Fethard crowned Division 1 Féile kings
A HAT-TRICK from Liam Nolan-Cullen not alone helped inflict a six goal defeat on New Ross Celtic but it sent North End United along the way to the crucial three points helping them lift the Premier Youths title in emphatic fashion at New Ross on Sunday morning last.
The champions in waiting did not waste any time in signalling their intention for they took the lead after just five minutes when Nolan-Cullen powered home a superb header from eight metres and thereafter the destination of the points was never in doubt as they went on to increase their superiority over a home side whose struggle was patently obvious from a very early stage.
The victory sees North End record their tenth successive victory, leaving them with a one hundred percent recent, and this with two games left to play.
Looking at their style of passing football, and balance in each line, it’s not surprising, as they have totally dominated the league campaign, with display their opponents were unable to match.
Although eagerly awaiting the FAI Junior Cup Final in the Aviva Stadium, and favourites to retain the Premier Division adult title, manager John Godkin, has still found the time to bring together a group of youths to dominate the domestic league, and bring the first piece of silverware back to the club this season.
‘The boys have done superbly. This is a hugely young side, with only four over-age for next season.
‘While we lost six players to Waterford and Wexford Youths, we brought in the young players and they have been superb. That was a really fine display of football and they thoroughly deserved the title,’ said Godkin.
North End’s early attacking play was sure to yield a goal. With the back four resolute, giving little away, North End were building excellently from the back with some controlled passing, and this led to the opening goal after just five minutes.
Having played the ball through several players into midfield, Dylan O’Brien was set free down the left, turning his marker he sent over a superb cross that was powerfully headed home by Nolan-Cullen leaving keeper Evan Culleton grasping for air.
While they had to be content with that single goal through the opening 25 minutes, New Ross Celtic were showing little up front never troubling visiting keeper, James Creane.
But still playing with the intensity they showed for the opening exchanges they eventually increased their lead on 26 minutes. In a mazy run, Niall Connolly beat several players but saw his shot beaten out by keeper Culleton to the feet of Nolan-Cullen, who played a quick return pass to Connolly, and from the winger’s cross, Nolan-Culen once again showed his height to advantage, heading low into the bottom right hand corner of the net, a goal that saw his side go in with an eventual 0-2 interval lead.
North End may have taken their foot off the pedal in the closing twenty minutes of the opening half, but following a strong half-time talk from manager Godkin, they once again increased the intensity on the resumption, inceasing their lead on 50 minutes when Dylan O’Brien sidefooted home a Niall Connolly corner kick, making it 0-3.
New Ross Celtic tried hard to get back into the game but despite their best efforts they were pinned back inside their own half for the most part, with Nolan-Cullen completing his hat-trick on 52 minutes, taking full advantage of a poor back pass, to complete a great morning’s work.
From there to the finish it was all North End despite using their three subs as they added further goals through Dylan O’Brien a superb individual effort, and right back Josh Murphy who found the net from the edge of the area, leaving it 0-6 at the final whistle.