Leinster Club Senior Football Championship Round 1

Cuala (Dublin) 0-16
Tullamore (Offaly) 1-11

Kilanerin-Ballyfad (Wexford) 0-17
Newtown Blues (Louth) 1-13

The Downs (Westmeath) 2-17
Clonguish (Longford) 1-18

PERHAPS CON O’CALLAGHAN, a couple of days after missing out on an All-Star award, was keen to make a point.

The Dublin and Cuala star certainly did that, seizing the responsibility at Parnell Park and blasting a two-point score on the stroke of 60 minutes to propel his club through to a Leinster SFC quarter-final.

A Harry Plunkett inspired Tullamore attempted to rescue a result in stoppage time but couldn’t do any more damage, meaning O’Callaghan’s two-pointer ultimately separated the teams after an intense contest.

It was a cruel loss for the four-in-a-row Offaly champions who were also beaten narrowly by the Dalkey side two years ago.

Favourites Cuala, who went on to capture Leinster and All-Ireland titles that season, found themselves in a tricky position this time, trailing by four points with just over 20 minutes to go.

But the big game experience of Derek Dunne’s crew came to the fore from there on with Cuala outscoring Tullamore by 0-8 to 0-1 in a crucial period between the 39th and 54th minutes.

Tullamore's David Keegan shakes hands after the game with Con O’Callaghan of Cuala. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO

David O’Dowd and Niall O’Callaghan capped fine games with important scores for Cuala during that blitzkrieg.

It still went right to the wire as Tullamore refused to go down without a fight and King Con again proved the difference with that two-pointer, bringing his day’s takings to 0-6.

Cuala’s reward is a quarter-final clash with newly crowned Kildare champions Sarsfields in a fortnight.

But for 32-times Offaly champions Tullamore, who have struggled over the years in the province, it’s the end of the road with their all-time provincial record now reading; played 14, lost 10.

Things looked better for them early on. Luke Plunkett’s goal just before half time was a huge score in the context of a low-scoring game, leaving them 1-4 to 0-6 clear at the interval.

Tullamore got a brilliant start to the second period too when, operating on an advantage call again by the referee, Harry Plunkett chanced a two-pointer which flew over from the right wing.

The same player benefited from another bad breach by Cuala, who were in possession and attacking, handing Plunkett the easiest of opportunities to tap over a single.

Now 1-7 to 0-6 ahead, it was increasingly looking like Tullamore’s game to lose.

But just as Cuala appeared to be in real trouble, they found their very best form with Con O’Callaghan’s first point from play inspiring a run of five-in-a-row.

It still went all the way to the wire with Harry Plunkett’s 10th point of the afternoon in the 59th minute levelling the game and providing the platform for Con O’Callaghan to do what he does best.

Elsewhere, there were wins for The Downs and Kilanerin-Ballyfad in the other round 1 games – meaning those two clubs will face each other on Sunday, 15 November in Mullingar.

The Downs, finalists in 2022, just about edged out Clonguish with county hurler Niall Mitchell once again hugely influential.

It was Mitchell’s first-half goal that separated the teams as The Downs led 1-10 to 0-10.

James Hagan struck the Clonguish goal in the third quarter but The Downs scores from county star Luke Loughlin, a two-pointer, and Kevin O’Sullivan nudged them to victory.

Seán Forde’s point from a free in the 63rd minute won it for Kilanerin-Ballyfad who scored the upset of the day in Leinster.

A Newtown Blues team featuring All-Star nominee Ciarán Downey, who scored 0-4, were fancied to advance.

But eight points from a combination of Hughes’ – Niall, Eoin and Cian – along with 0-7 from Dean O’Toole helped Kilanerin secure a landmark win.

Cuala scorers: Con O’Callaghan 0-6 (1 tpf, 0-2f, 0-1 45), Niall O’Callaghan 0-3, David O’Dowd 0-2, Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne 0-2, Eoghan O’Callaghan 0-1, Charlie McMorrow 0-1, Eoin Kennedy 0-1.

Tullamore scorers: Harry Plunkett 0-10 (2 tp, 0-4f, 0-1 45), Luke Plunkett 1-0, Diarmuid Egan 0-1

CUALA

1. Darragh O’Dowd

2. Danny Conroy
3. Michael Fitzsimons (Captain)
4. Eoghan O’Callaghan

5. Eoin Kennedy
6. Charlie McMorrow
7. David O’Dowd

8. Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne
9. Peter Duffy

12. Dan O’Sullivan
11. Cal Doran
23. Conor Groarke

15. Conor O’Brien
14. Con O’Callaghan
13. Niall O’Callaghan

Subs:
17. Jamie Conroy for O’Sullivan (46)

TULLAMORE

1. Arron Hensey

2. Jack Maher
3. Declan Hogan
4. Patrick Kenna

5. Cormac Egan (Captain)
6. John Furlong
7. Daire McDaid

8. Aaron Leavy
9. Davin Keegan

10. Luke Egan
11. Niall Furlong
12. Diarmuid Egan

13. Mike Fox
14. Harry Plunkett
15. Luke Plunkett

Subs:

18. Michael Brazil for Keegan (53)
20. Liam Dillane for Luke Plunkett (53)
17. Luke Bourke for Niall Furlong (54)

Referee: Patrick Coyle (Meath).