Cuala were forced to withstand a strong second-half rally from Kilmacud Crokes before retaining their Dublin SHC crown at Parnell Park this afternoon.

Colm Cronin's 3rd minute goal proved to be the difference between the sides at the final whistle as it finished: Cuala 1-15, Kilmacud Crokes 0-15.

It was all one-way traffic during the early stages and Cuala raced into a 1-5 to 0-0 lead.

23 minutes had elapsed on the clock before Oisin O'Rorke opened Kilmacud's account via a '65'.

Cuala enjoyed a 1-8 to 0-4 advantage at the change of ends but, to their credit, the Ollie Baker managed Crokes made them sweat for their victory after the resumption.

They outscored Cuala by 0-11 to 0-7 in the second period but were left to regret the head start they gave the Mattie Kenny trained winners.

Cronin top scored for the winners with 1-3 while David Treacy found the target with 0-5 (4fs). O'Rorke, meanwhile, accounted for 0-10 (5fs, 2 65s) of the losing side's tally.

The Dublin champions will now play host to their Laois counterparts Borris-Kilcotton in the Leinster SHC quarter-final next Sunday at Parnell Park (2pm).

Cuala - S Brennan; O Gough, C O'Callaghan, S Timlin; J Malone, P Schutte, J Sheanan; S Moran (0-1), D O'Connell; C Waldron, C Cronin (1-3), D Treacy (0-5, 4f); S Treacy (0-1), N Kenny (0-3), M Schutte (0-2). Sub: C O'Callaghan for C Waldron.

Kilmacud Crokes - M Collins; N Corcoran, R Walsh, J Clinton; B O'Carroll, J Doughan, C MacGabhann; R O'Loughlin, N O'Riordain; R O'Dwyer, O O'Rorke (0-10, 5f, 2'65), C Conway (0-1); F Whitely (0-1), R O'Carroll, S McGrath. Sub: D Mulligan (0-3) for R O'Loughlin.

Referee - S Stack.

Congratulations to @CualaCLG who have won the SHC Final for the second year in a row! Commiserations to @KCrokesGAAClub #DSHC2016 pic.twitter.com/ylLQnBRDSI

- Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) October 29, 2016

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