Dublin GAA star's 'Unparalleled Mindset' as Cuala land County title
Cuala claimed their first Dublin senior crown at Parnell Park, stopping Kilmacud Crokes in their quest for four in a row.
Cuala survived Con O’Callaghan's late red card as they landed a first ever Dublin senior football title at Parnell Park today.
The Dalkey based club held their nerve and kept attacking the game - even after O’Callaghan was sent off on 56 minutes - to deny Kilmacud Crokes a first ever Dublin four-in-a-row.
Luke Ward, who was only on the field for a minute as a blood sub, had netted to tie up the scores on what proved to be Robbie Brennan’s swansong before he takes over as Meath senior boss.
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In the aftermath of the goal, in a game which Cuala had controlled up to that point, O’Callaghan was sent off following an incident at the other end of the field, after referee Sean McCarthy spoke to his umpires.
After the game, the player himself appeared baffled by the card, although he declined to talk to the media.
On a day when gale force winds saw the goalposts shaking throughout, Cuala still had four minutes to see out, and as it would turn out another five minutes of injury time.
By this stage Shane Walsh and Paul Mannion - with a brilliant crossfield pass for the goal - had joined the party, Kilmacud had the breeze and an extra man.
Crokes are grizzled veterans in these situations, with the quality to boot.
The cards were stacked against Cuala but rather than retreat back into their shell, or try to play keep ball, they kept on attacking and went ahead on 61 minutes when Michael Murphy was adjudged to have fouled Cal Doran off the ball.
Doran had already accounted for three points from play, so you could say he was good for four as Luke Keating tapped it over.
It was frantic now and after Mannion equalised for an overcarry against a Cuala player coming out of defence, Cuala worked one more opportunity from a free that could have gone either way.
Keating dropped it short, but wing back Eoin Kennedy mopped it up and wrote his name in history, fisting the winner. The score was entirely appropriate as the sixth fisted Cuala point.
It was hard to begrudge them in a game they dominated for long spells and led 0-7 to 0-2 at half-time, and 0-12 to 0-8 after 51 minutes.
O’Callaghan was electric every time he got the ball, but their talisman was the outstanding nine-time Dublin All-Ireland winner Fitzsimons.
Fitzsimons led from the front throughout, with his usual quota of superb turnovers, blocks and tackles.
But he also scored two nice points, one with his right foot and the other when he hand passed over Paul Mannion’s head back to himself and fisted over.
It was a quick piece of thinking in a tight spot, while he also had another assist in the second half.
“I’ve always said it, he’s a special type of individual,” said Cuala manager and former Mayo forward, Austin O’Malley.
“If you could sell the software that Mick Fitz operates off you’d be in a lucrative business.
“The guy has a mindset that just is unparalleled I see within the game in terms of his desire to be better, his desire to improve and his growth mindset. He is just a joy to be around, to learn from and to try and coach.
“Just his leadership ability, through this campaign has been exceptional, behind the scenes the way he drives things on. Himself, Con, (Luke) Keating - all the senior players.
“This is really about the collective and the work that these guys are doing and it’s just incredible and it’s just a joy to be aligned with these guys.”
This first half was a prime example of why the rules have to change as Cuala withdrew 13 behind the ball at all times, and generally 14.
Dublin has generally been one of the shining beacons of club football with the volume of quality players and athletes, and a cultural onus to play attacking football leading to high scoring games.
When we’re getting lengthy spells of a big Dublin club game where the supporters are watching the rubbish blowing around the field with no real need to follow the back and forth play, it’s not good.
It’s hard to blame Cuala though. They were going for their first ever Dublin title and football at this level is win at all costs with the effort players put into it.
And if you can, why wouldn’t you set up to stop players of the quality of Paul Mannion, Shane Walsh and Sligo forward Paddy O’Connor cutting you open.
After a while Mannion and Walsh, with no way through the red Cuala blanket, and playing into the breeze, just let fly from low percentage areas - and their wides were greeted with jeers.
In the second half the star duo caught fire, but it wasn't enough for the 2023 All-Ireland champions.
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