Cuala's Conor O'Brien and Mark Schütte proudly holding the Leinster Trophy

Full details of Dates and other Leagues


Schedule for Feb 2009
11 Feb Football Training Loreto 6 To 7pm
13 Feb Hurling Training
15 Feb Hurling Match Tba
18 Feb Football Training Loreto 6 To 7pm
20 Feb Pilates Cuala Hall 6.50pm
22 Feb Football League

Minor A Hurling Championship Final 2008
Cuala 0:10 Ballyboden St Endas 0:11
Whoever said lightning never strikes the same place twice? For the second year in a row, a free awarded in time added-on, deprived the Cuala Minor Hurlers and their bewildered supporters of at least another day out in the 'A' Championship. Last year, against Na Fianna in O'Toole Park, a similar Championship-deciding free was surprisingly awarded. This year, different opponents, same venue, same tied game, and . . .well you know the rest.

More Pictures.

The 2008 final was played at a ferocious pace, with a quality and skill level that would have graced any stadium in the country but on a playing "surface" better suited to the National Ploughing Championships. Cuala, playing down the hill in the first half, started much the brighter and had 3 points on the board before 'Boden stirred. Cuala didn't make hay during this period of dominance in the opening quarter and missed a number of very scoreable chances which was worrying for the Red supporters in the huge crowd. Cuala's half-back line of Conor Gough, Colm O'Farrell and Oisin Whelan were in total control during this period and sent ball after ball back into the Cuala attack. Packie Holden, Simon Timlon and Sean Barron in the full-back line were hardly tested in the first half and goalie Paul Butler had very little work to do.

Cuala's full-forward Christie Howard made two wonderful catches in front of goal during this period but his attempted strikes on goal were snuffed out by the Blue & Whites on both occasions. Three well-taken frees from the hurl of Eoin Cronin (who was to score seven), and two magnificent long-range efforts from the mid-field pairing of man-of-the match, Rory Cole and his partner-in-crime Adam Hudson were the pick of the first half scores. As half-time bekoned, Boden began to claw their way back into the game. Showing real opportunism, their forwards, with a very limited supply of ball, tacked on four points just before the interval and the teams went in with only the minimum between them on the half-hour 05:04.

Boden's purple patch came following the re-start as Cuala for some reason came slowly out of the blocks. The Blue & Whites switched full forward Niall McMorrow to wing-forward and, showing tremendous class, he began to find his range with a number of well taken scores. His pace was causing concern and Cuala moved Conor Gough onto him and this slowed down the scoring rate, but damage was being done. Ballyboden's forwards were now getting a good supply of ball from their half-back line and the game began to turn in Boden's favour. The Blues clocked up 6 unanswered points to leave Cuala down 05:10. The cause looked desperate for the Dalkeymen but that was to be-lie the character and determination of this Cuala outfit. Cuala's management moved Mark Schutte back into the half-back line and again the tide began to move in Cuala's favour. Cuala's half-forward line of Eoin Cronin, Colm Sheanan and Brian Sexton started to battle hard and Ballyboden again began to rock back on their heels. Cuala's never-say-die attitude saw corner-forwards Dan Spillane and Conor O'Brien tackle everything that moved and forced poor clearances from the Boden rear-guard. Every single ball was now fought for with great tenacity and Cuala clocked up 4 points without reply to leave just the minimum between the teams. At this point McMorrow took off on a dazzling run down the right and passing three Cuala defenders, he threw a pass across goal to a waiting Boden forward who pulled the trigger six yards from goal. Paul Butler pulled off a tremendous, instinctive save and the crowd breathed again. Late on, Mark Schutte rose high in from of his own goal to catch a high dropping ball and cleared it away with pace-makers all over O'Toole Park going into over-drive!

The Dalkey Faithful was starting to believe again when up stepped Rory Cole with the point of the match. He fielded a great ball from the Cuala puck-out and, under tremendous pressure, took off up the right wing with half of Firhouse behind him. He got away a long-range shot that turned in the air and just dropped over the black-spot to thunderous applause of the Cuala supporters. Then the lightening struck. With nothing on the clock and everyone marking their diaries for the replay - that free. 11:10 to the men from Firhouse and heartbreak for their southern neighbours.

What a contrast with 1969 when a Cuala Minor team, inspired by the Holden brothers, won the Minor final by a single point when the game looked dead and buried. With nothing left on the clock, Mick Holden was released from goal and like 'Roy of the Rovers' raced up field took a pass from the left wing and drove the ball to the net for Cuala to win by the minimum. Now Cuala must start afresh to bridge a 40-year gap. Will our day ever come? Of course it will. Having witnessed the Skill spirit and character of our young hurlers, its only a matter of time before a Cuala nand will lift the silverware.

Boden as always were very gracious in victory and Cuala walked off the field to rapturous, sustained applause and cheers that were richly deserved. Well done to both teams and Managers for a spirited and sporting display of hurling.

Dec 16 - Minor Hurlers add League title to their Championship success.
The Cuala 2nd Minor hurling team completed an incredible double by defeating a much-fancied Castleknock team in the League decider in Hyde Park on Sunday morning. More . . .