{"id":645386,"date":"2026-10-05T11:40:13","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T11:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/645386\/"},"modified":"2026-10-05T11:40:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T11:40:13","slug":"con-ocallaghan-sets-up-shoot-out-with-ciaran-kilkenny-as-cuala-beat-ballyboden-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/645386\/","title":{"rendered":"Con O\u2019Callaghan sets up shoot-out with Ciar\u00e1n Kilkenny as Cuala beat Ballyboden \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two of the most decorated forwards in the history of Dublin football<\/a> have set up a county final shoot-out after Cuala and Castleknock progressed to the capital\u2019s 2026 showpiece event.<\/p>\n

It will be Con O\u2019Callaghan<\/a> against Ciar\u00e1n Kilkenny after 2025 champions Ballyboden St Enda\u2019s relinquished their grip on the Dublin title at Parnell Park on Sunday.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Callaghan scored 0-3 as Cuala dethroned Ballyboden with a 0-21 to 0-17 victory in the second of the weekend\u2019s Dublin SFC semi-finals.<\/p>\n

Kilkenny, who announced his intercounty retirement in July, helped Castleknock beat Thomas Davis 0-26 to 3-12 on Saturday night at the Donnycarney venue to progress to only their second ever senior football county decider after losing to St Vincent\u2019s in 2016.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Callaghan has been the Dublin captain for the last two years. Kilkenny was his vice-captain in 2025. In any debate on the greatest Dublin players of all time, both are certain to feature. They were pillars in a Dublin team during a history-making era of unprecedented dominance.<\/p>\n

A Dublin SFC is the one standout medal missing from Kilkenny\u2019s collection, whereas O\u2019Callaghan has garnered county titles in both football and hurling.<\/p>\n

Still, the final in a fortnight will only be Cuala\u2019s third appearance in the senior football decider \u2013 even though the Dalkey outfit not only won the title in 2024 but also progressed to be crowned All-Ireland club champions in January 2025. <\/p>\n

\"Cuala’sCuala\u2019s Cal Doran is challenged by C\u00e9in D’Arcy and Peter Healy of Ballyboden St Enda’s (Cuala 0-21 Ballyboden St Enda\u2019s 0-17). Photograph: Tom Maher\/Inpho <\/p>\n

Their first final appearance came in 1988 when Parnells proved too strong. Peter Dunne was the Cuala manager that year and fittingly the man taking the club to this year\u2019s county final is his son, Derek.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy father was involved in 1988, it\u2019s a long time ago but it\u2019s a nice connection to it,\u201d said the Cuala manager after watching his side beat Ballyboden.<\/p>\n

It is a Cuala team stuffed with intercounty experience \u2013 including O\u2019Callaghan, Peadar \u00d3 Cofaigh Byrne, Eoin Kennedy and Charlie McMorrow. And nine-time Sam Maguire winner Michael Fitzsimons continues to shore up the defence at full back.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0\u2018I wrestled with it a lot\u2019: Galway manager \u00c9amonn Fitzmaurice on potentially facing KerryOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

Fitzsimons was as tigerish as ever at the heart of the Cuala defence on Sunday as they largely frustrated a talented Ballyboden attack. <\/p>\n

\u201cIn the Dublin championship anyway, the referees are just great for allowing the ball into contact, it\u2019s your responsibility to get it out so long as there are no jersey pulls,\u201d said Fitzsimons.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo it allows for more turnovers and end-to-end contests. That was even great in the All-Ireland final this year, Mayo have been pressing up on teams for years and are very good at it. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt is important in the new rules for there to be a possibility for defenders to get turnovers because that\u2019s what makes it exciting. If you get turnovers you get quick transitions, you get better offensive play and you avoid the basketball style a bit more, which is great.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Ballyboden, Sunday\u2019s defeat marks the end of a long campaign. After winning the Dublin championship last October, the Firhouse outfit went on to win the Leinster club title in December before ultimately losing the All-Ireland decider to Dingle in January.<\/p>\n

\"Inniskeen'sInniskeen’s Shane Hanratty with Micheal McCarville of Scotstown (Scotstown 1-18 Inniskeen 3-9). Photograph: Bryan Keane\/Inpho <\/p>\n

They were guilty of trying to force matters too much in the first half on Sunday, kicking seven first-half wides \u2013 with half a dozen of those coming from ambitious two-point efforts. Cuala led 0-9 to 0-6 at the interval but Ballyboden turned the screw on the resumption \u2013 destroying the Dalkey side\u2019s kickout in the second half.<\/p>\n

Ballyboden won Cuala\u2019s first eight kickouts after the break to hit the front in the 50th minute. But Cuala had spent 12 months stewing over last year\u2019s semi-final loss, when Ballyboden staged a late surge to end their reign as Dublin champions. Some payback was due. <\/p>\n

With the sides tied on 0-17 apiece as the game entered the final minute of normal time, Cillian Dunne \u2013 Derek\u2019s son \u2013 nudged Cuala ahead.<\/p>\n

The push was on. Cuala added three further points in injury-time from David O\u2019Dowd, Conor O\u2019Brien and McMorrow to win by four. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere was an awful lot of hurt there building up over the year,\u201d said Derek Dunne. \u201cMaybe it did help us get over the line in the end in the last three or four minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Gaelic Games All you read is love: The books about Mayo\u2019s All-Ireland win that just had to be writtenOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

Ballyboden weren\u2019t the only champions dethroned over the weekend. Indeed, All-Ireland club kingpins Dingle exited the Kerry SFC on Saturday, losing 1-17 to 1-11 against Spa. It means neither of this year\u2019s All-Ireland club finalists will even contest their county final over the coming weeks.<\/p>\n

