Cillian Bourke, Tullamore, and Cillian Dunne, Cuala, in AIB Leinster Club SFC action. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
AIB Leinster Club SFC Semi-Final
Cuala 1-10 Tullamore 0-10
By Paul Keane at Parnell Park
Peter Duffy struck the goal that separated the sides at Parnell Park, sending Cuala through to their first ever AIB Leinster club SFC final.
But it was more about how first-time Dublin champions Cuala finished this entertaining encounter with five points between the 43rd and 52nd minutes ultimately sealing their final place.
In difficult conditions, the Austin O'Malley managed side dug deep to ensure they will progress to next Saturday's final at nearby Croke Park against Louth's Ardee St Mary's.
Duffy, who played for Dublin earlier this year, finished with 1-1 while county star Con O'Callaghan weighed in with an important four points.
Cuala showed all their class when overcoming Naas in a cracking quarter-final, but this was more about the Dalkey side displaying their character as they moved within 60 minutes of a landmark provincial title.
They will be strong favourites again next Saturday against the Louth champions as they attempt to replicate what the club's hurlers, with a number of the current dual players involved, did in both 2016 and 2017 when they won Leinster titles.
Tullamore gave it all they had and, pushing hard for a goal in the closing moments, lobbed a ball into the Cuala danger area that Cuala defender Eoghan O'Callaghan caught and cleared, the last action of an entertaining encounter.
Tullamore smashed through a glass ceiling of sorts when they overcame Wicklow's Tinahely in the quarter-final - their first win in Leinster since 1977.
Tullamore couldn't say they didn't have enough provincial opportunities as they are 30-times Offaly champions and have won three of their last four county titles.
The hope around Tullamore was that with that significant monkey off their back, they might finally play with freedom in Leinster and stretch their legs.
But the conditions didn't make for an open, free flowing encounter with a gusting wind and slippery sod making it a real challenge.
Cuala hit the interval with a 1-3 to 0-3 advantage, but just 1-3 was registered from play between both teams as the wind played havoc with kickers.
Midfielder Duffy snatched the Cuala goal in the 10th minute when he pulled from close range after a goalmouth scramble broke kindly.
David O'Dowd initially played the ball in from the left and when ultra experienced Luke Keating couldn't control, the ball squirmed loose for Duffy to convert.
Cuala were content to pull 15 players behind the ball at times when Tullamore attacked.
County star and 2021 All-Ireland U-20 winner Cormac Egan was the most dangerous Tullamore forward, creating first-half points for Niall Furlong, a late addition to the lineup, and Michael Brazil.
But it was no great surprise that Con O'Callaghan was the game's principal scorer.
The multiple All-Ireland winner with Dublin scored three points against Naas in Cuala's quarter-final win and matched that haul by half-time here, striking points off both his left and right feet.
Tullamore enjoyed their best period in the third quarter, briefly drawing level at 1-4 to 0-7 following a series of converted frees from Plunkett.
But just as Tullamore began to dream of another landmark win, Cuala turned on the afterburners and swung the momentum back their way with five points in a row.
The O'Callaghan's, Con and Niall, got the blitz underway with back-to-back scores before Keating, Dublin defender Michael Fitzsimons and Duffy split the posts.
Suddenly, Cuala led by 1-9 to 0-7 and in a low-scoring game it was a decisive burst.
The best Tullamore could manage in the closing minutes was to reduce the gap to a goal as the south Dubliners held out.
Scorers for Cuala: Peter Duffy 1-1, Con O'Callaghan 0-4 (1f), Cillian Dunne 0-1, Niall O'Callaghan 0-1, Luke Keating 0-1, Michael Fitzsimons 0-1, Charlie McMorrow 0-1.
Scorers for Tullamore: Harry Plunkett 0-6 (5fs), Niall Furlong 0-1, Michael Brazil 0-1 (f), Nigel Bracken 0-1, John Furlong 0-1.
Cuala: Ryan Scollard; Eoghan O'Callaghan, Charlie McMorrow, Danny Conroy; David O'Dowd, Michael Fitzsimons, Eoin Kennedy; Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne, Peter Duffy; Niall O'Callaghan, Cal Doran, Cillian Dunne; Luke Keating, Con O'Callaghan, Conor O'Brien.
Subs: Cathal O Giollain for Dunne 43, Conor Groarke for O'Brien 43, Michael Conroy for Kennedy 50, Shane Mangan for O'Dowd 57, James Power for Doran 59.
Tullamore: Corey White; Paul McConway, John Furlong, Daire McDaid; Nigel Bracken, Oisin Keenan-Martin, Declan Hogan; Cillian Bourke, Arron Hensey; Michael Brazil, Diarmuid Egan, Niall Furlong; Harry Plunkett, Cormac Egan, Dan Fox.
Subs: Luke Egan for D Fox h/t, Aaron Leavy for Hensey 39, Ciaran Burns for McConway 43, Mike Fox for Niall Furlong 52.
Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow).
