Cuala advanced to the semi-finals of the Leinster senior football championship after a 2-15 to 1-15 win over Naas on Friday night.
Goals from Luke Keating and Niall O'Callaghan eventually made the difference for the Dublin champs in what was a thrilling game of football.
The southside Dublin club got off to a flying start with Luke Keating on hand to dispatch an early goal, and that was a sign of things to come with both teams attacking at pace.
Niall O'Callaghan's second half goal looked like it would be enough for Cuala, giving them a five point lead after 40 minutes but Naas hung in mainly through the efforts of Darragh Kirwan and Alex Beirne.
Cuala supporters make their way out of Newbridge train station to the stadium before the AIB Leinster GAA Senior Club Football Championship quarter-final match between Naas and Cuala at Cedral St Conleth's Park in Newbridge, Kildare. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Tailteann Cup All-Star Kirwan kicked 0-5 from play on the evening while Beirne's 53rd minute goal gave Joe Murphy's side a life-line, picking the ball up in midfield before finishing with some style from distance.
But they never kicked on from there with Cuala super-sub Conor Groarke kicking three points to book their passage through to the last four.
Niall O'Callaghan's goal was created by his older brother Con who took on the Naas defence with trademark intent.
Speaking on RTÉ after the game, Roscommon manager Davy Burke praised Con's 'drop-step' in making the space for himself.
Naas 0-11 Cuala 2-10
The O’Callaghan brothers combine to devastating effect as Con sets up younger brother Niall for Cuala’s second goal
Watch live on @Rte2 and @RTEplayer 👉 https://t.co/hzPmwWbTTe pic.twitter.com/PvpOt67ZH7— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) November 9, 2024
"It was a very good finish with the left foot. But if you watch where the space came from, look at the brother Con, gets a direct ball inside and his drop-step to create space was phenomenal.
"As we know he's probably the top forward in the game at the minute and when you see the ball inside, you'll see how he creates the space with a drop-step and away he goes, beats Mark Maguire, really good finish then to square the ball and a really good finish by Niall.
"Them two O'Callaghans are fierce direct."
Former Dublin player Paddy Christie hailed Con's killer instinct in going for a goal when the 'safer option' might have been a point.
"It would have been very easy to fist that ball over the bar," said Christie, "But Con took a glance across at the last second, and it's a goal then.
"Con goes straight for the black spot. It was athletic players moving at high speed."
Con O'Callaghan of Cuala on facetime to a friend after his side's victory in the AIB Leinster GAA Senior Club Football Championship quarter-final match between Naas and Cuala at Cedral St Conleth's Park in Newbridge, Kildare. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
After the game, Cuala manager Austin O'Malley praised his side for the way they ground out the victory.
"Full credit to our guys, they stood up to it and absorbed it and they came again and pinched a couple of scores. I just thought to a man, they way they manned up and saw it out, was super," he told RTÉ Sport.
Joe Murphy hailed his Naas team for their honesty, saying he was very proud of his team.
"Congratulations to Cuala. I think it was a marvellous game of football. Fair dues to Naas as well, they showed great character and never threw in the towel. They went out on their shields tonight, I'm very proud of them."
