Advertisement
James Crombie/INPHO
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Cuala vs Na Piarsaigh, All-Ireland senior club hurling final replay

Following last weekend’s drawn final at Croke Park, Cuala and Na Piarsaigh went head to head again at O’Moore Park.

Hello and welcome to our coverage of this afternoon’s much-anticipated All-Ireland senior club hurling final replay between Cuala and Na Piarsaigh. We will be bringing you minute-by-minute coverage of today’s game from Portlaoise which — if it comes close the drama of last weekend’s meeting in Croke Park — should be a cracking affair.

Let’s get started with the team news…

Cuala:

1. Sean Brennan

2. Oisin Gough
3. Cian O’Callaghan
4. Simon Timlin

5. Darragh O’Connell
6. Sean Moran
7. John Sheanon

8. Jake Malone
9. Sean Treacy

10. David Treacy (captain)
11. Colm Cronin
12. Colum Sheanon

13. Mark Schutte
14. Con O’Callaghan
15. Nicky Kenny

Na Piarsaigh:

1. Podge Kennedy

2. Jerome Boylan
3. Mike Casey
4. Niall Buckley

5. Alan Dempsey
6. Cathal King (captain)
7. Kieran Kennedy

8. Shane Dowling
9. William O’Donoghue

10. Ronan Lynch
11. David Breen
12. David Dempsey

13. Adrian Breen
14. Kevin Downes
15. Peter Casey

David Treacy’s dramatic last-minute free swung over the bar and forced a replay in extra-time, with Cuala also scoring a late, great goal in normal time to draw the side’s level late on. Here’s how it all unfolded last weekend at HQ:

There is a consensus that neither side deserved to lose last weekend’s final, however both will have taken some disappointment with the result too.

Na Piarsaigh let their lead slip too often on a day where Cuala’s usually solid defence leaked two goals. Con O’Callaghan was limited to just a single score through normal and extra time, with Mike Casey performing excellently to keep the Dublin dual-star quiet.

Both managers have had their say on last weekend’s game.

“I actually thought we were the better side and felt that if some decisions, even a couple of decisions, went our way that we would have won. But it happens, we’ll deal with it and drive on,” said Na Piarsaigh boss Shane O’Neill.

Shane O’Neill Gary Carr / INPHO Gary Carr / INPHO / INPHO

Cuala manager Mattie Kenny said this week: “Na Piarsaigh would have liked to build a cushion but it was the character of the guys to respond. The goals didn’t dent their confidence. They just took it as another score each time, kept playing and went down and got the scores that were needed.”

Matty Kenny Gary Carr / INPHO Gary Carr / INPHO / INPHO

Right, how do we see this one going?


Poll Results:

Cuala (292)
 Na Piarsaigh (270)

One late change for Cuala as Paul Schutte comes in for Nicky Kenny. Na Piarsaigh line out as they were. Just a matter of moments to go now!

Cuala 0-0 Na Piarsaigh 0-0

Throw-in – Amhrán na bhFiann is belted out by both sets of teams and we’re underway at O’Moore Park.

Cuala 0-1 Na Piarsaigh 0-0

An early score for Mark Schutte from 25 yards out gives Cuala the lead after just 14 seconds.

Cuala 0-1 Na Piarsaigh 0-1

Na Piarsaigh earn a free at the other end as Peter Casey is tripped from behind by Sean Moran. Shane Dowling pucks it over and we’re all square.

Cuala 0-1 Na Piarsaigh 0-1

A free for Cuala from just along the sideline and 40 yards out from goal, but David Treacy sweeps it well wide of the target to his own surprise.

Cuala 0-2 Na Piarsaigh 0-1

A fine strike from John Sheanon on his left puts Cuala ahead again. Na Piarsaigh tried to flood bodies out from the half-back line to close down the danger but Sheanon had enough elevation on his strike to carry it between the posts and over the crossbar.

Cuala 0-2 Na Piarsaigh 0-2

Shane Dowling strikes a free kick distance. It’s high and mighty and — after a moment’s deliberation from the umpire — the white flag is raised and we’re level pegging at two apiece.

Cuala 0-2 Na Piarsaigh 0-3

A superb point Adrian Breen brings a chorus of applause from the crowd. The corner forward peeled away from his marker into a pocket of space. With a fair distance to carry with his strike, the effort floated graciously over to bring his side ahead for the first time this afternoon.

Cuala 0-2 Na Piarsaigh 0-4

Yet another score for Na Piarsaigh and another for Breen extends the Limerick side’s lead.

Cuala 0-3 Na Piarsaigh 0-4

Cuala pull one back via Darragh O’Connell and it was a brilliant individual run. He carried and carried as no-one closed him down. Slightly to his right hand side of the goal, he shortened his grip and tucked the ball over to cut the deficit to one.

Cuala 0-4 Na Piarsaigh 0-4

David Treacy slots over a free and we’re all square at four apiece.

Cuala 0-5 Na Piarsaigh 0-4

Some sustained pressure from Con O’Callaghan forces Mike Casey to put the ball out for a 65. Treacy stands up to take it and duly slots the ball over to bring Cuala back into the lead with three points in quick succession.

Cuala 0-6 Na Piarsaigh 0-4

Sean Moran slots another 65 over emphatically. That was magnificent and Cuala double their lead.

Cuala 0-6 Na Piarsaigh 0-5

Na Piarsaigh pull one back straight away from the puck-out and it’s Jerome Boylan with the score.

Cuala 0-7 Na Piarsaigh 0-5

Another for Cuala, following a poor wide from Ronan Lynch at the other end. A battling display for possession sees David Treacy concede a free, slice if off the ground into the box, before the ball falls back to Treacy and he slots it back over.

