Dublin and Offaly Champs to meet in AIB SH Club Final
Dublin champions Cuala will defend their provincial title when they meet Kilcormac Killoughey from Offaly in the AIB Leinster senior hurling club championship final on December 3 at O’More Park.
The All-Ireland club champs from the Capital and the Faithful County heroes are the last two teams standing after they both enjoyed convincing semi-final victories at the weekend.
Dual star Con Callaghan was yet again very much toe he fore as the 21-year-old posted his latest impressive display and scored 1-3 in the 3-17 to 0-15 victory over st Martin’s of Wexford at Parnell Park.
Clearly the cohesion and confidence gained from Cuala’s win over Dicksboro of Kilkenny in the quarter final was telling as they survived a tough opening quarter to pull clear.
A young St Martin’s were rocked by the loss of Rory O’Connor to a knee injury before throw-in but had an able deputy in Joe Coleman who did damage from frees, sidelines and play.
Ultimately the tough tackling of Cuala and the goal threat up front wore them down and St Martin’s would finish with 13 men as the Dubs pulled clear and Jake Malone and Colm Cronin shared goal scoring duties with O’Callaghan.
Offaly’s Kilcormac Killoughey are back in a Leinster final for the first time since 2014 and seeking a first provincial title since 2012 after they dismissed Mount Leinster Rangers by 2-21 to 0-10 last Sunday.
James Gorman and Dan Currams were the key men for Kilcormac Killoughey who hurled the second half with 14 men but the lively duo bagged 2-8 between them to make sure there was never any danger.
Mount Leinster started well in a tough encounter but couldn’t replicate the Offaly champions decisive finish and it was a disappointing end for the Carlow men who last won Leinster in 2014.
All roads lead now to Portlaoise on Sunday week for the 2pm throw-in between Cuala and Kilcormac Killoughey who on this evidence are very much the form teams in Leinster.