SHC ‘B’ final: Delvin blown away by Gillen and co

Cullion 5-20, Delvin 0-11

The bookies favoured Delvin in what was expected to be a close final at TEG Cusack Park today, but by half-time the Valleymen were a beaten docket, with Cullion – led by an awesome display from corner forward Jack Gillen – romping to a 24-point victory to claim the Mickey Power Cup.

There have been some great battles between these two stalwart Westmeath hurling clubs – the intermediate finals in 1996 and 2003 come to mind – but nobody expected the one-sided demolition which befell Delvin in this Slevin’s Coaches SHC ‘B’ decider.

Jody Murray’s charges were like deer in the headlights from the moment Cullion’s Brian Stones cracked a phenomenal ninth minute goal, as they visibly wilted in the face of a fitter, more clinical Mullingar side.

In a lethal combination which shattered Delvin’s confidence throughout the first half, Gillen picked Stones out with a long-range free for the latter to flick the ball to the net.

Cullion went on to fire three more goals in the ensuing ten minutes, with Stones sliding home a second and Gillen bagging two – including a penalty – as Delvin fell apart at the back.

There were brief signs of a Valley revival; in a three-minute spell leading up to half time, they shot four consecutive points (including three from Darragh Clinton) to trail by nine (4-6 to 0-9). One felt that if a Delvin goal arrived at this juncture, it may have tipped the scales – but Cullion defended in packs and routinely hit their opponents on the counter.

Then, any lingering hopes of a Delvin comeback were destroyed when, in first half stoppage time, Gillen capitalised on another calamitous defensive error to complete his hat-trick, leaving Delvin 5-8 to 0-9 adrift at the break.

Cullion went on to outscore a reorganised Valley 0-12 to 0-2 in the second half. The Mullingar men had stars all over the pitch – co-captains Kevin Regan (who lorded it in midfield) and Jack Galvin, Stones, Conor Regan and Conor Shaw in defence, and some terrific support play from Eoin Fox in attack.

But it was Jack Gillen who stole the show, picking off some superb second half scores to take his personal tally to 3-11 by the final whistle.

With Delvin demoralised, at times it was target practice for the winners. Early in the second half, for example, Cullion had the luxury of introducing a sub as capable as Shane Broughan, and he duly pointed with his first puck of the ball.

At full-time, Cullion captains Kevin Regan and Jack Galvin received the Mickey Power Cup – named after a Cullion stalwart – from Westmeath GAA chairman Frank Mescall, and Pat Cleary’s charges now look forward to their first season at the top tier of club hurling in 20 years.

For a full report, see this Tuesday’s edition of the Westmeath Examiner.