Cuala comes from behind to defend the crown of Dublin

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Room 2-20 Ballyboden St Enda’s 1-18

Sean Moran was once again Cuala’s set pieces hero, scoring a game-changing second-half goal at home and a 2-03 overall to help secure back-to-back Dublin SHC titles.

Best known as a Dublin defender, Moran donned No. 15 and gave himself up for his club who came from behind at Parnell Park for a memorable victory and his eighth title.

Cuala trailed the 2018 champions for most of the game until star man Con O’Callaghan won the 52nd minute penalty that Moran converted, pushing them two points ahead.

It was a controversial call from referee Sean Stack, who had already blown his whistle for the penalty when O’Callaghan scored, though Moran produced the same result.

His heroism sent the mind back to the 2018 Ireland tied final when Moran scored from a late free kick to force a replay that Cuala won.

His latest score was equally inspiring, as Cuala edged ‘Boden 0-05 to 0-02 after the goal to win with five points to spare.

Dalkey’s men claimed a fifth title in six years

Cuala finished with 14 players and substitute Colum Sheanon received a red card after his second caution in the 54th minute.

O’Callaghan was calm in the first half, but his role in winning the penalty was critical, while David Treacy scored 0-11 and had a great performance.

It was difficult for ‘Boden, who led by six points on a stage approaching halftime, but eventually burned out in the fourth quarter, conceding 1-05 after the second water break and scoring just 0-02.

Conor Dooley was one of the last two additions to Ballyboden’s lineup and the former Dublin goalkeeper put them ahead for the first time in the fourth minute, a position they remained in for much of the match.

The Firhouse Road team, chasing a double of senior hurling and soccer titles, opened with a great pitch to lead 1-13 to 1-09 at halftime.

Ballyboden detailed county defender James Madden to tag Cuala O’Callaghan’s dual star and it worked out wonderfully at first.

Madden limited the football hero five in a row to one point overall, though the supply line to King Con was certainly poor until the second half.

At the other extreme, Conal Keaney was inspired by ‘Boden even though he will soon be 38 years old.

He was wearing the number 12 but started on the edge of the square and scored 1-01 with his goal in the 25th minute as Paul Ryan’s blocked penalty followed.

That goal put ‘Boden 1-11 to 1-5 up and in the driver’s seat with excellent Paul and Niall Ryan alongside Keaney in attack.

Moran smashed his first goal and Cuala’s after 11 minutes after a powerful run, but those flashes of genius were limited for Dalkey’s side initially.

O’Callaghan’s point and another from Mark Schutte came in injury time to leave Cuala just four behind.

And they reduced that gap to two early in the second half when Treacy converted the set balls again.

That two-point margin held between the teams for much of the third quarter until Moran signaled just before the water break to leave one in it, 1-16 to 1-15.

Then came his penalty conversion and suddenly Cuala got under way and ‘Boden couldn’t stop his momentum.

Backup Nicky Kenny, Moran and Treacy added final points to highlight the score and clinch five titles in six seasons.

What: Sean Brennan; Oisin Gough, Cian O’Callaghan, Michael Conroy; John Sheanon, Jake Malone (0-01), Darragh O’Connell; Niall Carty (0-01), Sean Treacy; Diarmuid O Floinn, With O’Callaghan (0-01), David Treacy (0-11, 0-07f, 0-01 65); Colm Cronin (0-01), Mark Schutte (0-01), Sean Moran (2-03, 1-00pen, 0-01f).

Subs: Colum Sheanon for Carty 27, Simon Timlin for Conroy 36, Nicky Kenny (0-01) for D Treacy blood, 36-37, Kenny for O Floinn 45, Liam Murphy for Cronin 65.

Ballyboden S t By Enda: Finn McGarry; Stephen O’Connor, Luke Corcoran, David O’Connor; Shane Durkin, James Madden, Simon Lambert; Sean McDonnell, Niall McMorrow; Conor Dooley (0-02), Paul Doherty (0-01), Niall Ryan (0-04); Paul Ryan (0-08, 0-03f, 0-01 65), Conal Keaney (1-01), Aidan Mellett (0-02).

Subs: Paddy Dunleavy for O’Connor 52, Luke McDwyer for Mellett 56, Conor McCormack for Doherty 60.

Referee: Sean Stack.



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