Cuala (Dublin) 1-22
Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) 2-19
Fintan O’Toole reports from Croke Park
DAVID TREACY HELD his nerve from a late free to rescue reigning champions Cuala as they eked out a draw against Na Piarsaigh and ensured a thrilling All-Ireland senior club hurling final is heading towards a replay.
A second day out was necessitated by Treacy hitting his 12th point of the day in the 80th minute as extra-time could not determine which would be toasting their second club title success.
On a bitterly cold afternoon, the Dublin and Limerick champions confirmed pre-match suspicions that they were well-matched outfits as they pushed each other to the wire. The 2016 and 2017 club kingpins will meet again in the first replay in this competition since 1995.
Cuala were saved at the death of normal time by centre-back Seán Moran after being awarded what looked like a soft free and Moran found the net despite a crowd of Na Piarsaigh players near the goalmouth to tie the match at 1-16 apiece.
Na Piarsaigh had surged ahead 0-8 to 0-6 at half time after a productive second quarter that yielded seven points. Kevin Downes and Adrian Breen, both impressive in contributing hauls of 0-4 apiece, sparkled in that time frame and the Limerick club’s spirits soared higher when Peter Casey cleverly finished to the net in the 33rd minute.
Na Piarsiagh full-back Mike Casey did a super job in marshalling Con O’Callaghan who only managed a single point from play but was fouled for three frees. But Cuala had ten different scorers on the day and found the inspiration to rebound from that goal concession to lead 0-15 to 1-11 at the three-quarter mark.
Na Piarsaigh charged towards the finish line with Downes in the 58th minute and a late Shane Dowling free nudging them three clear before Moran salvaged Cuala’s hopes.
In extra-time Na Piarsaigh pounced for their second goal early on when David Breen crashed a shot to the net after a scything run from David Dempsey. They were ahead 2-18 to 1-20 at the midway mark of extra-time.
A Treacy free in the 72nd minute restored parity before David Dempsey flighted over a Na Piarsaigh point that had the look of a winning score for a spell. However Treacy would have the final say of a pulsating affair.
Scorers for Cuala: David Treacy 0-12 (0-12f), Seán Treacy 0-3, Seán Moran 1-0 (1-0f), Darragh O’Connell, Jake Malone, Colm Cronin, Colum Sheanon, Mark Schutte, Con O’Callaghan, Nicky Kenny 0-1 each.
Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: Shane Dowling 0-6 (0-4f), Peter Casey 1-2, David Breen 1-1, Adrian Breen, Kevin Downes 0-4 each, David Dempsey 0-2.
Cuala
1. Sean Brennan
2. Oisin Gough
3. Cian O’Callaghan
19. Paul Schurtte
7. John Sheanon
6. Sean Moran
5. Darragh O’Connell
12. Colum Sheanon
9. Sean Treacy
8. Jake Malone
11. Colm Cronin
12. David Treacy
15. Nicky Kenny
14. Con O’Callaghan
13. Mark Schutte
Subs
18. Shane Stapleton for John Sheanon (48)
22. Niall Carty for Kenny (53)
20. Cian Waldron for Malone (61)
8. Malone for Waldron (start of extra-time)
15. Kenny for Carty (start of extra-time)
4. Simon Timlin for Seán Treacy (66)
30. Diarmuid O’Flynn for Cronin (inj) (68)
9. Seán Treacy for Kenny (75)
Na Piarsaigh
1. Podge Kennedy
5. Alan Dempsey
3. Mike Casey
2. Jerome Boylan
4. Niall Buckley
6. Cathal King (captain)
7. Kieran Kennedy
10. Ronan Lynch
9. William O’Donoghue
8. Shane Dowling
11. David Breen
12. David Dempsey
13. Adrian Breen
14. Kevin Downes
15. Peter Casey
Subs
17. Mike Foley for Buckley (70)
19. Gordon Brown for Boylan (76)
20. Kevin Ryan for Kennedy (80)
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)
Ireland’s greatest goal scorer. Decent fella, living the dream, fair play Roberto.
Well said Shane. Respect to Mr Keane..
Go on Keano ya good thing!
Good man robbie. Best of luck to u and family
Great to see the typical Irish begrudgery is still Alive and well.
Yawn
It’s sure is. Fair play Robbie, will be a while till his goal scoring record for Ireland will be matched
Jaysus you’d think people were slatin’ Ray D’Arcy the way you’re going on!
