St Enda’s impressed upon the restart through two points apiece from Sweeney and McGarry but Cuala continued to keep them at arm’s length as Con O’Callaghan landed a trio of scores at the opposite end. 

Colm Basquel appeared to have offered his side fresh hope as he put the finishing touches to a well-worked move to leave just three points separating the teams by the 40th minute. 

Any momentum that goal might have generated was lost in the blink of an eye as Peadar Ó Cofaigh’s scruffy attempt did just enough to get over the line with Con O’Callaghan crashing home the rebound for added security. 

Cuala looked to be easing their way home as they enhanced their lead through points from Kennedy, Cal Doran and Niall O’Callaghan but Sweeney kept the Boden tally ticking over with two fisted scores at the opposite end. 

A cracking goal from Sweeney that left Darragh O’Dowd clutching at air reduced Cuala’s buffer to four points and that margin was shortened even further as McGarry and Calum O’Dwyer split the uprights. 

The contest deserved a thrilling conclusion and it duly arrived as O’Dwyer jinked through to leave Sweeney well placed to crash home from close range and end Cuala’s run as All-Ireland champions in the process. 

Scorers – Ballyboden St Enda’s: D Sweeney 2-8 (0-4f); C Basquel 1-1; R McGarry 0-4; R O’Dwyer 0-3 (1 P2); R Basquel (P2), C O’Dwyer (P2) 0-2 each, J Madden 0-1. Cuala: C O’Callaghan 0-7 (1 F2; 1f, 1 ’45); N O’Callaghan 0-6; P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, C O’Brien 1-0 each; E Kennedy 0-3; David O’Dowd 0-2; C McMorrow, C Dunne, C Doran, C Mulally 0-1 apiece.

 

Ballyboden St Enda’s: H O’Sullivan; B Bobbett, C Flaherty, S Clayton; A Gavin, H Donaghy, P Healy; C Darcy, J Holland; R O’Dwyer, R McGarry, J Madden; R Basquel, C Basquel, D Sweeney. Subs: P Warren for Donaghy (half-time), J McGuire for R Basquel (34), K Kennedy for Healy (44), C O’Dwyer for R O’Dwyer (53), D O’Reilly for Sweeney (63).

Cuala: Darragh O’Dowd; D Conroy, M Fitzsimons, E O’Callaghan; E Kennedy, C McMorrow, David O’Dowd; P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, P Duffy; C Dunne, C Doran, O Hussey; N O’Callaghan, C O’Callaghan, C O’Brien. Subs: C Groarke for Hussey (half-time), C Mulally for O’Brien (44), L Fitzgerald for Ó Cofaigh Byrne (52), M Conroy for D Conroy (63). 

 

Referee: Ian Howley (O’Dwyer’s).