CUALA BECAME THE first Dublin side since 1980 to win the Leinster club hurling title, but there was a Kerryman at the heart of their success.
Darragh O’Connell, a native of Abbeydorney in Kerry, transferred to Cuala at the beginning of 2015.
He’d spent the previous few years trekking back to North Kerry to line out with his home club, but the travel became too much for the 25-year-old primary school teacher.
Things haven’t worked out too badly for him. Two Dublin SHC titles and a Leinster crown are a decent return for his first couple of seasons with the Dalkey club.
“I suppose when I moved up first in 2012 I actually went in training with Cuala. I knew a couple of the lads, they invited me in, they were very good to me for the first couple of years when I was travelling up and down to Kerry, playing for Kerry.
“I was training away with them and I suppose it was a natural progression to go in with them playing with them. I’m just absolutely delighted I made that decision standing here today.
“I got great support from down home, I must say. My own club Abbeydorney, they understood at the time the sacrifices I was making up and down for the first couple of years when I was training with Cuala.
“I think Kerry people are hurling people and north Kerry people especially in Abbeydorney. There were so many of them in the stand today, it was great to see.”
O’Connell, who scored two points during last Sunday’s win over Kilkenny’s O’Loughlin Gaels, has lost just once in a Cuala jersey to Oulart the Ballagh in the 2015 Leinster final.
“I’m playing with them over two years. It’s an incredible group of guys that have come together. Look here today, the support, the club itself, a massive amount of credit has to go to absolutely everyone involved with this club.
“Without those people and without the backing of so many people this would not be possible.
“We didn’t want to talk about it but it was there in the back of your mind. I think I said it after the county final, it’s there, it’s something that you want to correct, but you’ve got to take it one step at a time.
“Fair play to Mattie, and all the management team, they have achieved that. We’re always just looking at the next 10 minutes and that’s how we looked at today’s game.”
Cuala will take on Ulster champions Slaughtneil on February 4, 2017 with a place in the St Patrick’s day final within touching distance.
“I think Mattie is the type of guy that….we looked at today as another step, it wasn’t the end, just another step. But look, we’re delighted to get over the line. We’ll look forward to February.
“There’s going to be a massive challenge waiting for us in Slaughtneil, they’re on a high. It’s a super club. For the meantime we’re going to enjoy tonight and then I’m sure we’ll refocus towards the end of the week and then look forward.”
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