Cuala 3-14
St Judes 0-13
Derek Ryan at Parnell Park
Cuala are Dublin Senior Hurling Champions for 2015.
They comprehensively beat St Jude’s in blistering sunshine at Parnell Park this afternoon, to claim their first crown in 21 years.
Two second half goals killed this game as a contest, after a tight opening half where the sides were level 5 times.
Midway through the first half, the sides were level at 5 points apiece.
But Cuala then pulled clear in the 18th minute, when Sean Treacy hit the net after a scramble in the box.
And, try as they might, Jude’s weren’t able to close that gap throughout the rest of the game.
Indeed, they had their goalkeeper Martin Hartnett to thank for keeping them in it, pulling off some excellent saves.
Cuala were 1-7 to 7 points clear at the half-time break, but it was Judes who came out the stronger in the second half.
They fired over two points in the opening minute to close the cap to just a single score.
However, that was as close as they got, as Cuala hit the net again- Colm Cronin taking the ball around the Judes keeper and scoring for the Dalkey side.
That gave them a 2-7 to 9 points lead early in the second half.
Jude’s did keep in touch, with points from Rob Hardy and Tom Devlin.
But Cuala’s strength in attack proved the difference, as they scored their third goal of the game with 13 minutes left on the clock.
Sean Treacy took advantage of an error in the Judes defence to fire past Hartnett for his second goal of the game and kill the tie as a contest.
That score pushed the Dalkey side 8 points clear.
Jude’s cause wasn’t helped shortly afterwards, when Joe McManus was sent off.
Cuala added further scores late on to end the game 10 points clear, as they ran out winners by 3-14 to 13 points.
The Treacy brothers proved the star of the show- Sean ending with 2-1 and his brother David finishing with 7 points to his name.
Cuala will now face Offaly Champions Coolderry on Sunday week in the Leinster Championship.
