AFL 10 Thu 26 May 2016
Cuala 5-16 Na Fianna 0-06
A Thursday evening 7.30 throw in for a home league fixture against Na Fianna in perfect
conditions. It was almost 6 weeks since the last league fixture against Trinity Gaels but
there was no sign of rustiness or lack of appetite in the team. Eyeing the oppositions
league results to date and having home advantage, this was a fixture we targeted as an
opportunity to take 2 league points. As it turned out that was achieved in emphatic
fashion.
Selected Lineout:
Cormac McGovern
Andy Donohue Jack Butler Peter McKeown
Greg Egan James McCarthy Damian Hayes
Brian Sexton Karl Schutte
Cillian Greene Luke Kelly Conall Molumby
Simon Cullen Liam McDermott Aaron Sheehan
Subs: Anthony Higgins Mal Lawlor Fergal O’Reilly Mick Kennedy JP Comber
As the score line suggests the match was a fairly one-sided affair. Liam McDermott open our account within a
few minutes. Na Fianna responded with a levelling point but from there on Cuala dominated the possession and
the points from Conal Molumby, Aaron Sheehan, Brian Sexton and a goal from Luke Kelly had us 1-4 to 0-1 ahead
after 10 minutes and we never looked back. Five more points and a goal from Cillian Greene were added in the
first period and at the break we led by a margin of 12 points, 2-09 to 0-03.
The second half was more of the same with another 3-10 added to the tally while the opposition added just
another 3 points – our goals coming from Fergal O’Reilly, who bagged a brace after coming on as sub, and the
other from Sio Cullen to add to his 3 points from play on the night.
On a final score line of Cuala 5-19 : Na Fianna 0-06 (28 points win) it would be easy to say it was against poor
opposition but Na Fianna are a club renowned for fielding competitive teams so credit must go to the Cuala lads
who put in a top class effort for the entire 60 minutes. In the middle of the park, Brian Sexton and Karl Schutte
provided the platform for possession and a constant supply of ball for our forwards and, for a change, our everreliable
goalkeeper Cormac McGovern didn’t have to perform any heroics between the sticks. A well-deserved
win, 2 valuable league points and in such a tight league, where score difference could come into play to decide
positions, the winning margin might be as good as a third point in the final standings.
Scorers: Luke Kelly 1-5; Fergal O’Reilly 2-1, Sio Cullen 1-3, Cillian Greene 1-2, Aaron Sheehan 0-3, Brian Sexton
0-2, Liam McDermott 0-2 and Conall Molumby 0-1
Subs: All 5 subs were used
Team Manager: Kevin Dowling
AFL 10 Sun 29 May 2016
Rosmini Gaels 3-10 : Cuala 3-09
If ever there was a classic reminder of disappointment in sport this was it except on the
double. Firstly, it came 3 days after the team recoded one of its best performances and
biggest wins. There was no sign of complacency carried over from that victory over Na Fianna
as this was an away fixture and Rosmini were sitting above us in the league table. Secondly,
and more disappointing than being able to deliver back-to back wins, was the nature of the
defeat on the day.
Selected Lineout:
Cormac McGovern
Andy Donohue Jack Butler Peter McKeown
Greg Egan James McCarthy JP Comber
Brian Sexton Karl Schutte
Cillian Greene Luke Kelly Damian Hayes
Simon Cullen Aaron Sheehan Conal Molumby
Subs: Liam McDermott Maurice Goodwin Mick Kennedy Kevin Dowling
This was the proverbial game of two halves. To put it bluntly we won the first half by 9 points, 3-06 to 1-03
only to lose the second half by 10 points, 2-07 to 0-03. On the day, it was hard to explain the contrasting
performances between the first and second periods and even with the benefit of hindsight still hard to fathom.
From the throw in Cuala tore into the game and Karl Schutte opened the scoring with a brilliant individual
effort. The work rate and attitude to win possession and take scores was very reminiscent of the previous
Thursday night. Luke Kelly added 2 points before Conal Molumby hit the back of the net for our first goal. We
were 1-3 to 0-1 ahead and cruising and notched up another 1-3 over the next 15 minutes, Luke bagging our
second goal. As the game entered the final minutes of the half Rosmini got a goal back, against the run of play,
but we responded immediately, in the best possible way, as Cillian Greene strode in for our third goal. Half
time whistle came and we were looking comfortable on the pitch and on the scoreboard, 3-06 to 1-03. The half
time team talk was a solid “keep it up, no taking the foot off the pedal” and full of commitment.
However, the second half didn’t follow the script. Rosmini got in for a couple of early points without reply to
peg the lead back to 7 and then snatched a goal to reduce it even further to 4 points. The tide had turned
noticeably and while Rosmini had their tails up we were struggling to get back into our rhythm. And so it
continued. Nothing was going right, Rosmini notched up another 3 points and the lead was down to a single
point before we finally got off the mark. A couple of points from Sio and Karl restored our lead to 3 and
temporarily steadied the ship at 3-08 to 2-08. But not for long as we conceded another goal and a point to go 1
behind going into the final stages. Cillian Greene levelled it again but Rosmini popped over what turned out to
be the final and deciding score. A late flurry of attacks by Cuala saw an agonising shot come off the upright –
that’s how close it was. It was a dejecting defeat mainly in the manner it happened but we remain in
contention for league play-off places so all still to play for in the 4 remaining games. Next up is a home fixture
on Sun 12th June against an undefeated Skerries Harps.
Scorers: Luke Kelly 1-3, Conal Molumby 1-1, Cillian Greene 1-1, Karl Schutte 0-3, Sio Cullen 0-1
Subs: Liam McDermott (A Donohue), Maurice Goodwin (J McCarthy), Kevin Dowling (A Sheehan)