Dublin SFC: Cuala and Castleknock to face off in final
Conor O'Brien of Cuala during the Dublin SFC 1 semi-final match between Ballyboden St Endas and Cuala at Parnell Park in Dublin. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
PTSB Dublin SFC 1 semi-finals
Cuala 0-21 Ballyboden St Endas 0-17
Castleknock 0-26 Thomas Davis 3-12
By Paul Keane at Parnell Park
Cuala and Castleknock will contest the PTSB Dublin SFC 1 final in a fortnight and if the decider is as dramatic as the semi-finals weekend, it'll be a cracking encounter.
Both Cuala, champions in 2024, who subsequently went on to win Leinster and All-Ireland titles, and Castleknock, came from behind with final quarter surges at Parnell Park to advance to the Sunday, October 18 (4.15pm) showpiece.
Cuala trailed holders Ballyboden by a point with 55 minutes played this afternoon and appeared to be in danger of slipping to defeat to the Firhouse Road side at this stage for the second season running.
But five points in a row from fit again substitute Niall O'Callaghan, the excellent Cillian Dunne, David O'Dowd, Conor O'Brien and county man Charlie McMorrow turned a tricky situation into an impressive four-point win.
Ballyboden were worthy champions last year and went on to claim the AIB Leinster title before slipping up at the All-Ireland semi-final stage.
They will lament the fact that they didn't make better use of possession when they had it this time around.
In the first half, for instance, 'Boden had the wind advantage and pushed too hard for two-pointers, taking seven shots from outside the arc and wincing as just one of them, from Galway's Céin D'Arcy, found the range.
Their goalkeeper, Hugh O'Sullivan, went 11 from 13 with his kick-outs in the first half yet despite all that possession, they went in trailing at half time as Cuala were 0-9 to 0-6 up.
Dunne kicked the first two of Cuala's early points and finished the day with 0-4 while Conor O'Brien and Jamie Conroy chipped over a couple of points each too.
Ballyboden put a big press on Cuala's kick-outs after the restart and dominated the third quarter, winning eight Cuala kick-outs in a row.
Ballyboden weren't flattered by their one-point lead with five minutes to go and it would have been even better for them had Daire Sweeney not dragged a great goal chance just wide for 'Boden.
Things looked bleak for Cuala who were starved of not just possession but momentum.
Then came that Niall O'Callaghan point in the 56th minute to level the game for the eighth time in all.
And now it was Cuala's turn to put real pressure on the 'Boden kick-out, forcing four turnovers in a row from Hugh O'Sullivan's kicks off the tee.
That presented a series of chances for Cuala players to punish 'Boden and they certainly did that with the five points in a row to surge through to the decider.
Cuala will inevitably be favourites to beat a less experienced Castleknock though the northsiders showed real quality in Saturday's win over Thomas Davis.
Castleknock were 0-13 to 1-8 up at half time but were rocked back by Thomas Davis goals from Sean Farrelly and Adam Waddick.
When Dublin's Cian Murphy pointed for Thomas Davis in the 40th minute, they led 3-10 to 0-14 and were cruising.
Castleknock were able to move up a couple of gears in the closing quarter hour or so, partly because of the significant impact of their subs.
Ger McDermottroe came on and scored five points, including a two-pointer, and Cian Boyle impressed with 0-2. Rob Shaw had a strong game also while Conor Chawke, Ciarán Kilkenny and Eoin Sawyer supplied scores too.