\"KalumKalum McKenna blocks a shot from Henry Kelly of Clontibret O’Neills (Truagh 4-16 Clontibret 2-19). Photograph: Bryan Keane\/Inpho <\/p>\n

And in Meath, 2025 winners Summerhill exited at the semi-final stages following a 1-17 to 0-14 defeat to Wolfe Tones in Dunganny on Sunday. <\/p>\n

Loughmacrory\u2019s defence in Tyrone also ended at the semi-final stages with Errigal Ciar\u00e1n running out 0-19 to 1-13 winners in Omagh. <\/p>\n

The fall of the champions continued in Wexford too where St Martin\u2019s beat 2025 winners Castletown 4-12 to 1-16 at Wexford Park.<\/p>\n

Football resultsAntrim SFC semi-finals: St Brigid\u2019s 0-17 Dunloy 0-8; O\u2019Donovan Rossa 2-15 Erin\u2019s Own 1-16Armagh SFC semi-finals: Killeavy 2-12 Dromintee 0-8; Crossmaglen 0-23 Clann \u00c9ireann 1-19Carlow SFC semi-finals: Rathvilly 4-12 Palatine 2-16; Old Leighlin 1-15 \u00c9ire \u00d3g 1-7Cavan SFC semi-finals: Gowna 2-18 Crosserlough 1-6; Kingscourt Stars 3-13 Cuchulainn 0-17Clare SFC semi-finals: \u00c9ire \u00d3g 1-20 St Joseph\u2019s Miltown Malbay 0-11; Kilmurry-Ibrickane 4-22 Kildysart 0-9Derry SFC quarter-finals: Glen 1-16 Kilrea 1-6; O\u2019Donovan Rossa 1-15 Lavey 1-13; Slaughtneil 2-17 Ballinderry 0-11; Newbridge 2-12 Bellaghy 0-16Donegal SFC semi-final: St Eunan\u2019s 2-18 Gaoth Dobhair 1-19; Naomh Conaill 0-22 Glenswilly 0-19Dublin SFC semi-finals: Castleknock 0-26 Thomas Davis 3-12; Cuala 0-21 Ballyboden St Enda\u2019s 0-17Fermanagh quarter-finals: Ederney 3-16 Irvinestown 1-18; Derrygonnelly Harps 0-23 Enniskilen Gaels 1-15Kildare SFC quarter-finals: Celbridge 0-13 Raheens 0-10; Maynooth 1-10 Athy 0-11; Naas 2-17 Johnstownbridge 1-15; Sarsfields 1-20 Moorefiled 1-7Limerick SFC quarter-finals: Monaleen 3-6 Rathkeale 0-13; Kildimo Pallaskenry 1-16 Newcastle West 1-11Longford SFC semi-final replay: Clonguish 2-12 Dromard 0-10Louth SFC semi-final: Newtown Blues 1-15 St Mary\u2019s Ardee 2-11; St Mochta\u2019s 1-11 St Joseph\u2019s 0-4Mayo SFC semi-final: Castlebar Mitchels 1-16 Breaffy 0-14; Garrymore 2-16 Belmullet 2-15Meath SFC semi-final: Donaghmore Ashbourne 1-14 Ratoath 0-12; Wolfe Tone 1-17 Summerhill 0-14Monaghan SFC semi-finals: Scotstown 1-18 Inniskeen 3-9; Truagh 4-16 Clontibret 2-19Roscommon SFC semi-finals: Padraig Pearses 5-22 Boyle 2-27; St Brigids 3-22 Strokestown 2-8Tipperary SFC semi-finals: Clonmel Commercials 0-14 Moyle Rovers 0-8; Kilsheelan Kilcash 2-16 Loughmore-Castleiney 1-18Tyrone SFC semi-finals: Edendork 0-20 Donoaghmore 0-12; Errigal Ciar\u00e1n 0-19 Loughmacrory 1-13Wexford SFC semi-finals: St Martin\u2019s 4-12 Castletown 1-16; Kilanerin 2-12 Shelmaliers 0-17\"GlenGlen Rovers’ Dean Brosnan breaks his hurl over the helmet of Sean O’Sullivan of Midleton (Glen Rovers 2-21 Midleton 1-18). Photograph: Ben Brady\/Inpho Hurling resultsCork SHC semi-finals: St Finbarrs 1-27 Kanturk 1-22; Glen Rovers 2-21 Midleton 1-18Down SHC semi-finals: Portaferry 3-28 Liatroim 1-7; Ballygalget 2-19 Ballycran 2-12Galway SHC quarter-finals: Clarinbridge 4-25 Gort 0-18; Tommy Larkins 4-14 Tuloughmore 1-21; Craughwell 1-24 Sarsfields 1-17; Loughrea 2-19 Athenry 0-14Laois SHC semi-finals: Camross 2-16 Rosenallis 2-11; The Harps 4-16 Clough-Ballacolla 2-19Offaly SHC semi-finals: Kilcormac-Killoughey 1-34 St Rynaghs 2-23; Ballinamere 4-18 Belmont 3-19Westmeath SHC semi-final: Raharney 1-23 Castletown Geoghe\u2026 1-19Wicklow SHC final: Carnew Emmets 0-15 Glenealy 0-12<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Two of the most decorated forwards in the history of Dublin football have set up a county final…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":645387,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[6937,32476,2179,49721,49722,61,60,14610,112,60860,14612],"class_list":["post-645386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-kerry-gaa","tag-con-o-callaghan","tag-dublin-gaa","tag-gaa-club-football-championship","tag-gaa-club-hurling-championship","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-meath-gaa","tag-sports","tag-tyrone-gaa","tag-wexford-gaa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/645386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=645386"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/645386\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/645387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=645386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=645386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=645386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}