Avoca secure Culleton Cup
Entertaining battle against Aughrim in Rooster Park
DESPITE the 13 point difference between the sides at the end, Avoca and Aughrim served up an entertaining game in the Brian Culleton Cup final played in Rooster Park in Avoca on Thursday night last.
Both sides were down a few regulars for this mid-week clash but the visiting Aughrim side needed their absentees more to challenge an Avoca team which is moving well at this stage of the year.
The major difference lay in the ability of the home side to manufacture and take scoring chances with their tally being divided evenly between both halves.
Aughrim enjoyed enough possession over the hour to be in the hunt but were unable to convert this possession into scores.
Play was evenly balanced over the first 20 minutes with Aughrim’s Mick Brennan and Richard Keegan (playing in an unusual role for him) holding their own against Brian Canavan and Dean Power.
However, Power was pushing forward at every opportunity.
He opened the scoring with a point and followed up with another great point after seven minutes.
In between, Conor Phelan pointed an Aughrim free taken from the ground. P.J. Fluskey scored Avoca’s third point from a free but Conor Phelan responded again when he pointed a ‘45’ in the 17th minute.
Two minutes later Aughrim were punished badly when a cross-field kicked pass was intercepted by Stephen McCauley who linked up with Andy Doyle who in turn passed to the in running Dean Power.
The midfielder raced through to beat Brian Lynch for a great goal. Minutes later, Aughrim got a great chance to cancel this score when Conor Phelan gained possession inside Rob Wilson but goalkeeper Aidan Murray came out quickly to smother his attempt on goal.
In the follow up play the ball struck the post and Sean Doyle had his shot for a goal brilliantly pushed out for a 45 by goalie Murray.
Avoca finished the half the stronger and added further points from John Arthur, P.J. Fluskey and Jason Porter.
Half back Conor Lambert responded for Aughrim with a point to leave the half time score 1-6 to 0-3 in favour of the home side.
The first ten minutes of the second half went by scoreless. Aughrim were putting on a lot of pressure with Andrew Holt making great efforts to carry the ball forward.
In addition the pacey Adam Rochford was doing likewise. Invariably the movements broke down because of passes going astray and players losing control of the ball when tackled.
The Avoca full-back line was solid during this period with Rob Wilson being particularly sound. Substitute Aaron Tuke broke the deadlock when he scored Avoca’s first point of the second half. Pierce Lawlor responded with an Aughrim point.
From here on Avoca scored 1-5 over the next ten minutes with P.J. Fluskey’s goal on 21 minutes being their final score.
Aughrim continued to battle on and Diarmuid Whelan brought their tally to 0-5 when he pointed a free in the dying minutes. The final score was 2-12 to 0-5.
Avoca club Cathaoirleach, Sean Ward, thanked both teams in the presentation ceremony after the game.
Brian Culleton’s daughter Moira Mann, who was accompanied by her mother Mary, then presented the trophy to the proud Avoca captain Rob Wilson.
Scorers - Avoca: P.J. Fluskey 1-2, Dean Power 1-2, Jason Porter 0-3, Johnny Arthur 0-2, Andy Doyle 0-2, Aaron Tuke 0-1.
Aughrim: Conor Phelan 0-2, Conor Lambert 0-1, Pierce Lawlor 0-1, Diarmuid Whelan 0-1.
Avoca: Aidan Murray; Anto Doran, Rob Wilson, Liam Dickenson; Chris Arthur, Mikey Foley, Stephen McCauley; Dean Power, Brian Canavan; John Arthur, Martin Kenny, Andy Doyle; Darren Keogh, P.J. Fluskey, Jason Porter. Subs: Aaron Tuke, Bradley Moran.
Aughrim: Brian Lynch; John Annesley, Eoin Forsythe, Jamie Fleming; Alan Cotton, Andy Holt, Conor Lambert; Mick Brennan, Richard Keegan; Pierce Lawlor, Conor Phelan, Adam Rochford; Jack Healy, Sean Doyle, Dermot Whelan. Sub: Paul Lacey.
Referee: Gerry Corbett.