Errigal rally falls short as goal-hungry Cuala prevail in Croke Park

Cuala's first half goal blitz set a steady course for a first All-Ireland Club SFC title as they held out in the face of a ferocious Errigal Ciaran fightback at Croke Park.

In front of a crowd of 31,267, the Dubliners claimed the Andy Merrigan Cup, getting over the line with four points to spare, having led by a whopping 13 at one stage.

As the final whistle cued scenes of joy, this was a surreal moment for a group of players who felt they had already reached a pinnacle just a few months ago in winning a first ever county title.

Provincial honours, and now an All-Ireland crown, have followed to send the Dalkey club shooting to the very top of gaelic football’s hierarchy.

And they join St Finbarr’s of Cork as members of a tiny, elite group who have won All-Ireland titles in both codes, having claimed back-to-back hurling triumphs in 2017 and 2018.

The first hammer blow was delivered as early as the fifth minute, as the Leinster champions swept downfield off a turnover, pace and power carrying them through the heart of the opposition defence, with Eoin Kennedy leading the charge and full back Mick Fitzsimons delivering the final pass for Luke Keating to plant his shot in the bottom corner of the net.

It was a setback that shook an already nervous and uncertain Errigal side to their core, and one they struggled to recover from.

Con O’Callaghan stretched the lead to five points before wing back David O’Dowd fired home a second goal on 12 minutes, a clinical finish off an accurate assist from Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne.

O Cofaigh Byrne and Peter Duffy were imperious in the skies, so much so that goalkeeper Ryan Scolland chose to go long even when his kick-ousts were conceded by the Ulster champions.

They secured first phase possession