AIB Leinster Club SFC: Cuala edge a cracker

AIB Leinster club SFC Round 1

Cuala 0-16 Tullamore 1-11

By Paul Keane at Parnell Park

Not for the first time, a remarkable Con O'Callaghan intervention made all the difference as Cuala advanced to an AIB Leinster club SFC quarter-final.

Still deadlocked at the hour mark, the experienced Dublin forward seized the opportunity to settle affairs by firing over a spectacular two-pointer for Cuala.

The orange flag score nudged the 2024 champions two points clear - and that's the way it remained with a Harry Plunkett inspired Tullamore unable to claw back any more scores in stoppage time.

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 the All-Ireland title in early 2025, 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.

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 once again proved the difference with that two-pointer winner, 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.

It was intense stuff with the teams tied four times until points from Con O'Callaghan and Eoghan O'Callaghan moved Cuala 0-6 to 0-4 ahead.

Then came the Luke Plunkett goal which left Tullamore in a brilliant position to push on for a landmark win.

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.

Cuala scorers: Con O'Callaghan 0-6 (1 tp, 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: Darragh O'Dowd; Danny Conroy, Michael Fitzsimons, Eoghan O'Callaghan; Eoin Kennedy, Charlie McMorrow, David O'Dowd; Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Peter Duffy; Dan O'Sullivan, Cal Doran, Conor Groarke; Niall O'Callaghan, Con O'Callaghan, Conor O'Brien.

Subs: Jamie Conroy for O'Sullivan 46.

Tullamore: Arron Hensey; Jack Maher, Declan Hogan, Patrick Kenna; Cormac Egan, John Furlong, Daire McDaid; Aaron Leavy, Davin Keegan; Luke Egan, Niall Furlong, Diarmuid Egan; Mike Fox, Harry Plunkett, Luke Plunkett.

Subs: Michael Brazil for Keegan 53, Liam Dillane for Luke Plunkett 53, Luke Bourke for Niall Furlong 54.

Referee: Patrick Coyle (Meath).