Sean Moran, Cuala, being interviewed by TG4 following the game at the Athletic Grounds.
AIB All Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Cuala (Dublin) 3-21 Slaughtneil (Derry) 2-11
By Orla Bannon at the Athletic Grounds, Armagh
Cuala are through to the AIB All-Ireland Club Senior hurling final, becoming the first team from Dublin to reach the St Patrick's Day showpiece.
All the talk was of Slaughtneil's attempt to complete a hat-trick of All-Ireland club final appearances, having already advanced to the camogie and football All-Ireland finals.
But it was the south Dublin outfit who carved out their own little slice of history to deliver an impressive performance in the Athletic Grounds. Their superiority over 14-man Slaughtneilwas evident from early on.
Cuala scored 1-6 in a 13-minute spell in the first half, including Con O'Callaghan's terrific goal which flew into the top left-hand corner after 11 minutes.
David Treacy was unerring from frees, hitting seven of his eight points in the opening half with the Leinster champions leading 1-13 to 0-5 at the interval.
Two weeks after eight of the same starting side slayed Dublin football champions St Vincent's in the All-Ireland club football semi-final Slaughtneil didn't perform.
They were marginally off the pace, made a few handling errors and struggled with Cuala's greater physicality.
That was all it took to fall so far behind in the opening half, though Slaughtneil performed better in a more competitive second half.
Slaughtneil led twice in the early stages with points from Chrissy McKaigue and Brendan Rodgers, but from the moment Cuala took the lead for the first time through David Treacy's monster free in the sixth minute, the outcome was inevitable.
Con O Callaghan was prominent for Cuala at the Athletic Grounds.
Cuala were sharper to every break, cleaned up most of Slaughtneil's puck-outs, and played with an effortless, crisper style that left the dual-chasing Derrymen trailing in their wake.
The points flew over from long range from David Treacy, Colm Cronin and sweeper Jake Malone got forward for a sweet score.
Con O'Callaghan's effortless style bagged him two points before the break. Sean Treacy ran through and his ground shot found the net to re-establish Cuala's momentum straight after the restart.
Slaughtneil responded straight away with Gerald Bradley getting the last touch on a loose ball in the square for a badly-needed goal.
Their wing-forward Cormac McKenna was sent off in the 51st minute for two yellow cards, but they still bundled home a second goal from Se McGuigan.
Niall Carty became the third Cuala sub to score, netting their third goal late on to book a final place against Clare and Munster champions, Ballyea.
Scorers for Cuala: David Treacy 0-8 (7f), Con O'Callaghan 1-3, Sean Treacy 1-1, Niall Carty 1-0, Colm Cronin 0-3, Mark Schutte 0-1, Jake Malone 0-1, Colum Sheanan 0-1, Sean Moran 0-1.
Scorers for Slaughtneil: Gerald Bradley 1-2 (1f), Se McGuigan 1-0, Chrissy McKaigue 0-2, Brendan Rodgers 0-2, Cormac O'Doherty 0-5 (2fs, 1 '65').
**Cuala: **Sean Brennan; Oisin Gough, Cian O'Callaghan, Simon Timlin; Sean Moran, Colm Sheanon, John Sheanon; Jake Malone, Darragh O'Connell; Sean Treacy, Colm Cronin, David Treacy; Cian Waldron, Con O'Callaghan, Mark Schutte
Subs: Nicky Kenny for Waldron (45), Niall Carty for C Sheanon (50), Naoise Waldron for D Treacy (58), Ross Tierney for J Sheanon (59), Shane Stapleton for S Treacy (59).
Slaughtneil: Oisin O'Doherty; Conor McAllister, Karl McKaigue, Paul McNeill; Sean Cassidy, Shane McGuigan, Meehaul McGrath; Eanna Cassidy, Gerald Bradley; Brendan Rodgers, Mark McGuigan, Cormac McKenna; Se McGuigan, Chrissy McKaigue, Cormac O'Doherty
Subs: Brian Cassidy for Mark McGuigan (HT), Ruairi McCartney for E Cassidy (43).
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).
