Nemo Cup
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Cuala Itinerary
Nemo Draw




2008 HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
CUALA 02:06 Kilmacud Crokes 01:08
Feile 2009 Resource Page
The Cuala U13 Hurlers ended the season on a high with a hard earned one point win over Kilmacud Crokes on Saturday. In a keenly contested match, both sides served up a skilfull, spirited and determined display of hurling with Cuala winning this epic final by the minimum margin.

Playing against a very strong breeze in the first half, Cuala dug deep and limited Kilmacud's score to 5 points. Such was the determination of the Cuala backs that they limited Kilmacud to 1-1 from play for the entire game.With five minutes left in the first half and Cuala trainiling by three points, Con O'Callaghan ghosted inside the Kilmacud back line and crashed a great stike to the back of the net. The sides were now level at 1-2 to 0-5 at half time.... Advantage to Cuala.

A blistering start to the second half, saw Cuala score 1-2 in the opening five minutes without reply. Sean Treacy was moved to full forward at half time and inside the first minute of the new he had scored Cuala's second crucial goal. Kilmacud were never down and they came back and drew level with five minutes to go.

This was going to be a real character test for the Cuala Boys and a test which they passed with honours. A Kilmacud ball fired into the Cuala square was caught at full stretch by Conor O'Sullivan. One slip the match would be lost but "the chief" cleared his lines.....a catch worthy of any All-Ireland. In the dying moments of normal time and with Cuala on the attack, the ball was collected by Sean O'Braonain on the left wing. He jinked inside on the 45 and fired home the winning point. The longest three minutes ever of injury time followed and the final whistle was greeted with a pitch invasion worthy of Croke Park.

In goal, Sean Gibney gave another solid performance and was unluck not to keep a clean sheet.The full back line of Conor O'Sullivan, Kevin Killian (Captain) and Cillian Sheanon held steady througout the game and doggedly resisted wave after wave of Kilmacud attaches. Wing backs Cian Byrne and Ciaran McDermott saved their best hurling performance of the year for the final. Jack Behan gave a commanding display at centre back and was outstanding throughout the game.

At mid field, Andrew Murphy and Colm O'Luing, worked tirelessly and covered the full pitch. The half forward line of Kyle Braine, Sean Treacy amd Sean O'Braonaincontinuallly pressured the Kilmacud defence and worked many fine scores, Sean Treacy was awarded the man of the match trophy for his skillful display narrowly pipping Jack Behan for the award. The full forward line of Liam Bermingham, Sean Dowling and Con O'Callaghan moved continually and harried the Kilmacud backs never letting them settle on the ball.

Gavin Nolan and Jake Malone were brought on during the second half and gave very fine accounts of themeselves. Sean Drummond, Luc O'Giollain, Eoin O'Dormain and Donal Lane were all unlucky not to get on the field of play but their efforts and committment to the squad during the year contributed greatly to Saturday's victory. All in all this was a really great team squad performance and just reward for the effort that all the boys put in during the year.

Contratulations to the all the boys on this fine Championship Win. Thanks also to the very many parents, relations, and Cuala Club Members who travelled in large numbers to the game. Your presence certainly added to the sense of occasion and your vocal support and encouragement lifeted the Cuala team's performance.

2008 HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL
CUALA 01:11 ST VINCENTS 0.9

On a mild October afternoon in Pairc Naomh Uinsionn, Cuala progressed to the Final of the U13 Hurling Championship with a work-man-like and efficient performance against St Vincents on Saturday 4th October.

The game was a cracker from start to finish, and will live long in the memory of those from the Dalkey community who witnessed this dogged, never-say-die approach from this Cuala side. The game will also be remembered for a number of near misses at either end that had both sets of supporters on tender-hooks, and for the single goal that decided the issue in favour of the Reds.

Cuala arrived to PNU early, and immediately set out their stall with a very intensive warm-up which saw them begin the game at a fast pace. Points from Sean Treacy and Luc O'Giollain without reply settled the visitors and gave the Blues' backs something to think about. Fifteen minutes in, a low ball from the stylish Kyle Braine whistled across the Vincents goal and was met first time with a ground stroke by Gavin Nolan. The 'ping' of the sliothar hitting the upright could be heard all over Marino. The ball however, deflected wide with the keeper beaten. The Marino men went up field and watched as two of their efforts whistled past the post. Cuala had played against the wind in that first half and points from a ground stroke from Braine and an Andrew Murphy long-range free into the wind from 60m were the pick of the Cuala scores.

