Lattin Cullen secure safe passage into West decider with impressive victory in semi-final

Ollies Bar New Inn West Under 21B Hurling Semi-Final

Lattin Cullen 4-20

Rockwell/Rosegreen 3-6

By John O’Shea 

Lattin Cullen are through to the final of the Ollies Bar, New Inn, West Under 21B Hurling championship after overcoming a disastrous opening nine minutes of their semifinal clash with the Rockwell Rosegreen combination at New Inn on Saturday afternoon. 

They had to overcome the loss of wingback Ben Carey who was injured during the warm-up, but his late replacement Paddy Chapman put in a huge shift around the middle third.

They conceded three goals during this opening period to JP Anglim and trailed by 3-0 to 0-3 before corner forward Jack O’Halloran replied with three majors of his own in the next six minutes to go three to the good. 

They then proceeded to dictate the terms of engagement and with Tomás O’Shea in blistering form, they went on to hit the next six scores, which included a fourth goal from full forward Michael Elligott. The game was effectively over as a contest at the halfway mark as they led by twelve points, 4-11 to 3-2.

They continued to exert pressure on the home side after the break, and while Rockwell Rosegreen stayed with them during the third quarter, they eventually ran out easy winners, 4-20 to 3-6.

Lattin Cullen attacked from the off and Tomás O’Shea edged them in front with a point inside the opening minute. Paddy Chapman doubled this advantage three minutes later after being put through by Jack O’Halloran. 

What unfolded next couldn’t have been envisaged at the outset. With their opening attack, the home side goaled courtesy of JP Anglim on five minutes. The same player repeated the dose fifty seconds later before Tomás O’Shea fired over his second minor of the game on eight minutes. 

Both inside defences were under pressure and finding it difficult to deal with the high ball following a long puck out from Geraghty the ball was worked to Anglim and the captain crashed home from close in, to complete his hat trick in just over a four-minute spell.

What Anglim achieved at one end, Jack O’Halloran was about to replicate at the other. He gained possession following a puck out from Jack Whelton and crashed home at the far end, before being hauled down going through in the next attack. 

The resulting penalty was dispatched low to the corner to tie the game at 2-3 to 3-0 with eleven minutes on the clock. Scores were missed at either end before O’Halloran completed his own hat trick, inside five minutes, when he latched on to a long ball out of defence from Gary Quirke.

Lattin settled and their defence tightened during the second quarter. Tomás O’Shea was at his best at number 11 and scored at will. Michael Elligott got in for his side's fourth major, eight minutes before the break. 

The home side’s response was a point from Andrew Tobin and a similar from open play from the stick of Kyle Burke following good work by Podge Quinlan. Tony O’Neill had the last say of an opening half that had everything, as the visitors led by twelve at the break, 4-11 to 3-2.

The second half couldn’t live up to the excitement of the opening period, though the home side upped their game and introduced Karl Geraghty in attack, where he caused problems, but lacked the necessary backup. 

They stayed with Lattin for the third quarter but eventually had to bow to superior firepower as the visitors hit the last five points of the game. Lattin Cullen now meet Galtee Rovers in the final, with a chance to avenge their opening-round loss to the same opposition.

Lattin Cullen: Jack Whelton; Darragh O’Brien, Moss O’Brien, Micheal Russell; Gary Quirke, Cillian Barlow, Paddy Chapman (0-1); Diarmuid Looby (0-1), Liam Carew; Tony O’Neill (0-2), Tomás O’Shea (0-7, 0-1f), Stephen Carey (0-1); Jack O’Halloran (3-7, 1-4f, 0-3 65s), Michael Elligott (1-1), Sean Bourke.

Subs used: Darragh Quirke for Liam Carew (51); Paudie Bourke for Tony O’Neill (51); Niall O’Shea for Paddy Chapman (51); Eoghan O’Riordan for Jack O’Halloran (53).

Rockwell/Rosegreen: Colin Geraghty; Jake Phelan, Jason Gorman, Finbar English; Jamie Lawrence (0-1f), Kevin Cleary, Peter Heaney; Kevin Keating, Pat Colville (0-1); Kyle Burke (0-1), Diarmaid English, Michael Quinlan; Andrew Tobin (0-1f), JP Anglim (3-0), Podge Quinlan.

Subs used: Karl Geraghty (0-2f).

Referee: Donie Horan (Eire Og Annacarty Donohill)