Cullinane strikes cup gold for Bohs
The Bohemians U-16B players celebrate their win over Tramore in the Greenstar Cup Final at Graun Park on Friday night. Photos: Paul Elliott.
Bohemians just edged out Tramore in the final of the Greenstar U16B Cup at Graun Park on Friday night.
Bohs striker Brian Cullinane was the goalscoring hero as he fired home the only goal of the game. Tramore gave it their best shot but Bohs defence led by Johnny Arrigan and Conor Sherlock defended gallantly to keep Tramore scoreless and Richard Crowley went on to lift the cup for Bohs.
It was Tramore who opened up on the attack. After six minutes Tramore striker Gavin Lyons tried his luck from 20 yards but Bohs keeper Tadgh Murphy made a comfortable save. Minutes later Bohs put a good move together as Jamie Savage played in Brian Cullinane, however his near post effort brought a fine diving save from David Timoftica in the Tramore goal.
Bohs opened the scoring on nine minutes. A long free-kick into the Tramore box was only half cleared and when the ball fell to Brian Cullinane he curled a wonderful right foot strike into the top corner of the net.
On 13 minutes Bohs came close to increasing their lead. Dara Duffy skipped past a couple of Tramore defenders but his well struck drive clipped the outside of the far post.
On 22 minutes Bohs striker Cullinane found Dara Duffy in space, his effort was on target and the shot beat the keeper but Paddy O’Grady was on the line to clear. Tramore had a chance just before half time, Charlie McNamara picked out Eoin Farrell but his low cross flashed wide of the far post.
Two minutes into the second-half Tramore went close to equalising. Paddy O’Grady overlapped down the right and played a clever ball into the feet of Charlie Smyth but his first time shot was saved by Bohs keeper Tadgh Murphy.
Back came Bohs on 54 minutes. James Comerford slipped in Duffy, he turned sharply in the box however Tramore keeper Timoftica dived low to his left to turn the ball wide of the far post.
At this stage Tramore began to up the tempo and forced Bohs to defend, however they found Bohs defenders Johnny Arrigan and Conor Sherlock in top form.
On 72 minutes Tramore had a chance to get back on level terms, a corner kick by Tramore’s Eoin Farrell found the head of Jack Dillon but his flick header was just wide of the far post. At the other end Bohs on the counter attack came close to goal number two. Tom O’Mahony delivered a cross into the box, the Tramore defence cleared the ball to the edge of the box and Brian Cullinane was unlucky as his first time volley flew just over the bar.
Tramore had the last chance of the game on 78 minutes, Charlie Smyth drove a low cross into the box but there was no Tramore player in the box to take advantage. After the game Mary Ray of the WSL presented the Greenstar Cup to Bohs captain Richard Crowley.
Tadgh Murphy, Tom O’Mahony, Jamie Savage, Johnny Arrigan, Conor Sherlock, Dara Duffy, Richard Crowley, Michael Fingleton, Brian Cullinane, Harry Kavanagh, Matthew Flynn, Ethan Caulfield, James Comerford.
David Timoftica, Josh Zeljkovic, Jack Quilty, Gavin Lyons, Thomas Keating, Charlie Smyth, Alex Caulfield, Max Brennan, Tadgh O’Donoughe, Paddy O’Grady, Eoin Farrell, Ben Phelan, Jack Kent, Jack Dillon.
John Moloney. Assisted By Noel Connolly and Adam Walsh.
