Cork star Luke Murphy stars as Cullen too strong for Na Piarsaigh in PJFC last 16 tie

Cullen 2-18 (2-3-12)

Na Piarsaigh 3-2 (3-0-2)

Cullen are safely through to the quarter-finals of the McCarthy Insurance PJFC after their win over Na Piarsaigh at Glantane on Friday night.

They were led by their Cork star Luke Murphy, who hit 1-11 of their tally, including two two pointers as he led by example all through.

In the first half it was the battle of the Luke Murphy’s as he was marked by Na Piarsaigh’s full-back of the same name.

But the Piarsaigh man was taken off at half-time as he was on a yellow card and against his namesake they couldn’t take a chance of leaving him on.

They called on their former Cork star, John Gardiner, to see could he turn their fortunes around but even his presence in attack didn’t make any difference as Cullen dominated once they got on top.

Piarsaigh got off to the perfect start when Alan Keating pointed from a free after two minutes.

From the restart they regained possession and Sean Paul Cooke weaved past several players to find the back of the net, to make it 1-1 to 0-1, with Aaron Nolan having pointed for Cullen.

Piarsaigh added another goal with Kevin Moynihan setting up Cian Hogan to score, after eight minutes.

This woke Cullen up and they came more into the game, with Murphy getting their second point from play. He added two more from frees, to make it 2-1 to 0-4 with 15 minutes played.

Cooke replied for Piarsaigh, before Murphy got his fourth of the tie.

Colin O’Leary was on target for Cullen, before Murphy hit his first two pointer, from a free, to make it 0-8 to 2-2.

With 23 minutes gone they hit went in front when Murphy turned provider to set up O’Leary for a goal as they were now dominating play.

Another two pointer from a free made it 1-10 to 2-2, before Nolan got the last score of the half to see Cullen lead by 1-11 to 2-2 at the break.

Early points from O’Leary and Murphy (a two pointer) stretched their lead, before the latter got their second goal, to make it 2-14 to 2-2 and put the result beyond any doubt.

The torrential rain in the second half didn’t help either side with O’Leary, Jerry O’Connor and Michael Twomey among the scorers for Cullen as they were 2-18 to 2-2 in front going into injury time.

Shane O’Connell Ahern got a late goal for Na Piarsaigh but it was no more than a consolation score as Cullen move on, and they bow out of the championship.

Scorers for Cullen: L Murphy 1-11 (0-6f, 3 two pointers), C O’Leary 1-3, A Nolan 0-2, J O’Connor, M Twomey 0-1 each.

Na Piarsaigh: SP Cooke 1-1, C Horgan, S O’Connell Ahern 1-0 each, A Keating 0-1 (f).

CULLEN: F O’Connor; P Fleming, D Twomey, C Hickey; J Hickey, D Hickey, C Kerins; F Cronin, A Nolan; A Regan, M Twomey, C Walsh; J O’Connor, L Murphy, C O’Leary.

Subs: B O’Connell for A Regan (40), G Twomey for C Walsh (50), D O’Riordan for F Cronin (51), L Hickey for J O’Connor (59).

NA PIARSAIGH: A O’Sullivan; E Cronin, L Murphy, E Dorgan; A Higgins, D Spillane, P Murphy; C Clancy, K Moynihan; C Hogan, SP Cooke, G Joyce; P Guest, S Downey, A Keating.

Subs: S Daly for SP Cooke (30 inj), S O’Connell Ahern for L Murphy, J Gardiner for C Clancy, C O’Mahoney for P Murphy (all ht), C Clancy for P Guest (55),

Referee: Justin Murphy, Castletownroche.