Cullion defeat leaves Southern Gaels on the brink

Cullion 2-16 Southern Gaels 0-20

By John Dingle

An exciting Westmeath Intermediate Hurling Championship game where the outcome was in doubt right to the finish was just shaded by Cullion who narrowly beat Southern Gaels by two points at Fr Brady Memorial Park, Drumraney last Saturday evening.

Two goals in the first half eventually proved crucial as Cullion lead by 2-5 to 0-9 at half-time. The lead was maintained until late into the second half but Southern Gaels edged ahead by a point with just two minutes of normal time remaining. However, Cullion responded in positive fashion and the last three points of the game in their favour helped them to a narrow win.

With both teams having lost in their two opening outings, the bottom of the table clash took on extra significance. Southern Gaels grabbed the first three scores to lead by 0-3 to no score with just three minutes played, but Cullion recovered to turn around and lead by three midway through the half.

Aaron Power opened the scoring and a further point from the corner forward and one from Cian Geary had the Gaels ahead. Cullion’s first score was a major one as Jack Gillen fired to the net after five minutes to level matters. A free from the left by Gillen and a long range effort from Kevin Regan had Cullion ahead by two.

Another green flag was raised after 11 minutes as Cullion took advantage from a penalty puck to lead by 2-2 to 0-3 with Gillen again finding the net with an accurate strike.

Southern Gaels kept in touch with a Sean Dowd free and a point from play by Eamon Martin, but Cullion responded with a Shane Broughan point. Martin popped over another point for Martin Geary’s men to leave Gaels three behind after the first quarter, 0-6 to 2-3.

Gillen increased the lead to four points with a free but another Power point for Southern Gaels again left just a goal between the teams. A Dowd free reduced the deficit to just two and a great save from Jonathan Keogh then prevented Cullion from scoring a third goal after 26 minutes. The Gaels goalkeeper pushed away a Jack Galvin strike that looked to be heading to the net.

Inspired by Keogh’s heroics, Southern Gaels reduced the deficit to the bare minimum when Dowd again found the range with another free. Cullion though grabbed the last score of the half to lead by two at the break as Conor Regan sent over a point in the first additional minute.

Early scores were exchanged when play resumed with Dowd and Gillen both successful with frees. A 65’ from Dowd put the Athlone team within a point of Cullion but Eoin Fox soon restored the half-time lead. Two frees from Gillen doubled the advantage but a brave Southern Gaels outfit could not be shaken off. Points from Power and Dowd again left it a two-point game with 43 minutes gone. Points were then swapped at either end to leave Cullion leading by 2-10 to 0-14 heading into the last quarter, Jack Galvin and substitute Jamie Anders raising white flags at either end.

A marvellous sideline cut from Galvin which flew over the bar increased the lead to three. Dowd again reduced the deficit to two but a Gillen free and a Mikey Sinnott point left Cullion ahead by four, 2-13 to 0-15, approaching the last ten minutes of play.

There was still life in Southern Gaels at this stage and they then went on an unanswered scoring spree to take the lead for the first time since early in the opening half. Points from play by Diarmuid Martin and Geary together with another Dowd free left the Gaels just a point behind heading into the closing stages. It got better when another Geary point tied the game up after 56 minutes, 0-19 to 2-13.

Southern Gaels supporters were suddenly dreaming of a first win of the campaign when the next score went their way but there was major disappointment to follow. Substitute Dean Burns edged the Athlone-based outfit ahead after 58 minutes and it looked like the comeback had been completed in style.

The game was heading towards time added on when a brilliant long range effort flew over the bar as Gillen found the range to draw Cullion back on level terms. With Cullion finishing the stronger, Fox’s point put Stephen Morley’s men back in front and the scoring ended when another fine long range attempt was successful as Gillen pointed. The final whistle soon sounded to leave Cullion collecting their first victory on a scoreline of 2-16 to 0-20.

Man of the match: Jack Gillen (Cullion). Gillen proved to be the Cullion match winner as two fine long range points late on edged his team to a first championship success in 2026.

Scorers - Cullion: J Gillen 2-8 (1-0 pen, 0-6 frees); J Galvin and E Fox 0-2 each; K Regan, S Broughan, C Regan, and M Sinnott 0-1 each. Southern Gaels: S Dowd 0-8 (5f, 1 65’); A Power 0-4; C Geary 0-3; E Martin, D Martin, S Murphy, D Burns and J Anders 0-1 each.

Cullion - Conor Kelly; James Clarke, Conor Regan, Andrew Connaughton; Conor Gilhooley, Callum Faughnan, Mikey Sinnott; Jimmy Kelly, Jack Galvin; Eoin Fox, Jack Gillen, Shane Broughan; Robbie Gillen, Kevin Regan, Conor Shaw. Subs: Pearse Corroon for Kelly (half-time); James Baird for Broughan (53 mins).

Southern Gaels - Jonathan Keogh; Shane Galvin, Diarmaid Murtagh, Graham Houlihan; Eamon Martin, Seamus O’Sullivan, Sean Dowd; Cian McCarthy, Diarmuid Martin; Sean Murphy, Cian Geary, Kevin Dolan; Breen Elliott, MJ Kelly, Aaron Power. Subs: Dean Burns for Elliott (h-t); Jamie Anders for Kelly (42 mins).

Referee - Robert Dillon (Fr Dalton’s).