Cuala 0-7 Na Piarsaigh 0-6

Shane Dowling with a good score straight away to stem the tide. A good response as Cuala looked to begin to build some momentum.

Cuala 0-8 Na Piarsaigh 0-6

A good response now from Cuala now and it’s a first of the day for Con O’Callaghan. He managed just one score seven days ago but the dual-star is up and running today early doors.

Cuala 0-8 Na Piarsaigh 0-7

Adrian Breen slots over his third score of the evening and we’re back to a one point game again.

Cuala 0-9 Na Piarsaigh 0-7

After a handful of wides for both sides, Con O’Callaghan is fouled following a loose tackle from behind. It’s a comfortable distance for David Treacy and he knocks it over with ease.

Cuala 0-9 Na Piarsaigh 0-8

Adrian Breen is keeping his side in this as he registers another fine individual score.

Cuala 0-9 Na Piarsaigh 0-8

Paul Schutte is down for Cuala after sustaining an injury and he is replaced temporarily by Shane Stapleton off the bench.

Cuala 0-10 Na Piarsaigh 0-8

Cuala are into double figures now as David Treacy slots over a free from just inside the half-way line.

Cuala 0-10 Na Piarsaigh 0-9

Kevin Downes emerges from a bunch with possession and fires a powerful effort flying over. Na Piarsaigh trying to close the gap before the break, which is fast approaching.

HALF-TIME: CUALA 0-10 NA PIARSAIGH 0-9

It’s been largely tit-for-tat after half an hour, but Cuala head into the break one point ahead. David Treacy (0-5) has been excellent from dead-ball situations, however Adrian Breen (0-4) has been clinical when given the opportunity for Na Piarsaigh.

Kieran Kennedy and Mike Casey tackle Con O'Callaghan James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Kieran Kennedy and Mike Casey tackle Con O'Callaghan

Alan Dempsey and Collum Sheanon

Cuala 0-10 Na Piarsaigh 0-9

Second-half: The action has resumed and we’re back underway in Portlaoise!

Cuala 0-10 Na Piarsaigh 0-10

An early score for Na Piarsaigh as Peter Casey flicks a fine score over to level proceedings.

Cuala 0-11 Na Piarsaigh 0-10

Midfielder Jake Malone restores the Dubliners’ lead as David Dempsey is dispossessed in the middle of the park. Cuala counter and Malone pops the ball over from distance.

Cuala 0-11 Na Piarsaigh 0-11

Na Piarsaigh level again. David Treacy had a chance to extend Cuala’s lead from off the ground, but his effort flew wide. From the resulting puck-out a free is conceded and Shane Dowling knocks it over without any hint of doubt or hesitation.

Cuala 1-11 Na Piarsaigh 0-11

GOAL! Nicky Kenny latches onto a loose ball inside the box and slams the ball along the ground and beyond the reach of Podge Kennedy.

Cuala 2-11 Na Piarsaigh 0-11

ANOTHER goal! Mark Schutte dribbles into the box with ease and slams another strike beyond Kennedy. Cuala have a six point lead to boast now.

Cuala 2-11 Na Piarsaigh 0-12

Close! Kevin Downes bounds into the box and with a goal in mind he strikes a sweet effort which collides with the top of the crossbar and flies just over the bar for a point. It so easily could have been a goal.

Cuala 2-12 Na Piarsaigh 0-12

A free for Cuala is floated over by Treacy from close range and their six point advantage is restored.

Cuala 2-12 Na Piarsaigh 0-13

Adrian Breen stems the tide and cuts the deficit to five. He takes possession along the lefthand flank, turns smartly inside and pucks over.

Cuala 2-12 Na Piarsaigh 0-13

Here are those two fine quick-fire goals from earlier, courtesy of Nicky Kenny and Mark Schutte.

GOAL! NA PIARSAIGH CUT THE DEFICIT TO ONE POINT

Cuala 2-12 Na Piarsaigh 1-14

A goal and a point in quick succession have seen Na Piarsaigh back in this game. The goal was so well taken, with Shane Dowling feeding the ball into the box where David Breen remained composed before tucking the ball underneath Sean Brennan. Game on!

Cuala 2-12 Na Piarsaigh 1-15

After seeming close to dead and buried following those two quick-fire blows, Na Piarsaigh are level again. Peter Casey is the man who gets the score, picking up a loose ball fired across goal to fire over from close range. He easily could have went for goal but was happy to see it float over.

Cuala 2-13 Na Piarsaigh 1-17

Na Piarsaigh race into the lead for the first time in what will feel to them like an eternity. They have trailed this game for long, tough stretches but haven’t given up the fight and kept within touching distance. Dowling knocks over another free.

Cuala 2-14 Na Piarsaigh 1-17

Con O’Callaghan knocks one over for Cuala and we’re level.

There will be four minutes of stoppage time to come.

Cuala 2-15 Na Piarsaigh 1-17

Treacy pops over a free and Cuala are ahead. It’s tense in O’Moore Park.

Cuala 2-17 Na Piarsaigh 1-17

Another Treacy free and another for Mark Schutte late on here and Cuala are now three points ahead with just a minute to go now. They have pushed themselves hard as the game has reached the melting pot, and may very well have this in the bag.

FULL-TIME: CUALA ARE ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONS

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

Cuala-Na Piarsaigh thriller delivers on promise after a string of one-sided All-Ireland club hurling finals

Treacy saves Cuala against Na Piarsaigh to grab draw in All-Ireland hurling final thriller

Your Voice
Readers Comments
18
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel