CON O’CALLAGHAN kicked Cuala into the Dublin SFC final for the first time in 36 years.
King Con hit eight points — half of Cuala’s total — as the Dalkey side over-ran Ballymun Kickhams in yesterday’s semi-final at Parnell Park.
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Cuala’s only previous appearance in the decider was way back in 1988 when they lost to Parnells.
But their dream of a first county SFC title is very much alive as they await the winners of today’s second semi-final between Kilmacud Crokes and Na Fianna.
Boss Austin O’Malley told DubsTV: “We’re delighted. I thought we were in a good place coming in.
“It was a real test. Full credit to Ballymun, we knew what they were going to bring and they didn’t disappoint. They came with a lot of physicality.
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“It took us a while to break them down. We left a bit behind us in the first half but we were doing the right things.
“We managed the ball pretty well in that second half. We pushed on and finished really strong.
“Hopefully we’ll arrive in good stead in two weeks. It’s an honour to be into the final.”
Having played with the wind at their backs, Cuala held a slender 0-7 to 0-6 lead at half-time.
But they took over after the break as O’Callaghan kicked five scores on the bounce.
And they were rarely troubled at the opposite end, holding Ballymun’s star-studded attack scoreless for 22 minutes.
Sub Cillian Dunne was unlucky not to find the net on 43 minutes, Seán Currie showing great reflexes to keep out his powerful effort.
But with Michael Fitzsimons making a series of inspired runs from deep, Cuala edged further clear.
Dean Robertson scored a goal in added time to close the gap to five points but it was no consolation for Ballymun.
CUALA: R Scollard; D Conroy, C McMorrow, E O’Callaghan; E Kennedy, M Fitzsimons, D O’Dowd; P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, P Duffy; J Power, C O’Callaghan 0-8, 6f, 1m, C Doran 0-1; L Keating 0-2, 1f, N O’Callaghan 0-2, C Ó Giolláin.
Subs: C Dunne 0-1 for Duffy 7 mins; M Conroy for Conroy 34; C Mulally for Power 36; C Groarke 0-1 for Keating 47; C O’Brien 0-1 for Ó Giolláin 54.
BALLYMUN KICKHAMS: S Currie; E Dolan, L Young, E Hill; C Tighe, J Small, D Leonard 0-1; J McCarthy 0-2, A Elliot; D Robertson 1-0, P Small 0-1, C McCormack; D Byrne, R Bolger 0-2, D Rock 0-2f.
Subs: F Andrews for J Small 20-26; F Andrews for Elliot h-t; D Conlon for Dolan h-t; D Keating for Byrne 46; C McManus for Leonard 52; A Hubbard for Tighe 60.
REFEREE: D Stynes (St Peregrine’s).
