Michael Cusack hurlers got the day off to a winning start for the club with an emphatic victory over Sydney Shamrocks on Sunday 11 September at Auburn. The Cusack ladies looked on hoping for similar success in their final immediately afterwards as the hurlers led by example in a game they never looked like losing.

Cusacks captured their eighth championship title by playing a simple game based on a high defensive work-rate, running midfielders and forwards who, supported by mid-fielders, Hickey and Casserly, have the highest scoring record in NSW. In attack Eamon Ryan was brilliant, running everywhere as he exerted a major influence with his strength, positioning and expert reading of the game. Despite losing star full back Haulie Kenny to a collarbone injury sustained in a non-sporting incident during the week Cusacks had strength in depth and everyone played their part in this victory. They also lost Eamon McGuire to an early ankle injury and Noel Mannion to a first half facial injury but substitutes Adrian Shanahan and Tadhg O'Callaghan were not found wanting when called to the fray. Damien O'Brien who played most of the game with a broken hand sustained at the end of the first half had a sensational game at corner forward while centre forward, Colm Moriarity and Limerick County player Michael McKenna all contributed hugely on an individual basis while the overall work ethic of the team was as pronounced as at any time during the 2005 campaign.

Cusacks led by 1-11 to 0-6 at the break and pulled away in the second half when they increased the pressure as Shamrocks error-rate grew. Shamrocks staged a mini revival in the last quarter but it was at this stage that Cusacks experience really told. Their backs were tight, midfield was outstanding and the forwards took their chances and were rewarded with a score every time as Cusacks ran out worthy winners by 3-17 to 1-10. Dessie Fitzgerald played a stormer at centre half back, Colm Moriarity was also prominent at centre forward while wing half back Mattie Conroy was the deserving winner of the Best and Fairest award.
It was an immensely satisfying performance by Cusacks who have been training hard all year and who felt they should have done better up the coast and were off form on League final day in June. Victory comes to those who wait and this triumph by Nelius Murphy's team will be remembered for a long time. Goalie and captain Mick Mulcahy was a happy man as he raised the winning trophy, which was last won by Cusacks hurlers in 2002.

Team and substitutes on the day was as follows: Mick Mulcahy (Capt), Brian Forde, John Kirby, Ivan O'Brien, Mattie Conroy, Des Fitzgerald, Noel Mannion, Michael Hickey (0-1), Steve Casserly, Mick Keohane (0-2), Colm Moriarity (0-3), Eamon McGuire, Michael McKenna (0-4), Eamon Ryan (1-5), Damien O'Brien (1-2). Subs: Seamus Collins, Tadhg O'Callaghan, John O'Donavan, Adrian Shanahan (1-0), Niall Barron, Frankie Stapleton, Fergus O'Callaghan, Declan O'Regan, Tom Conway, Dave Carroll, John Buckley, Richie Barry, Haulie Kenny, Gary Forde, John Laughnane, John Carroll, John Quinlan, and Noel Farragher.