FOR ALL OF their power and quality, Cuala have rarely won games easily in the Leinster club SFC and the Dubliners found themselves in another sticky situation at half-time at Parnell Park on Saturday evening.
Fresh off an arm-wrestle encounter with Tullamore, which they edged narrowly, the 2024 champions trailed Sarsfields by a point, suggesting that it may be a long evening.
But they suddenly found their groove, delivering a much-improved second-half display to sweep to a 10-point win and ensure that their 100% record in provincial championship games remains intact.
The 2025 All-Ireland winners outscored Sarsfields by 1-12 to 0-2 in a surprisingly one-sided period between half-time and the 60th minute, Kildare champions Sarsfields adding two late consolation points to gloss the scoreboard.
The O’Callaghan brothers were excellent again for the Dubliners, Con helping himself to six points while Niall tallied 0-4.
Legend
Dublin defender Eoin Kennedy registered an important three points too while county legend Michael Fitzsimons locked down a defence that coughed up just 11 points.
Cuala’s reward is a semi-final clash with Carlow’s Rathvilly or Portarlington of Laois, back at Parnell Park in a fortnight.
Cuala required a piece of Con O’Callaghan wizardry in the form of a 60th-minute two-pointer to squeeze beyond Tullamore previously.
And while they were considerable favourites again in their fifth consecutive game at Parnell Park, where they collected the county title on 18 October with a landslide win over Castleknock, they found the going difficult initially.
Kennedy nailed a two-pointer in the second minute, but it was 20 minutes before the Dalkey side scored again.
A perfect start for Cuala as Eoin Kennedy floats over a two-pointer off the outside of his right boot
📺Watch Cuala v Sarsfields live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player #RTEGAA #GAA #Football https://t.co/040u6ZhBAA
In between, they fired three wides and winced as Sarsfields filled their boots with five singles in a row. Ben McCormack was a late addition to the visitors’ team and clipped over two of Sars’ first three points.
Blow
But when county man McCormack was withdrawn late in the first half with an apparent injury, it was a significant blow.
Cuala had briefly taken the lead when a back-to-back of Con O’Callaghan points was followed by a terrific two-pointer from his brother, Niall.
That score summed up all that Cuala are about; skyscraping Dublin midfielder Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne plucking an opposition kick-out from a crowd of bodies at midfield and feeding his number 15 who split the posts beautifully off his left foot.
Peadar Ó Cofaigh-Byrne wins the high ball for Cuala. Nick Elliott / INPHO
Nick Elliott / INPHO / INPHO
Sarsfields jumped back onto the front foot with points from Shea Ryan and Daragh Ryan, the latter a great score from a tight angle on the right, to take a deserved 0-7 to 0-6 half-time lead.
But it turned out that Cuala were only just getting going, and they dominated the third quarter to take firm control of proceedings.
All-Star nominee Charlie McMorrow struck the first of four Cuala points in a row shortly after the restart.
Charlie McMorrow fouls Daragh Ryan. Nick Elliott / INPHO
Nick Elliott / INPHO / INPHO
Sarsfields broke the chain of scores with points from Luke Mahon and Ryan Kearney, the latter one of three late additions to their line-up.
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Cuala’s response to the Sarsfields insurgence was swift and brutal, 1-8 without response to kill the contest and secure another home tie in the semi-final.
Dan O’Sullivan fired 1-1 of that mini-blitz, capitalising for his 41st minute goal after great work down the right by McMorrow and David O’Dowd.
Massive moment at Parnell Park as Dan O'Sullivan buries the first goal of the game, and it goes to the Dublin champions
📺Watch Cuala v Sarsfields live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player #RTEGAA #GAA #Football https://t.co/9NiKkGKfEe
Sars didn’t help themselves with a couple of 4/3 breaches allowing Con O’Callaghan to swell his scoring tally with two simple tap overs.
It told a tale of Cuala’s absolute domination that they were able to run in their entire bench to give key men like Danny Conroy and Kennedy a break ahead of the last four.
A dejected David Shalvey of Sarsfields after the game. Nick Elliott / INPHO
Nick Elliott / INPHO / INPHO
Cuala scorers: Con O’Callaghan 0-6 (0-2f), Dan O’Sullivan 1-1, Niall O’Callaghan 0-4 (1 2 pt play), Eoin Kennedy 0-3 (1 2pt play), Charlie McMorrow 0-1, Peter Duffy 0-1, Conor Mullally 0-1, Jamie Conroy 0-1.
Sarsfields scorers: Ben McCormack 0-2, Ryan Kearney 0-2, Karl Hartley 0-1, Cathal White 0-1 (m), Shea Ryan 0-1, Daragh Ryan 0-1, Luke Mahon 0-1, Con Kavanagh 0-1, Conor O’Donovan 0-1.
