaghan, S Timlin; S Moran, P Schutte, J Sheanan; J Malone, D O'Connell (0-2); C Waldron (0-1), C Croinin, D Treacy (0-11, 0-9 frees, 0-1 sideline); C O'Callaghan (2-4), M Schutte (1-1), S Treacy; Subs: C Sheanan for Waldron (53)
O’Loughlin Gaels: S Murphy (0-1 free); A Forristal, A Kearns, E Kearns; A O’Brien, B Hogan, H Lawlor; P Butler, P Deegan; A Geoghegan (0-1), M Kelly (0-1), D Loughnane (1-0); S Johnston, M Bergin (0-11, 0-10 frees), M Comerford (0-2); Subs: S Mahony for A Kearns (27), P Cantwell for Butler (ht), S Bolger for Johnston (40)
Referee: M Murtagh (Westmeath)
