Impressive Cullen side id outclass Kanturk in the Duhallow JAFC
PRETTY routine for Cullen on coasting to an emphatic victory over Kanturk in the opening round to the E Tarrant & Sons Skoda Duhallow Junior A Football Championship played in Dromtariffe on Saturday.
Quite simply, the winners were in a different class, from start to finish, they controlled the game and never relented in their search for scores. Kanturk fielding a second strong combination were unable to call on the services of a number of players owing to other commitments and over the hour, they were unable to deal with the pace and attacking verve of their opponents.
Cullen tore into the fray from the outset, Tomas O’Keeffe pointing and the first of terrific blocks by Kanturk ‘keeper Michael Hartnett denied Colin Moynihan of a goal. Those early exchanges illustrated Cullen’s hunger and desire, confirmed on 6 minutes, O’Keeffe laying the groundwork for a goal by Andrew Meade.
For a spell, Kanturk managed to arrest the slide, availing of good ball won at midfield by James Fitzpatrick, well supported by Donncha Kenneally and Eoin Geaney. A pointed free from Cathal Burke opened Kanturk’s account but their only other contribution to the scoreboard to the opening half came from a Christopher Mullane flag.
In between Cullen held all the aces yet at times, their shooting was a letdown, kicking nines wides in the opening half and they might well had added to their goal tally. Instead Cullen retired at the break, holding a comfortable 1-9 to 0-2 grip and on the resumption, Hartnett again came to Kanturk’s rescue.
Indeed Cullen ratcheted up the intensity, defenders James O’Sullivan, Tom Moynihan, Niall Lynch and Conor Dineen held a firm grip with Sean Fleming and Pat O’Sullivan advancing from midfield. And the Cullen attack made use of a rich feed of possession, O’Connor netted an opportunist goal before O’Keeffe and Dineen combined for Gearóid Twomey to add a third.
For the remainder of the contest, Cullen remained focused and played the ball to telling effect to add on the scores to complete a comprehensive triumph.