Gleeson Concrete West Junior A Hurling Championship - Round 2
Lattin Cullen 5-23
Rockwell Rovers 1-9
By John O’Shea
Lattin/Cullen, last year’s defeated finalists, got their Gleeson Concrete West Junior A
Hurling championship campaign up and running with a comprehensive victory over an understrength Rockwell Rovers at Canon Hayes Park, Bansha on Friday evening.
Played before a very small crowd, it was obvious from the start that the New Inn side were under pressure to deliver against a Lattin side who were fired up for this encounter.
They raced into a 1-8 to 0-2 lead by the end of the first quarter, extended it out to a twelve-point advantage by the twentieth minute, and were 4-14 to 0-4 to the good at the half-time break.
With three majors coming from midfielder Sean Bourke and a fourth from Jack O’Halloran, coupled with the accuracy from placed balls by Tomás O’Shea and Cathal Dillon, the result was never in doubt from early on.
Rockwell, to their credit, never gave up and battled on for the remainder of the contest with Alan Moloney converting a late penalty goal after Pat Hickey was hauled down following a run from midfield. Lattin/Cullen will be happy with their overall game but they know that there will be stronger opposition as the championship progresses.
Rockwell defended the village goals and were quickly into action, with Pat Hickey splitting the posts after just fourteen seconds. Lattin were back on level terms by the third minute following a Tomás O’Shea converted placed ball. They quickly got up to the pitch of the game, and Sean Bourke got in for his opening goal one minute later. O’Shea and Cathal Dillon added minors before Liam Fahey pulled one back for the New Inn side.
Lattin then hit four minors on the bounce before Bourke struck goal number two on the quarter mark, having been set up by Tadhg Carew. Carew would have a big influence on the game, setting up many scores throughout.
Bourke had completed his hat trick by the twenty sixth minute, again having been well assisted by Carew. Coming up to the half-time break, Jack O’Halloran got in for a fourth to put the game out of reach of this battling Rovers side. Half-time score, Lattin/Cullen 4-14, Rockwell Rovers 0-4.
After the restart Rovers came more into the game but overall Lattin were just too strong. Jack O’Halloran got in for his second major on fifty minutes but Alan Moloney converted a penalty four minutes later before Mark Russell closed out the scoring with a well-struck free on sixty minutes.
Scorers: Lattin/Cullen: Sean Bourke (3-0), Jack O’Halloran (2-3), Tomás O’Shea (0-8, 0-7f), Cathal Dillon (0-4f), Mark Russell (0-3, 0-1f), Paddy Chapman (0-1), Tony O’Neill (0-1), Stephen Carey (0-1), Diarmaid Looby (0-1), Liam Carew (0-1).
Rockwell Rovers: Alan Moloney (1-4, 1-0 pen, 2f, 1x65), Liam Fahey (0-3, 2f), Kevin Cleary (0-1), Pat Hickey (0-1)
Lattin/Cullen: Cathal Dillon, Moss O’Brien, Stephen Carey, Garry Quirke, Diarmaid Looby, Ben Carey (Captain), Tom Bradshaw, Liam Carew, Sean Bourke, Eoin O’Connell, Tadhg Carew, Jack O’Halloran, Tomás O’Shea, Mark Russell, Paddy Chapman.
Subs used: Darragh O’Brien for Moss O’Brien (HT), Tony O’Neill for Liam Carew (inj 32), Shane Russell for Eoin O’Connell (49)
Rockwell Rovers: Colm Moloney, Peter Heaney, Liam Lonergan, Aaron O’Dwyer, Gavin Ryan, Stephen Mason, Stephen Boland, Oisin Cummins, Andrew Tobin, Kevin Cleary, Tom Downey, Willie Flynn, Liam Fahey, Alan Moloney, Pat Hickey
Subs used: Eoin Doyle for Gavin Ryan (48), Kyle Burke for Willie Flynn (57).
Referee: Richie O’Connor (Arravale Rovers)
