Second-half surge sends Cuala into provincial semi-final
The Dublin champions overturned a half-time deficit to defeat Sarsfields 1-18 to 0-11 at Parnell Park. Dan O'Sullivan's goal helped break the Kildare side's resistance, while the O'Callaghan brothers contributed 10 points between them.
Cuala powered past Sarsfields 1-18 to 0-11 at Parnell Park to reach the AIB Leinster club senior football semi-finals, maintaining their unbeaten record in five provincial games.
The Dublin champions trailed by a point at half-time but outscored the Kildare side by 1-12 to 0-2 between the interval and the 60th minute. Con O'Callaghan finished with six points and his brother Niall added four, including a two-pointer.
Eoin Kennedy opened with a two-pointer, but Cuala then went 20 minutes without scoring as Sarsfields struck five consecutive points. Ben McCormack, a late addition to the Sarsfields team, scored twice before going off with an apparent injury.
Niall O'Callaghan's two-pointer briefly put Cuala ahead, but scores from Shea Ryan and Daragh Ryan gave Sarsfields a 0-7 to 0-6 interval lead.
Charlie McMorrow began the second-half response, and Dan O'Sullivan struck a 41st-minute goal after good work by McMorrow and David O'Dowd. It came during a run of 1-8 without reply that settled the contest.
Cuala will face Carlow's Rathvilly or Portarlington of Laois at Parnell Park in a fortnight.