Full Time: Cuala 1-10 - 0-10 Tullamore
Cuala applied serious pressure within the opening five minutes of the match with Cal Doran hitting the cross bar only a few metres out from the net. Tullamore looked to quickly responded and shift the momentum back in their favour, but they too were unsuccessful with opening the score. Tullamore’s Harry Plunket got the first point on the board from a free kick. Sloppy Tullamore defending lead to the first goal of the game for Cuala as the ball dropped to the feet of midfielder Peter Duffy. He supplied the finishing touch into an open Tullamore net.
Niall Furlong secured Tullamore’s second point after a passage of passing play from the Offaly side. Tullamore’s goalkeeper Corey White denied Cuala of a second goal as Luke Keating’s rocket of a shot was hit straight at the Offaly man. Tullamore continued to take full advantage of their freekick taking capabilities with Michael Brazil kicking his first score of the game to bring things back to level points.
Dublin star Con O'Callaghan stepped up to put Cuala back into the lead with a score from Cuala's first freekick of the match. A bad shot from Michael Brazil saw him miss an opportunity to once again level the game from a freekick. At the other end of the field Con O'Callagh began to find his feet and settle into the game after scoring his second point to give Cuala a two point lead. Cal Doran reclaimed possession of the ball in the middle of the park after careless Tullamore passing allowing Cuala to break forward. A hat-trick of points from Con O'Callaghan saw Cula achieve a three point lead within the opening 30 minutes of the game.
With the half time whistle blown, Cuala entered the break with an impressive three point lead. Luke Egan replaced Dan Fox for Tullamore at half time. Cula took to the pitch with no changes to their starting squad as the second half got underway.
Cula’s lead was reduced to two points with Nigel Bracken opening the scoring in the second half but it was a quick response from Cillian Dunne to regain a three point advantage for Cuala. A great close ranged freekick from Harry Plunket made it a two point game once again. It was all guns blazing from both teams with end to end action only eight minutes into the second half. Harry Plunket was called into action again for another Tullamore freekick. A shot off the ground from Plunket narrowed Cula’s lead to only one point. A wide from Cuala down the other end saw the games momentum shift in Tullamore’s favour. Another point from Con O’Callaghan gave Cula a two point lead.
Cuala continued to give away fouls which Tullamore capitalise on with Harry Plunket making it a one point game. Niall O’Callaghan gets his first score increasing the lead to two points. Cuala kept the scoreboard ticking over with a close ranged point from play by Luke Keating. A short taken freekick from Con O’Callaghan lead to Michale Fitzsimons applying the final handpass over the bar making it a four point game. A Peter Duffy point made it a five point game. With only eight minutes of normal time still to play, Harry Plunket saw one of his freekicks once again sail wide.
John Furlong made it a four point game after some Tullamore passing. Harry Plunket gets his first score from play with only a goal between the sides. Charlie McMorrow gets his name on the score sheet with a critical point giving the four point advantage back to Cuala as the game entered additional time. In the opening minute of injury time Harry Plunket brought the game back to a three point difference with a beautiful strike off the ground. Tullamore continued to build on their pressure but a turn over in the middle of the pitch put the ball back into Cuala’s hands. With only two minutes left on the clock Corey Whit carried the ball up the field as Tullamore looked for one last chance.
Cormac Egan runs into a closed Cuala fist with the referee giving Tullamore a freekick within the closing seconds. A free out for Cuala lead to the final whistle being blown.
Cuala write their name in the history books as they reach a Leinster SFC for the first time ever.
Full Time: Cuala 1-10 - 0-10 Tullamore
Cuala: Ryan Scollard, Danny Conroy, Mick 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
Substitutes: Darragh O’Dowd, Luke Tracey, John Fitzsimons, Michael Conroy, Cathal O Giollain, Conor Groarke, Shane Mangan, James Power, Jamie Conroy, Liam Fitzgerald, Aodhan English, Tom Magee, Jamie Keenan, Dan O’Sullivan, Daragh McAdam
Tullamore: Corey White, Paul McConway, Declan Hogan, Daire McDaid, Nigel Bracken John Furlong, Oisin Keenan-Martin, Aaron Leavy, Aaron Hensey, Cormac Egan, Michael Brazil, Cillian Bourke, Diarmuid Egan, Dan Fox, Harry Plunket
Substitutes: Shaun Martin, Michael Feeney, Luke Bourke, Mike Fox, Niall Furlong, Luke Egan, Ciaran Burnes, Sean Afolabi, Jack Maher, Liam Dillane, Tom Furlong, Jay Sheerin, Shane Enright, Patrick Robilliard, Ciaran Egan
Referee: Anthony Nolan
