Errigal Ciaran’s spirited second-half comeback not enough to land All-Ireland title

All-Ireland Club SFC final

Cuala 3-14
Errigal Ciaran 1-16
By Michael McMullan

ERRIGAL Ciaran’s remarkable season didn’t have the magical ending after losing Sunday’s All-Ireland final.

Shipping three first half goals and 13 points adrift at the break, they threw everything at the second half – led by Peter Harte – but it wasn’t enough as Cuala kept the scoreboard ticking over to land title the title.

The mountain was even tougher after captain Darragh Canavan’s injury saw him forced off after just 22 minutes.

It capped off a successful day for Dublin with Na Fianna crowned All-Ireland champions.

It was a special day for Con O’Callaghan who added a football medal to the back-to-back hurling All-Irelands with Cuala.

It was three first half goals that left Cuala in control with Cal Doran hitting the net as early as the fifth minute.

With Errigal struggling to get a grip of the middle third, it closed the door on Errigal’s kicking game from the semi-final.

David O’Dowd and Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne added goals to open a 3-9 to 0-5 interval lead.

It was a different Errigal in the second half. They hadn’t performed and had absolutely nothing to lose.

From the throw-in, they had the ball over the bar with a Harte point after 17 seconds and turned up the heat at midfield.

It was Harte’s run and goal in the 39th minute that had the Errigal fans on their feet, a sweet effort of the outside of his left foot that nestled in the top corner.

The score – Cuala 3-11 Errigal 1-10. Game on. Harte was involved in scores from Ciaran McGinley and Tommy Canavan before Con O’Callaghan tagged on a Cuala point off his left foot.

Ruairi and Tommy Canavan chipped in with points for a rampant Errigal who also had substitutes Padraig McGirr and Mark Kavanagh firing over.

It was going to take a goal but Cuala were able to mop up the pressure and hit an insurance point from Conor Groarke.

Scorers

Cuala: Con O’Callaghan 0-5 (2f, 1 45), Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne 1-1, David O’Dowd 1-1, Luke Keating 0-3 (2f), Cal Doran 1-0, Niall O’Callaghan 0-2, Conor Groarke and Peter Duffy 0-1 each

Errigal Ciaran: Tommy Canavan 0-6 (4f), Peter Harte 1-2, Ruairi Canavan 0-3 (2f), Ciaran McGinley, Joe Oguz, Odhrán Robinson, Padraig McGirr and Mark Kavanagh 0-1 each
Teams

Cuala: Ryan Scollard; Danny Conroy, Michael Fitzsimons, Eoghan O’Callaghan; Eoin Kennedy, Charlie McMorrow, David O’Dowd; Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Peter Duffy; Cillian Dunne, Conor O’Brien, Cal Doran; Luke Keating, Niall O’Callaghan, Con O’Callaghan
Subs: Conor Groarke for O’Brien (42), Michael Conroy for Dunne (49), Cathal Ó Groillain for D Conroy (55)

Errigal Ciaran: Darragh McAnenly; Ciaran Quinn, Aidan McCrory, Cormac Quinn; Peter Óg McCartan, Niall Kelly, Tiarnan Colhoun; Ben McDonnell, Joe Oguz, Odhrán Robinson; Tommy Canavan, Peter Harte, Ciaran McGinley; Ruairi Canavan, Darragh Canavan
Subs: Mark Kavanagh for D Canavan (INJ 22), Eoin Kelly for McGinley (48), Padraig McGirr for Robinson (52), Ronan McRory for T Canavan (63),

Yellow cards: B McDonnell (11), J Oguz (60)
Red card: P Harte (63)

Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon)

Attendance: 31,267