Davis keep Cuala to reach decider
A BRACE of second-half goals from Davy Keogh and Sean Reilly ensured that Thomas Davis would progress to the Dublin Senior Two Football Championship Final after they beat Cuala 2-15 to 2-11 in Parnell Park on Sunday.
The Tallaght side put on a classy performance in defence as the Lamberts, Eoin and Josh shut down Dublin starlet Con O’Callaghan but his fellow full-forwards Luke Keating and Niall O’Callaghan nicked two goals for Cuala within the opening 20 minutes.
Cuala were menacing from the start with full-forward Mark Shutte winning a high ball and whipping it into the box from a mark from which Con O’Callaghan sent it over.
But Davis’ team spirit was unquestionable as they responded seconds later with an impressive team move involving Davy Keogh, Brendan Kirby, and Cian Murphy before wing-back Oisin Kelly linked with Eamon Conroy to pick up his team’s first point.
Corner-forward Niall O’Callaghan scored the first goal for Cuala when he charged at Davis’ defence and buried it home to make it 1-2 to 0-3 before Luke Keating pushed them five-points clear with another goal moments later.
The sides went into half-time with Cuala leading 2-4 to 0-8, but the Tallaght side came flying out of the blocks in the second-half when Dublin Under 21 hurler Davy Keogh nudged his side ahead with a great individual goal.
Both teams exchanged points, but Davis’ incisive passing proved the difference. Brendan Kirby picked up his third point of the game before Reilly was found by Keogh inside the box and he struck over in the sixth-minute of injury time to secure his side a place in the final.
Davis will now go on to face St Mary’s in the decider on October 27 after the Saggart side beat Fingallians in the their respective semi-final.
Delighted with his side’s victory, Thomas Davis manager Paul Kelly told The Echo: “Both teams did well in their respective competitions and the thing with Mary’s is that it’s never over until the final whistle – their performance on Saturday proved that.”
“It’s a great local clash. There is a great rivalry between the two clubs and it’s almost like a village mentality with the two teams,” he explained.
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