Cuala
1. Darragh O’Dowd
2. Danny Conroy, 3. Michael Fitzsimons, 4. Eoghan O’Callaghan
5. Eoin Kennedy, 6. Charlie McMorrow, 7. David O’Dowd
8. Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, 9. Peter Duffy
23. Conor Groarke, 11. Cal Doran, 12. Dan O’Sullivan
13. Conor O’Brien, 14. Con O’Callaghan, 15. Niall O’Callaghan
Subs
17. Jamie Conroy for O’Brien (41)
28. Conor Mullally for O’Sullivan (49)
18. Daniel Drummond for Danny Conroy (53)
19. Killian O’Shea for Kennedy (57)
21. Jamie Keenan for Groarke (57)
Sarsfields
1. Cathal Moore
4. Colm Harnett, 6. Con Kavanagh, 2. Jimmy O’Neill
5. Daragh Conlon, 21. David Shalvey, 7. Cathal White
9. Shea Ryan, 10. Callum Bolton
13. Conor O’Donovan, 22. Ryan Kearney, 12. Daragh Ryan
26. Ben McCormack, 14. Luke Mahon, 15. Karl Hartley
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Con O'Callaghan scores 0-6 as Cuala march past Sarsfields into Leinster semi-final
Cuala (Dublin) 1-18
Sarsfields (Kildare) 0-11
Paul Keane reports from Parnell Park
FOR ALL OF their power and quality, Cuala have rarely won games easily in the Leinster club SFC and the Dubliners found themselves in another sticky situation at half-time at Parnell Park on Saturday evening.
Fresh off an arm-wrestle encounter with Tullamore, which they edged narrowly, the 2024 champions trailed Sarsfields by a point, suggesting that it may be a long evening.
But they suddenly found their groove, delivering a much-improved second-half display to sweep to a 10-point win and ensure that their 100% record in provincial championship games remains intact.
The 2025 All-Ireland winners outscored Sarsfields by 1-12 to 0-2 in a surprisingly one-sided period between half-time and the 60th minute, Kildare champions Sarsfields adding two late consolation points to gloss the scoreboard.
The O’Callaghan brothers were excellent again for the Dubliners, Con helping himself to six points while Niall tallied 0-4.
Legend
Dublin defender Eoin Kennedy registered an important three points too while county legend Michael Fitzsimons locked down a defence that coughed up just 11 points.
Cuala’s reward is a semi-final clash with Carlow’s Rathvilly or Portarlington of Laois, back at Parnell Park in a fortnight.
Cuala required a piece of Con O’Callaghan wizardry in the form of a 60th-minute two-pointer to squeeze beyond Tullamore previously.
And while they were considerable favourites again in their fifth consecutive game at Parnell Park, where they collected the county title on 18 October with a landslide win over Castleknock, they found the going difficult initially.
Kennedy nailed a two-pointer in the second minute, but it was 20 minutes before the Dalkey side scored again.
In between, they fired three wides and winced as Sarsfields filled their boots with five singles in a row. Ben McCormack was a late addition to the visitors’ team and clipped over two of Sars’ first three points.
Blow
But when county man McCormack was withdrawn late in the first half with an apparent injury, it was a significant blow.
Cuala had briefly taken the lead when a back-to-back of Con O’Callaghan points was followed by a terrific two-pointer from his brother, Niall.
That score summed up all that Cuala are about; skyscraping Dublin midfielder Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne plucking an opposition kick-out from a crowd of bodies at midfield and feeding his number 15 who split the posts beautifully off his left foot.
Sarsfields jumped back onto the front foot with points from Shea Ryan and Daragh Ryan, the latter a great score from a tight angle on the right, to take a deserved 0-7 to 0-6 half-time lead.
But it turned out that Cuala were only just getting going, and they dominated the third quarter to take firm control of proceedings.
All-Star nominee Charlie McMorrow struck the first of four Cuala points in a row shortly after the restart.
Sarsfields broke the chain of scores with points from Luke Mahon and Ryan Kearney, the latter one of three late additions to their line-up.
Cuala’s response to the Sarsfields insurgence was swift and brutal, 1-8 without response to kill the contest and secure another home tie in the semi-final.
Dan O’Sullivan fired 1-1 of that mini-blitz, capitalising for his 41st minute goal after great work down the right by McMorrow and David O’Dowd.
Sars didn’t help themselves with a couple of 4/3 breaches allowing Con O’Callaghan to swell his scoring tally with two simple tap overs.
It told a tale of Cuala’s absolute domination that they were able to run in their entire bench to give key men like Danny Conroy and Kennedy a break ahead of the last four.
Cuala scorers: Con O’Callaghan 0-6 (0-2f), Dan O’Sullivan 1-1, Niall O’Callaghan 0-4 (1 2 pt play), Eoin Kennedy 0-3 (1 2pt play), Charlie McMorrow 0-1, Peter Duffy 0-1, Conor Mullally 0-1, Jamie Conroy 0-1.
Sarsfields scorers: Ben McCormack 0-2, Ryan Kearney 0-2, Karl Hartley 0-1, Cathal White 0-1 (m), Shea Ryan 0-1, Daragh Ryan 0-1, Luke Mahon 0-1, Con Kavanagh 0-1, Conor O’Donovan 0-1.
Cuala
1. Darragh O’Dowd
2. Danny Conroy, 3. Michael Fitzsimons, 4. Eoghan O’Callaghan
5. Eoin Kennedy, 6. Charlie McMorrow, 7. David O’Dowd
8. Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, 9. Peter Duffy
23. Conor Groarke, 11. Cal Doran, 12. Dan O’Sullivan
13. Conor O’Brien, 14. Con O’Callaghan, 15. Niall O’Callaghan
Subs
Sarsfields
1. Cathal Moore
4. Colm Harnett, 6. Con Kavanagh, 2. Jimmy O’Neill
5. Daragh Conlon, 21. David Shalvey, 7. Cathal White
9. Shea Ryan, 10. Callum Bolton
13. Conor O’Donovan, 22. Ryan Kearney, 12. Daragh Ryan
26. Ben McCormack, 14. Luke Mahon, 15. Karl Hartley
Subs
Referee: Alan Coyne (Westmeath).
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CLUB FOOTBALL Cuala GAA Leinster Sarsfields