Cuala see off brave fight by Mellows to reach final

CUALA’S return to the top of Irish club hurling is firmly on course after Mattie Kenny’s troops swept past Liam Mellows and into another All-Ireland final.

Con O’Callaghan was a marked man with two Galway defenders often taking up station around the talented youngster, but he still fired four points from play, while David Treacy’s seven points saw the triple Dublin champions pull clear in the second-half.

Adrian Morrissey was unerring for Mellows and his seven frees kept them hanging on Cuala’s coattails at the break, but Cuala took control in the second half, and had secured passage to the final long before their substitute Brian Fitzgerald rattled the only goal of the game in added-time.

The Cuala forwards stole the headlines, but their defence was rock solid throughout, where Oisin Gough and Cian O’Callaghan impressed, and Mellows barely had a look at goal all night.

Only three points from the underdogs came from play, while Cuala hit 1-12 from open play at the other end.

After a tight start, which saw each team employ a sweeper in front of their full-back line, Cuala took over when Con O’Callaghan hit two points in the space of a minute and then drew a foul from his shadow, Michael Conneely, for another score.

That point put Cuala 0-6 to 0-2 ahead, but Morrissey showed his talent from frees, and three CHASED: Michael Conneely of Liam Mellows from around halfway and a super point from Conor Kavanagh on the sideline meant they only trailed 0-8 to 0-6 at the break.

After the restart Cuala tightened their grip, though. Darragh O’Connell hit a point when a goal looked on straight from the restart, while three Treacy frees and an O’Callaghan point opened out a seven-point lead for the Leinster champions and, realistically, that was virtually that.

Morrissey briefly stemmed the tide with a couple of frees and Aonghus Callanan also found the target, but Treacy continually punished Mellows’ ill-discipline to keep the advantage.

A super save from Kenneth Walsh denied Mark Schutte from an acute angle with 12 minutes to go as Mellows tried in vain to stay in with a chance.

They could not fashion the goal they needed and Treacy landed a good score from play, which was repeated by sub Niall Carty to ease the pressure on the reigning All-Ireland champions.

At the death Carty sent Fitzgerald in for the goal for

Liam Mellows restricted Cuala danger man Con O’Callaghan to just four points yesterday.

Kenny’s men, which was harsh on Mellows, who were hit on the counter attack as they sought the miracle at the other end.

cUala: S Brennan; O Gough, Cian O’Callaghan (R Tierney 65), S Timlin (D O’Flynn 44); J Sheanon, S Moran, M Schutte (B Fitzgerald 57); J Malone, D O’Connell; S Treacy, C Cronin, D Treacy; C Sheanon (C Waldron 44), Con O’Callaghan, N Kenny (N Carty 52). Scorers: D Treacy (4f, 1 65) 0-7, Con O’Callaghan 0-4, B Fitzgerald 1-0, M Schutte, D O’Connell, S Treacy, C Sheanon, N Kenny, D O’Flynn 0-1 each liaM MElloWS: K Walsh; C Reilly, M Conneely (B Leen 61), S Morrissey; M Hughes, D Collins, S Barrett; J Hastings, K Lee; C Hynes (J Forde 41), T Haran (C Elwood 63), R Elwood (D Fahy 44); A Morrissey, A Callanan, C Kavanagh (S Killeen 58). Scorers: A Morrissey (7f) 0-7, A Callanan 0-2, T Haran (1f), C Kavanagh 0-1 each. Referee: Paud O’Dwyer (Carlow).