Andrew Murphy was outstanding throughout at mid-field, catching and dispatching the ball into the Cuala attack. He was ably supported by the tidy and industrious Colm O'Luin who cleaned up all the loose ball around the middle, and picked off two valuable points in the process. Sean Treacy scored three points from centre-forward and continued to be a thorn in the Vincent's side. He had to be watched constantly and kept the best player on the Vins side occupied for most of the game. The half back line of Sean O'Brainain, Cian Byrne and the inspired Jack Behan fought for everything and covered a Cuala full-back line that was under a lot of pressure in the early stages of the game. Sean Gibney made a fine save at a crucial point in the early stages and continued to play with authority throughout the game. The classy Killian Sheanan was moved back into the full-back line to replace the injured Sean Drummand after ten minutes and there was a noticeable improvement in the stability of the back-line.

Cuala kept up a relentless pace for the first half and continued to win the 50/50 ball with a determination and fierce commitment that be-lied their smaller size. Vincents didn't expect to have to battle for every ball and went in shell-shocked on the half hour on a score-line of 0.7 to 0.3 in favour of the Dalkeymen.

The re-start saw a noticeable improvement in the St Vincents approach, and after conceding an early Cuala point, the Marino men took the game by the scruff of the neck and with the no. 12, and no. 13 from Vincents causing all sorts of problems and starting to find their range, the score line crept up to level at eight points a piece as Cuala began to wilt. The move of the superb Jack Behan to centre-back stopped the rot for Cuala and an O'Luin point after fifteen minutes of continuous Vincent's domination again edged Cuala ahead. It was now down to who wanted to win the game more, and goal chances were missed at both ends. The two 'grim reapers' at the back for Cuala, Conor "Chief" O'Sullivan and Kevin Killian decided that today was not their day to lose, absorbed a lot of pressure and took a lot of punishment in the Cuala rear-gaurd.

The break-through came when a relentlessly busy Cuala attack, blocked and harried the Vincents back-line until the ball eventually ended up in front of the Vincents goal. A scramble ensued and with the Vins backs not able to clear their lines, the ever-vigilant poacher-in-chief, Sean O'Dulaing pounced and pulled on the ball to the net with ten minutes remaining. This gave the Cuala team more heart and knocked the wind out of the St Vincents sails.

Jake Malone, Eoin O'Gorman and Liam Birmingham were sprung from the bench to give even more impetus to the Red's attack. These players through themselves into defending the Cuala lead and caused even more problems for the St.Vincents defence who urgently needed the ball down the other end. However it wasn't to be Vincents day and when Treacy knocked over the final free, the referee called proceedings to a halt and the Cuala team finished the game in jubilant form on a score-line of 1.11 to 0.9.

Congratulations to all the players, management and supporters for getting to the second Championship Final in two years.

The final will be played against Kilmacud Crokes who beat Ballyboden by two points in their Semi-final - date and venue to be decided.

Another very satisfactory day at the office!

2008 U13s Do It Again
Not since the time of Gregory XIII have we seen someone who has such command of the calendar. Just how John McKeown organised Saturday's Under 13 Presentations (celebrating their sucess in the Shield) to coincide with the very day they landed the League, would leave Gallileo himself in awe. And yet, that's exactly what happened. So it was some party back at Áras Cuala when the Kingdom's very own Michael Spillane dispensed marginally more medals that he has received himself. Well done to the boys, their mentors and supporters.

More Pictures

2007 Under 12 Presentations
Cuala's three Dublin Hurling heros were on hand to present stacks of medals and trophys to the boys who did so well winning the Division 1 and Division 2 Championships.

Well done to everyone involved.
Pictures


2007 - The U12s do the Bog Trot
The U12s went to the Lilliput Adventure Centre last weekend. Led by Jenny Drummond, Zita McDermott, Tony Gibney, Willie Braine and Ken O'Sullivan with An Cathaoirleach John Treacy in attendance, the group had a wonderful time.
Highlights of the weekend included their very own X-Factor Talent Show and yes - Bog Hopping. I wonder who got to do the wash? See for yourself in Cuala's Gallery