Cuala looking forward to first Senior Football final since 1988

Cuala progressed to their first Dublin Senior Football Championship decider since 1988 when they saw off the challenge of Ballymun Kickhams by five points at Parnell Park on Saturday, October 5.

They will face Kilmacud Crokes in the final this Sunday, October 20 in what promises to be an epic meeting of two great sides.

With everyone from Cuala looking forward to the final, we’ve decided to look back to 1988 and the club’s previous final appearance.

Michael Goodwin, who runs the Cuala Digital Archive, kindly assisted Southside People with this article.

The 1988 Cuala Senior Football squad

“Cuala folk will be delighted to see our Senior Footballers take their well-earned place in the Dublin County Championship final,” Michael said.

“Apart from being a historic achievement in its own right, Cartlann Digiteach Cuala likes the coincidence that the last time our Seniors played in a County Final was in 1988 – the Dublin Millenium year.

“It was a remarkable Championship run for Cuala.”

It truly was a remarkable run as in the opening round they recorded a shock defeat of St Vincents (2:05 to 0:10).

Afterwards, Vincents’ Joe O’Hara described the seismic result in the most eloquent fashion.

“The sun hasn’t risen in Marino or set in Dalkey since last Sunday morning,” O’Hara said in the aftermath of the shock outcome.

Round 2 saw Cuala beat Clontarf comfortably with the final score of 2:08 to 00:02 fairly conclusive.

The Cuala line up pictured before the 1988 final

However, the next round was a lot closer as Whitehall Colmcille were defeated by the bare minimum of 1 point with a 2:07 to 00:12 scoreline.

In the Semi-final their 2-goal pattern continued against Na Fianna (2:06 v 00:08).

Preview of the final from the Evening Herald

The cover of the programme from 1988

Sadly, in the Final, Cuala’s first ever at Senior level, Parnells, the defending Champions, prevailed and the dream ended (0-12 v 1:15).

“But the pride and memories lived on,” Michael tells Southside People.

“Isn’t it remarkable how many of these great players remained with Cuala over the years and went on to contribute so much to the growth and development of the club?

“So maybe it’s not such a coincidence that we now find ourselves back in a Senior Final.

“Let’s hope the goals come in pairs again!”