Delvin sweep Cullion aside after storming start

Delvin 4-11, Cullion 2-10

Delvin laid down a strong early marker in the Westmeath Senior ‘B’ Hurling Championship with a decisive win over Cullion in Saturday’s opening round clash at TEG Cusack Park.

A blistering 2-5 without reply in the opening eight minutes ensured the victors were always in command, and while Cullion showed greater resolve in the second half, the damage was long done.

While Cullion outscored Delvin by 1-4 to 0-5 in the second half, they never recovered from their passive start. Their sweeper system failed to stem the tide early on and often left their forwards short on supply. Delvin, runners-up to Fr Dalton’s last year, showed signs they are keen to go one better in 2025, and the return of the suspended Darragh Clinton and Paddy Farrington for round two will further boost their prospects.

Cullion, meanwhile, must regroup and find a sharper edge if they’re to ignite their championship challenge.

Dean Ennis, central to much of Delvin’s early dominance, pointed inside the first minute from a free and quickly followed with another from play. Wing-back Alan Cox, a former Westmeath senior, added a fine score in the third minute before Ennis added two more frees to extend Delvin's lead.

The opening goal arrived on six minutes when Killian Murphy supplied a short pass to Ennis, who took on a shot from distance that dipped unexpectedly under the crossbar. Goalkeeper Damien Golden couldn’t react in time, and worse was to follow for Cullion when Patrick Clune’s long-range effort from over 50 metres found the net in the eighth minute - possibly aided by a distracting run from corner-forward Eoin Carolan as the ball dropped. Delvin were rampant, leading by 2-5 to 0-0.

Cullion finally responded with two scores from Jack Gillen, the first a long-range free followed by a point from play. Cullion centre-back Conor Shaw demonstrated his aerial ability with an excellent fetch, but his side were on the backfoot. Clune added to Delvin’s tally with a well-struck point, but Gillen kept Cullion in touch with two further frees.

A lapse in discipline proved costly for Delvin in the 20th minute when a free was advanced for dissent, and Gillen rifled a powerful shot to the roof of the net for Cullion’s first goal. However, Delvin reasserted themselves shortly after. A slick move involving Enda Newman and Eoin Carolan (who neatly flicked on a pass) was finished clinically by Josh Coll for goal number three in the 23rd minute, his first-time shot along the ground finding the target. A minute later, Ennis carved through the Cullion defence and finished low to the net for Delvin’s fourth goal.

Cullion were fortunate not to concede a fifth just before the break, with full-back James Clarke making a last-ditch clearance to scramble Ennis’s effort off the goal line. Gillen added two more points before half-time, but Delvin still held a commanding lead at the interval - 4-6 to 1-6.

The second half was a more even contest, though the intensity dipped overall. Ciarán Fenlon opened the second-half scoring for Delvin, with Cullion replying through midfielder Conor Kelly. Delvin were awarded a penalty on seven minutes after Ennis was fouled, and while Josh Coll struck firmly, Golden produced a solid save, getting his body behind the shot to keep Cullion’s hopes flickering.

Killian Murphy knocked over two frees for Delvin, before Aaron Fenlon clipped a neat point from play. Jack Gillen, who finished with 2-7 (2-5 from frees), remained Cullion’s most effective weapon and landed another free on 19 minutes, followed by scores from Shane Broughan and debutant Caelum Faughnan.

Gillen had the final say in stoppage time, blasting another unstoppable free to the roof of the net, but it served only as consolation. Delvin’s earlier ruthlessness had long since decided the outcome.

Scorers - Delvin: D Ennis 2-4 (0-3 frees), P Clune 1-1, J Coll 1-0, K Murphy 0-3 (frees), A Fox, C Fenlon and A Fenlon 0-1 each.

Cullion: J Gillen 2-7 (2-5 frees), C Kelly, S Broughan and C Faughnan 0-1 each.

Delvin: Stevie Reilly; Adam McCormack, Frank McGrath, Seán Hoctor; Seán Poynton, Adam Ennis, Alan Cox; Enda Newman, Aaron Fenlon; Dean Ennis, Killian Murphy, Ciaran Fenlon; Eoin Carolan, Patrick Clune, Josh Coll. Subs: Paddy Kelly for Newman (49), Ross Gaffney for D Ennis (inj., 52), Fintan Cox for Clune (56).

Cullion: Damien Golden; Brian O’Reilly, James Clarke, Pierce Shaw; Andrew Connaughton, Conor Shaw, Conor Gilhooley; Jamie Kindregan, Conor Kelly; Caelum Faughnan, Conor Regan, Kevin Regan; Pearse Corroon, Jack Gillen, Shane Broughan. Subs: Seán Regan for Kelly (52).

Referee: Barry Nea (Clonkill).