Cuala sweep Sarsfields away in dominant second half display

Daragh Ryan of Sarsfields in action against Charlie McMorrow of Cuala during the AIB Leinster GAA Football Senior Club Championship quarter-final match between Cuala and Sarsfields at Parnell Park in Dublin. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile | SPORTSFILE

placeholder image — Daragh Ryan of Sarsfields in action against Charlie McMorrow of Cuala during the AIB Leinster GAA Football Senior Club Championship quarter-final match between Cuala and Sarsfields at Parnell Park in Dublin. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile | SPORTSFILE

Kildare champions had no answer once Dublin upped their game on resumption

A second half that Cuala totally dominated saw the Dublin champions, Cuala, advance to the last four in the AIB Leinster Club SFC at Parnell Park this afternoon.

Sarfields simply had no answer after the change of ends with the Cuala side firing over three points in the opening four minutes and while The Sash replied with two points there was just no stopping Cuala who on to hit an impressive 1-12 in to the second half, while holding Sarsfields to just three points.

The Cuala goal arrived in the 41st minute after a great three man move that ended with Dan O'Sullivan finding the net.

It was just a matter of the final results from there on.

The opening half was a real cat and mouse affair and while Cuala began impressively it was Sarsfields who had most possession as the half wore on.

Both sides had goal chances but the green flags remained in their place.

Eoin Kennedy got Cuala off to a great start with a brilliant two-pointer but The Sash replied with points from Ben McCormack and Ryan Kearney; Ben added another and Karl Hartley left two in it.

A long barren spell finally ended with two Con O’Callaghan points to level but when Niall O’Callaghan added a two-pointer Cuala led by one.

Shea Ryan got forward to level it up and before the break Daragh Ryan edged Sarsfields in front by one - 0-7 to 0-6.

And as said Cuala came out flying, hit three quick points and dominated from there on.

No doubt Sarsfields were hit badly before the start with Barry Coffey and Matty Byrne unable to start; Ben McCormack was lively before forced off just before the the break, and while both Coffey and Byrne came in late it was too late as Cuala coasted to victory in the end 1-18 to 0-10.

Scorers, Cuala: Con O'Callaghan 0-6 (2 frees), Niall O’Callaghan 0-4 (two-pointer), Dan O’Sullivan 1-1, Eoin Kennedy 0-3 (two-pointer), Charlie McMorrow 0-1, Peter Duffy 0-1, Conor O’Brien 0-1, Jamie Conroy 0-1.

Sarsfields: Ben McCormack 0-2, Shea Ryan 0-1, Karl Hartley 0-1, Daragh Ryan 0-1, Ryan Kearney 0-2, Cathal White 0-1 (mark), Conor O’Donovan 0-1, Luke Mahon 0-1.

CUALA: Darrgh O’Dowd; Danny Conroy, Michael Fitzsimons cpt., Eoghan O’Callaghan; Eoin Kennedy, Charlie McMorrow, David O’Dowd; Peadar Ó Cofaigh-Byrne, Peter Duffy; Cillian Dunne, Cal Doran, Dan O’Sullivan; Niall O’Callaghan, Con O’Callaghan, Conor O’Brien, Subs: Jamie Conroy for Conor O’Brien (41 minutes); Conor Mulally for Dan O’Sullivan (45 minutes); Daniel Drummond (53 minutes); Jamie Keenan for Conor Groake (56 minutes);Kidllian O’Shea for Eoin Kennedy (57 minutes).

SARSFIELDS: Cathal Moore;Jimmy O’Neill, David Shalvey, Colm Harntee; Daragh Conlan, Con Kavanagh, Cathal White cpt; Callum Bolton, Shea Ryan; Ryan Kearney, Ben McCormack, Daragh Ryan; Conor O’Donovan, Luke Mahon, Karl Hartley. Subs: Ben Loakman for Ben McCormack (31 minutes); Barry Coffey for Luke Mahon (42 minutes); Matty Byrne for Daragh Donlan (46 minutes);

REFEREE: Alan Coyne.