Herlihy the toast of Boherbue after late intervention

game remained stride for stride before the defending holders got up to edge it at the finish.

The pattern to a tight tussle was laid down from the outset, Cullen’s point by Jerry O’Connor cancelled out by Michael O’Brien. And though Tomas O’Keeffe edged Cullen ahead, Boherbue replied in kind with flags raised for David and Jerry O’Connor.

A similar pattern continued for the remainder of the first half, the sides were toe for toe, the two Jerry O’Connors on both sides contributing to the scoreboard, no surprise, the sides retired deadlocked at 0-5 apiece.

Bohebue asserted themselves on the restart under the imposing play of Patrick Murphy, John Corkery, Andrew and Jerry O’Connor. A rewarding spell saw points registered by Donal O’Connell, Corkery and Murphy to leave a rare gap between the pair.

Credit Cullen, they didn’t wilt and the tussle was thrown in the melting pot in the 35th minute on good work by Alan Regan created the opportunity for David Walsh to net. Now Cullen pushed hard, Billy O’Connor, competent between the posts, well served by Dermot Hickey, Seán Fleming, Jerry O’Connor and Tomás O’Keeffe.

Points to Alan Regan and O’Keeffe nudged Cullen two ahead only for the O’Connor pair answer with duplicate scores for Boherbue to square up the tussle again.

With the finishing line in sight, the tension rose and every tussle was contested with intensity that the attendance really appreciated.

Another swop of points made extra time a possibility before Herlihy who entered the fray at the three quarter stage and duly surfaced to land the telling score and book a place in the decider against Lyre.