Ah now come on fair play to him.
Delighted he finally realised his boyhood dream to captain L.A. Galaxy. He must be thrilled.
Why do so many Irish people belittle and begrudge Robbie Keane’s success ? It leads me to suspect that you are leading lives of failed hopes. Maybe the slow dawning of the fact that you have neither the ability or work ethic to ever achieve anything other than the company of your peer group on the dole queue is the root of your jealousy.
Don’t be hating on an Irish legend..
Bitches be hatin’ Scott, bitches be hatin.
Haters gonna hate
Come on Keano, come on the Irish, fair play to ya boy , Keano,Keano, Keano
Mr Duignan, you suck the sweat from dead mens balls.
He’s the luckiest man alive!!
Agreed. My big toe nail has more leadership qualities than keane.
He came on the late late show to say we should lay off Staunton, and that he was a great manager.
3 weeks later Staunton sacked.
Recently did the same for Trap.
He know his stuff.
he backs his manager, he doesn’t play for chelsea..
Because you/your toe nail have captained Madrid or was it Barca? Jog on
Your a useless turd duignan. Robbie is an honest decent hardworking player who is respected at every club he s played at. Fair play robbie.
‘Its been my boyhood dream…. Yada yada’
Jaysus if i knew they were stuck id have signed up
only English people with a deep rooted hatred of Irish people use that term you shameless fool
I love my country but the amount of begrudgery that goes on in Ireland, makes me absolutely sick it’s disgusting, what a bunch a w^nk?rs we have in our country, Keano=legend plain and simple!
Well said Conor. The guy gets a silly amount of abuse. One of our greatest players ever
Keane a true legend, greatest ever striker we ever produced and probably the best wel see for a long time!
Sure it was his dhreammm , as well as to play for wolves, leeds, inter, celtic, spurs, liverpool, spurs again —- ah no fair play to him…
and Coventry ……… and West Ham …….. and Villa
Begrudge much?
Certainly not, an Irish hero in my eyes. I was just pointing out the other clubs he has played for. The man has done so much for this country and owes us nothing.
Its always been a dream..zzzzzz.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha sorry ha ha ha ha ha ………ah man they must really really really stuck
They really must be! Imagine playing in the equivalent of lower championship in England, getting all that dosh and vitamin D and still acting the big shot. Funny recently when he was referred to as another fan posing with becks at a basketball game. To**er.
You’re a sap Niall
Congratulations Robbie. Well done
In related news the undertaker just pinned hulk hogan….
Thats a lie! the undertaker never pinned hulk hogan. Ricky the dragon steam boat got his ass handed to him by Jake the snake once, but the hulk was always solid.
It’s all about as relevant as that Keane becoming LA Galaxy captain…
Jake the snake is the main man
Will someone please think of Hacksaw Jim Duggan!!!!
All the heads putting him down could u please post a snippet of yer own achievements to date or are ye just preaching from the fence…fair play to Robbie go on boy..ps I hate soccer :-)
He plays in a league which is of a lower standard than the league of Ireland and he’s only been made captain because Landon his gone AWOL … Sorry but facts are facts
And you’re a tosser. That’s a fact
Lower standard than League of Ireland? Not sure how you’ve come up with that!
Yeah,, there is no standard lower than league of Ireland , so there!!!!
Facts are indeed facts. I just don’t think you mentioned any.
Can you explain how the standard of MLS is lower than League of Ireland, please? Is it the level of skill? Goals per game avg.? The crowds? Food served at games? What?
You are a fool.
Thats a tight haircut!
Wank€r is what u are
Go rob
He wouldn’t captain a wet fart!
It’s like captaining Bournemouth without the huge money but who cares. He’s still captaining
Robbie, you are a legend! Well done on the captaincy! Whatever the people that don’t like about you, i dont know but tell them look at the records! #jelousygetsyounowhere!
It’s a childhood dream to be made captain.
Since he was a child he always dreamed of becoming the captain of LA galaxy !
Jaysus
Who, and what is soccer?
Wonder if it was his boyhood dream to captain la galaxy.
Did you have to scroll past the other 20 comments the very same to make yours ?
Have no time for him after the late late show episode havin a go at Irish fans c ya robbie don’t come back
He should just shut up about the dreams he has, play football and good luck to him!