​Cuala (Dublin) 1-19

St Mullins (Carlow) 1-7

Paul Keane reports from Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow

GOALSCORER CON O’CALLAGHAN provided the inspiration again as Cuala eased past St Mullins at Netwatch Cullen Park and into another AIB Leinster club SHC final

The back to back Dublin champions had a shaky start against the Carlow men and leaked a goal to trail by two points at the quarter-hour mark.

But they dominated the game from there on with O’Callaghan, the Dublin football panellist, firing 1-3 including a brilliantly taken 39th minute goal that put Mattie Kenny’s side well in the clear.

It brings to 5-6 the amount that O’Callaghan, a former Dublin minor dual star, has tallied in just two games in the provincial championship.

Sean Treacy was excellent too, chipping in three points and giving a strong creative display while the Schutte brothers, Paul and Mark, powered through their opponents.

Cuala lost last year’s provincial final to Oulart The Ballagh, ironically at this venue, and will now have a chance to redeem themselves when they play O’Loughlin Gaels of Kilkenny on December 4.

St Mullins led 1-2 to 0-3 after John Murphy’s early goal but Cuala outscored them 0-6 to 0-1 for the remainder of the half to lead 0-9 to 1-3 at the break.

Free-taker David Treacy scored five of those first-half points while O’Callaghan drew fouls that led to bookings for two St Mullins players.

O’Callaghan pointed after the restart and then hit the goal that put them 1-11 to 1-4 clear and on the road to another final.

Mark Schutte won a breaking ball and played it sideways and O’Callaghan allowed it to bounce before volleying it superbly to the net.

Bursts of three and then four points without reply from then on eased Cuala to the big win with Colm Cronin and sub Colum Sheanon also on the mark.

St Mullins midfielder Jack Kavanagh was red carded in the 60th minute for his second booking.

Cuala