Regan sends Cullen to next round
Cullen 2-8 Knocknagree 1-10
MAIN talisman Alan Regan kept his cool to point a late match winning free to allow Cullen edge out neighbours Knocknagree in a dramatic E Tarrant and Sons Duhallow JAFC Round 2 at a sun-splashed Ballydesmond.
Few could had envisaged such an outcome at the break, Cullen registering just a solitary point and operating second fiddle to a second string Knocknagree combination. But having laboured through the opening half, Cullen were a transformed side on the restart and swept aside a fading Knocknagree challenge.
Key substitutes exerted a match winning influence, Cullen grabbed goals at important stages that acted as a real spur and with the contest heading for extra time, Regan had other ideas to nail the all important score near the finishing line.
Though the sides swooped early points to John O’Keeffe and Brian O’Connell in the searing heat, Knocknagree looked by far the more sharper and cohesive side. That stemmed from the effective play of Gearóid Looney, Daniel O’Mahony, Tadgh Long and David O’Connor.
And Knocknagree stitched together a splendid move, Looney and Glen Vaughan involved for O’Keeffe to net for a 1-4 to 0-1 advantage at the break. On the restart, Knocknagree extended their grip to seven points, the outcome looked done and dusted.
Credit Cullen on raising to the daunting challenge, greatly encouraged on Daire Twomey placing Colin Walsh to net. Knocknagree answered with points to Shane O’Connor, Liam Sugrue and O’Keeffe.
Still, Cullen were operating with a greater urgency, James O’Sullivan, Philip Murphy and Walsh effective as was the impact of replacements Philip Cremin and Paul Fleming.
Cullen’s increasing influence shone to the surface in the 45th minute, Murphy, the provider for another substitute Colin O’Leary to goal for parity. As the sides exchanged points, it was really anybody’s game now, the outcome remaining in the melting pot.
One score was going to win it, Cullen pulled the final rabbit out of the hat, the Knocknagree defence sucked into conceding a free, Regan, an indispensable figure in the Cullen attack, duly obliging to bisect the uprights.
Victory earns Cullen a semi-final date whilst Knocknagree exit the championship.
CULLEN: F O’Connor; C Hickey, J O’Sullivan, M O’Riordan; W O’Keeffe, D Twomey, A O’Sullivan; P Murphy, C Walsh; 1-0, G Twomey, C Moynihan, A Regan 0-4; M Twomey, J O’Connor 0-1, B O’Connell 0-1 Subs: P Cremin for W O’Keeffe, P Fleming for B O’Connell, C O’Leary 1-2 for G Twomey
KNOCKNAGREE: D Leader; L Sugrue 0-1, S Daly, G Looney; T Long, D O’Mahony, G Vaughan; T Cooper, David O’Connor; S O’Connor 0-1, J Dennehy, S Twomey; D Murphy, Denis O’Connor 0-2, J O’Keeffe. 1-6 Subs: D Twomey for S O’Connor, K O’Leary for T Cooper
REFEREE: E Walsh (Freemount)