Alex Beirne, Naas, and Con O'Callaghan, Cuala, in AIB Leinster Club SFC action. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
AIB Leinster Club SFC Quarter-Final
Cuala 2-15 Naas 1-15
By Paul Keane at Cedral St Conleth's Park
Niall O'Callaghan dazzled under the new floodlights in Newbridge, helping himself to a stunning 1-5 as maiden Dublin champions Cuala secured their first ever win in the AIB Leinster club SFC.
There was a question mark beforehand over whether Austin O'Malley's side would be hungry for provincial success having finally broken their duck in Dublin.
The Dalkey outfit answered that one with an emphatic performance that underlined their credentials as Leinster club title favourites.
Man of the Match Niall and big brother Con struck 1-8 between them while Luke Keating grabbed the other Cuala goal. There was an important late cameo too from substitute Conor Groarke who kicked three points to finally shake off a determined Naas.
Cuala will return to the province for a semi-final against the winner of tomorrow's tie between Tullamore (Offaly) and Tinahely (Wicklow) on the weekend of November 23/24.
Hosts Naas contested provincial finals in 2021 and 2023 and put in a strong performance but couldn't match the power and sheer quality of Cuala who impressed in front of the live TV cameras.
It was novel opposition for Naas, playing again in the redeveloped Cedral St Conleth's Park, and they surely figured they'd have to be significantly better than they were in the county final. They duly delivered on that count, despite the defeat.
Some of their first-half scores were sumptuous, like Darragh Kirwan's terrific catch and kick effort in the 10th minute, all while holding off Dublin legend Michael Fitzsimons.
Kirwan finished the half with four points, all from play, and had several different Cuala defenders for company at various stages.
Kirwan left Danny Conroy in his wake later in the half when he burst in along the left endline and fisted over.
Alex Beirne kicked a series of wides in the low-scoring county final defeat of Celbridge but was more efficient this time.
He drilled two first-half points, both from frees, as the hosts contributed to a cracking game.
The O'Callaghan brothers, Con and eventual Man of the Match Niall, were the chief attacking threats at the other end.
Mark Maguire was a late addition to the Naas defence, wearing number 22, and tracked Con.
Niall created Cuala's first goal in the fourth minute with a hard run down the left and a shot that was saved, allowing Keating to tap home from close range.
Cuala added seven more points after that in the half and the O'Callaghan brothers struck six of them, three each.
Cuala held a narrow 1-7 to 0-9 lead at the interval but it was anyone's game.
O'Malley's crew seized the initiative in the third quarter, stretching the gap to five points when Niall O'Callaghan was fed by Con for Cuala's second goal in the 40th minute.
It was a terrific back and forth with both defences offering up chances though Cuala still led by five points with just eight minutes remaining after Niall O'Callaghan's latest point, 2-13 to 0-14.
Naas made sure it went to the wire with a spirited final few minutes, a Beirne 53rd minute goal bringing it back to just a two-point game.
Beirne fired across the goalkeeper with a low drive after a great run down the right wing.
But they couldn't get any closer than that and Groarke's strong contribution from the bench helped to seal a landmark win for Cuala.
Scorers for Cuala: Niall O'Callaghan 1-5, Luke Keating 1-1 (1f), Con O'Callaghan 0-3 (2fs), Conor Groarke 0-3, David O'Dowd 0-2, Ryan Scollard 0-1 (45).
Scorers for Naas: Alex Beirne 1-3 (2fs), Darragh Kirwan 0-5, Paddy McDermott 0-3, Tom Browne 0-2, Ryan Sinkey 0-1, Sean Hanafin 0-1.
Cuala: Ryan Scollard; Danny Conroy, Charlie McMorrow, Eoghan O'Callaghan; David O'Dowd, Michael Fitzsimons, Eoin Kennedy; Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne, Peter Duffy; Niall O'Callaghan, Cillian Dunne, Cal Doran; Luke Keating, Con O'Callaghan, Conor O'Brien
Subs: Michael Conroy for Dunne h/t, Conor Groake for O'Brien 49, Cathal O Giollain for O'Dowd 60, Luke Tracey for McMorrow 60.
Naas: Luke Mullins; Conor McCarthy, Mark Maguire, Robert Fitzgerald; Eoin Lawlor, Eoin Doyle, Brian Byrne; James Burke, Paul McDermott; Alex Beirne, Tom Browne, Paddy McDermott; Ryan Sinkey, Darragh Kirwan, Dermot Hanafin.
Subs: Neil Aherne for Browne 36, Cathal Daly for Fitzgerald 42, Sean Hanafin for Sinkey 45, Kevin Cummins for Paul McDermott 57, Elliott Beirne for Lawlor 57.
Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).
