Cuala crowned All-Ireland club senior football champions after surviving Errigal Ciaran comeback
January 19, 2025
Cuala's James Power and Luke Keating lift the Andy Merrigan Cup at Croke Park ©INPHO/Bryan Keane
Cuala (Dublin) survived a spirited second-half revival from Errigal Ciaran (Tyrone) at Croke Park to claim All-Ireland club senior football championship glory for the first time.
After fellow capital men Na Fianna had cruised to the All-Ireland club senior hurling title with victory over Cork's Sarsfields earlier in the day, the Dalkey club made sure it’d be a 'Dublin Double' at headquarters with a 3-14 to 1-16 victory over their Tyrone counterparts.
Austin O’Malley’s side made a sensational start that saw them out to a 2-6 to 0-1 lead, with Cal Doran netting their first goal inside five minutes and David O’Dowd racing through for another major in the 13th minute.
It went from bad to worse for Errigal Ciaran as a head injury to ace attack Darragh Canavan saw the Tyrone star having to be substituted in the 21st minute and, three minutes later, the ball would be in the back of their net again after Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne made the most of another brilliant run from Con O’Callaghan.
A THIRD goal for @CualaCLG- as Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne finishes well 👌pic.twitter.com/LcW0J1lZFI
— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) January 19, 2025
Thomas Canavan and Odhran Robinson sailed over points late for the Ulster champions who were left with a mountain to climb in the second-half, as they went in trailing 3-9 to 0-5.
Peter Harte would ignite Errigal’s second-half revival, firing in a fantastic goal in the 39th minute, and they’d be able to narrow their deficit to within touching distance as Thomas Canavan, Ruairi Canavan and substitute Padraig McGirr were among those to send over points and keep the heat on Cuala.
The momentum was all with Enda McGinley's side when Harte clipped over a 58th minute point that made it 3-13 to 1-16, but a few chances after that went by the way side and eventually Cuala would steady the ship.
Con O’Callaghan came up big to set-up Conor Groarke and the substitute sent over the game’s last score in the second minute of injury-time, ensuring that the coveted Andy Merrigan Cup was headed to Dalkey this evening.
Tweet📺 WATCH: FULL TIME HIGHLIGHTS 🚨
— The GAA (@officialgaa) January 19, 2025
🔴⚪️ Cuala crowned Champions 👑@AIB_GAA #GAA Football Senior Club Championship@CualaCLG 3-14@ErrigalCiaran1 1-16#GAANOW brings you the best of the action 👇👇 pic.twitter.com/Ty6NqF1e4t
