Just as teams learn much from defeats, so you can find out plenty about them when they’re losing or under serious pressure.
Cuala’s largely comfortable progress through Dublin and past surprise Sligo and Connacht champions Coolera-Strandhill doesn’t offer much material in that regard. Even in their tightest tussle, the Dublin decider against southside neighbours Kilmacud Croke’s, they were never behind.
They did have closer contests in Leinster, against Naas, Tullamore, and Ardee of Louth in the final – only a point in that one at the end - but in all of those they were fending off second half comebacks rather than coming from behind. Again, Ardee never led.
In contrast, Errigal Ciaran have come through a series of tests. First in the notoriously competitive Tyrone championship, which included a replay against Clonoe and one-point victories in both the semi-final against Killyclogher and the final against holders Trillick.
In Ulster, apart from a routine victory over an out-of-sorts Cargin, they had to battle past St Eunan’s (Donegal), before one-point wins again in their semi-final and final, against Clann Eireann (Armagh) and Kilcoo (Down).
Last weekend that pattern continued. Cuala built up a significant advantage against Coolera-Strandhill, seven points, before that was reduced to two – and then the Dubliners pulled away for a 0-14 to 0-9 win.
Errigal, however, were almost finished by Dr Croke’s of Kerry before dominating extra time to win by 2-18 to 1-18.
The winning of that was really the not losing in added time after normal time.
The composure and self-confidence exhibited throughout Errigal’s campaign was illustrated by their vital equaliser to force extra time.
Errigal won a free which might have been kickable but instead of putting a team-mate under that pressure, Peter Harte sent it cross-field to Peter Og McCartan. The Ulster final hero had been taken off and brought back on, but showed no self-doubt, delivering another superb point.
A minute earlier Micheal Burns had celebrated his lead score as if it was the winner for Dr Croke’s, but Errigal Ciaran never know when they are beaten.
Of course, Cuala could contend with some justification that their record displays their ability to control games better.
Their response when teams have hit back at them, even drawn level, is also admirable.
Cuala were content to sit back and allow the Sligo side plenty of possession, biding their time before turning the ball over and counter-attacking rapidly. The speed of their breaks was extremely effective, taking them to a 6-2 half-time lead, and a 10-3 advantage 10 minutes into the second half.
Yet Errigal will have noted with great interest the five points they conceded in just seven subsequent minutes.
They’ll also look at Ardee clawing back to level after being nine points down, while Kilmacud were six behind at one stage but also got back on terms.
Obviously that win over Kilmacud gave Cuala belief that they could win not only Leinster but the All-Ireland, as their defeated opponents did in 2023 after losing out at the last against Kilcoo a year earlier.
Similarly, though, Errigal have to be boosted by beating Dr Croke’s, with the Killarney men almost always a force on the national stage when they come out of Kerry.
Given the quality of both teams, this is likely to come down to the closing moments.
Cuala will feel the can withstand anything opponents throw out them. Errigal will fancy themselves to win even if they’re trailing with seconds to go.
Whether or not Cuala will defend deep and invite the Tyrone team onto them remains to be seen. Errigal have pressed up effectively all campaign and yet also have had the defensive shape and discipline to rarely be caught on the break.
They’ll hope for more consistent refereeing this Sunday than last Saturday, when they were penalised for a few soft-looking frees while not being given many themselves.
They’ll also want a break from the Canavan brothers only seeming to score significantly every other close game. Captain Darragh and younger brother Ruairi provided a brilliant 1-13 between them against Dr Croke’s, 1-10 from play, after just 0-1 (Darragh) against Kilcoo. Ruairi scored 0-9 and Darragh 0-2 against Clann Eireann, but only three frees came from Darragh against St Eunan’s.
Record-equalling nine-time Dublin All-Ireland winner Michael Fitzsimons will surely pick up one of them, but even when their own scoring is restricted the duo have the talent to create chances for colleagues.
Both teams have a spread of potential scorers, with Errigal’s Harte and Cal Doran of Cuala key to their respective supply lines from defence to attack.
Even with the ability of Ben McDonnell and Joe Oguz through the middle, many Errigal kick-outs are directed wide, to the well-timed runs of Odhran Robinson and Ciaran McGinley. Those outlets will be especially needed to avoid the giant Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne, who is also a threat when pushing forward.
His Dublin colleague Con O’Callaghan stepped up again when required last time out and will be a constant threat to the Errigal defence, along with his brother Niall and attacking wing-back David O’Dowd.
Errigal will have tired legs after extra time, so manager Enda McGinley may refresh his starting side, but cooler heads could be the deciding factor.
Pressure can affect the best of players. Into added time against Dr Croke’s, Ruairi Canavan pulled wide a chance he would normally have converted with ease. The next minute McDonnell missed an admittedly more difficult opportunity.
Yet Errigal then displayed the resilience which has carried them all the way to Croke Park with a second famous score from McCartan.
Cuala can certainly become the fifth different Dublin club (counting UCD) to raise the Andy Merrigan Cup – but Errigal’s bouncebackability should make them the first ever champions from Tyrone.
PATHS TO THE FINAL:
Cuala:
Dublin SFC:
Group 1, round 1: Cuala 2-14 Clontarf 1-15
Group 1, round 2: Cuala 2-15 St Jude’s 0-8
Group 1, round 3: Finagallians 0-9 Cuala 4-21
Quarter-final: Cuala 2-13 Castleknock 1-10
Semi-final: Cuala 0-16 Ballymun 1-8
Final: Cuala 0-14 Kilmacud 1-10
Leinster SFC:
Quarter-final: Naas (Kildare) 1-15 Cuala 2-15
Semi-final: Cuala 1-10 Tullamore (Offaly) 0-10
Final: Cuala 1-14 Ardee (Louth) 2-10
All-Ireland SFC semi-final:
Cuala 0-14 Coolera-Strandhill 0-9.
Errigal Ciaran:
Tyrone SFC:
Round one: Errigal 0-13 Pomeroy 2-4
Quarter-final: Errigal 2-9 Clonoe 2-9
Quarter-final replay: Errigal 0-14 Clonoe 0-11
Semi-final: Errigal 1-12 Killyclogher 2-8
Final: Errigal 0-12 Trillick 1-8
Ulster SFC:
Preliminary round: Errigal 0-12 St Eunan’s (Donegal) 0-10
Quarter-final: Cargin (Antrim) 0-9 Errigal 0-17
Semi-final: Errigal 0-14 Clann Eireann (Armagh) 1-10
Final: Errigal 1-8 Kilcoo (Down) 0-10
All-Ireland SFC semi-final:
Errigal 2-18 Dr Croke’s (Kerry) 1-18 (aet).
