Errigal Ciaran fightback falls short as Cuala triumph

Cuala held on to win their first All-Ireland Senior Club Football Final victory 3-14 to 1-16 at Croke Park thanks to Errigal Ciaran’s stirring second half comeback.

After scoring from Cuala 3 3-6 to 0-1 after 25 minutes, the Ballygawley club looked shocked at the decision because they were the first Tyrone club to do so.

Star forward Darragh Canavan was forced to leave after only 21 minutes because of injury, which only made things worse for the Tyrone men.

Cuala still had a huge advantage going into the break, but Peter Harte’s sensational 40th-minute goal reduced the deficit to 3-11 to 1-11, but Errigal Ciaran were a transformed team after the break.

With two minutes of regular time left, Harte’s inspirational performance brought down the lead to three before Tommy Canavan increased his scoring total to 0-6.

After a Harte run had given Cuala’s star forward Con O’Callaghan a last-gasp chance to block a Peter Og McCartan goal chance, the left-footed free-taker had been flawless after taking on the placed ball duties following his cousin’s departure.

Cuala switched downfield after the turnover, and Conor Groarke scored the winning goal when another goal appeared to be coming in. Cork side St Finbarrs is the only other team to have won the senior football and hurling titles.

Peter Harte, the team’s star, rallied brilliantly in the second half, but he was red carded in the closing seconds, which was not how his afternoon came to an end.

More to follow.

Subs: 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’Sulivan, Daragh McAdam.

Errigal Ciaran: Darragh McAnenly, Ciaran Quinn, Aidan McCrory, Cormac Quinn, Peter Og McCartan, Niall Kelly, Tiarnan Colhoun, Ben McDonnell, Joe Oguz, Peter Harte, Thomas Canavan, Ciaran McGinley, Odhran Robinson, Darragh Canavan, Ruairi Canavan.