Con O’Callaghan scores 2-5 as rampant Cuala outclass Castleknock to win third Dublin title

Nothing lets the air out of the balloon like a county final blowout. All week, the streets and lanes and backroads around Castleknock have been wallpapered in yellow and blue, the buzz of a second ever visit to the Dublin decider soundtracking daily life around the top of the Phoenix Park. It only took Cuala half an hour to put paid to all that.

The Dalkey side won their second title here at a half-canter. They went after Castleknock goalie John Vahey’s kick-out like it owed them money, grabbing it eight times out of 13 in the first half alone. Their size, speed and dominance around the middle third left Castleknock looking entirely lost at sea. Everything stemmed from that and nothing about it was good for the underdogs.