Cuala delivered a strong performance to see off Lucan in the Dublin SHC 2nd round last Wednesday
After the strong win over Ballinteer, the Cuala Seniors followed it up with a good performance over a dogged Lucan outfit in the Senior Hurling Championship last Wednesday in O’Toole Park. Cuala were never behind in this game and while the early exchanges were cagey, the strong Dublin contingent in the Cuala side were always capable of causing Lucan problems. While Lucan were struggling to find scores from play, Cuala were finding their range with a bit more ease, including 2 superb points from centre back, Paul Schutte. Darragh O’Connell, the former Kerry inter-county star was also finding his range in the middle of the park and after exchanging frees, the sides went in at half-time with the men in red up by 3 points.
The 2nd half saw Lucan up the ante and suddenly they had clawed their way back into the game by pressurising the Cuala backline into conceding frees. The concession of a penalty, which was converted by Tommy Somers saw Lucan within a point. However, that was as good as it got for Lucan with Cuala hitting the next 6 points including a nail-biter from young Jake Malone. With Mark Schutte giving his Dublin team-mate Peter Kelly a torrid time under the high-ball and David Treacy unerring from frees, the Dalkey men finished the job.
Due to results in the other game where Ballinteer beat Faughs, Cuala qualify for the quarter-finals with one game to play. Roll on the summer. We wish all the Cuala lads, including the latest addition to the Dublin Panel, Darragh O’Connell , the best of luck against Galway in the first round of the Leinster Championship on 29th May.
