Composed Cullen snatch draw

A POINT by Dermot O’Sullivan in the 64th minute earned Cullen a second bite of the cherry in this keenly contested Duhallow JFC final at Kiskeam on Saturday.

Boherbue, looking for their first title since 1988, would have had nightmares had they lost; they dictated the play, led 2-6 to 0-5 at half time and were still two points up as the game went into injury time.

However credit to Cullen — they were chasing their third win in five years and had to play second fiddle to their opponents for most of the game, but never panicked and came with a late finish to force a replay (at the same venue tomorrow night, at 7.30pm).

The football wasn’t pretty but the keenness of the exchanges more than compensated. At the end of the first quarter Boherbue led by a point, 0-4 to 0-3.

That opening period was all about the excellent free-taking of Dermot O’Sullivan (Cullen) and Boherbue’s Dan Buckley. O’Sullivan scored all his side’s tally from placed balls, while Buckley claimed three of his side’s four points.

As the half wore on, the game opened up and Boherbue grabbed the first of their three goals in the 18th minute when Gerald O’Connell fielded Tadhg Hickey’s long delivery before finding the net.

Cullen’s response was immediate, and it took a wonderful save by their ‘keeper Kieran Murphy to deny Alan O’Regan a goal.

Boherbue took full advantage of the let-off: Roger Casey reacted quickest after Simon Foley’s shot came back off the upright and the Boherbue captain found the net through the crowded goalmouth which helped them to a 2-6 to 0-5 half time lead.

Aided by the wind, Cullen came back strongly on the changeover and after their ‘keeper Billy O’Connor denied Roger Casey a second goal, Alan O’Regan won a penalty for them in the 37th minute which Michael Fleming converted. When Dermot O’Sullivan tacked on a point, the deficit was just two points after 40 minutes.

Cullen were rampant, and inspired by Brian Kelleher, they took a point lead with ten minutes to go. Boherbue were in need of a score to steady the nerves and it came from a penalty after Denis McCarthy was grounded; Ger O’Connell sent the ‘keeper the wrong way for a classic goal.

A point by Dan Buckley stretched their lead to three and they were looking good for their third title in five years. However they couldn’t close out the game, and Cullen’s late finish earned them the draw.