Christy Bullman hits a hat-trick as Grattan United A cruise into the third round of the Munster Junior Cup
The Grattan United A side that had a 6-1 victory over Village United in the second round of the Munster Junior Cup at O'Neill Park.
With Grattan’s back four as solid as a rock, Village rarely had opportunities to threaten while the hosts proved to be a lot more clinical when opportunity knocked as Jake Murray made a huge impression – showing some excellent skill as well as quality distribution of the ball throughout the 90 minutes.
The tie burst into action as Christy Bullman fired over before he collected from David Curtin to knock it back for Ian Lordan to drill wide.
Then, at the other end, Zack McCarthy saw his fizzing free kick dip narrowly over, minutes before Jake Murray hooked straight at Matthew Stevens from David Curtin’s pass.
Stevens needed to be sharp off his line to deny the threatening Murray before having to deal with a low effort from Bullman, following good work by Kian O’Sullivan.
Bullman did have a chance when he controlled from a cross, but went for the option to try and thread a pass into the box instead of pulling the trigger from what was a favourable position.
Grattan were industrious now in the Village defensive third and when Kian O’Sullivan rifled straight at Matthew Stevens from Adam Lee Reynold’s pass, he had a marvellous opportunity minutes later, but was foiled by a block from Stevens and when the rebound came for Adam Lee Reynolds, he too was denied by another block.
Then, after a turn and strike by John Corcoran failed to bother Timothy too much, Grattan went in front when from Ian Lordan’s free kick, Christy Bullman glanced his header deep into the Village net for the opener on 42.
With his back to goal, Colin Hickey tried an audacious over-head kick which went narrowly over from Zac McCarthy’s delivery.
Grattan would have doubled their advantage when Bullman’s effort was finding its way to the Village net, but a touch from Reynolds near goal forced the referee to rule it offside.
But, soon after, Grattan did get their second when Kian O’Sullivan was on hand to help home from Bullman’s cross on 52 minutes.
Village responded almost immediately when a delightful finish from John Corcoran made it 2-1, but when Jake Murray played a slide-rule pass into space for Adam Lee Reynolds, he was fouled inside the box and from the spot, Bullman planted his effort to the left of Stevens – 3-1 on 65.
Grattan continued to threaten and it took a fine save from Stevens when he had to stretch to push out for a corner from Adam Lee Reynold’s forceful effort.
Grattan were in cruise control now and stormed further in front when Bullman fire d home from a re-bound to complete his hat-trick after his first effort was parried by the Village keeper on 75.
A fifth followed minutes later when a lovely weighted pass from Jake Murray played in Gary Coughlan to dink past a helpless Matthew Stevens o 78 minutes.
Jake Murray controlled as he twisted and turned inside the box before seeing his effort blocked by Steven Thompson.
Jake Murray then capped a fine individual performance when he cracked home a low effort which flashed past Stevens to make it finally 6-1 in the end for a rampant Grattan.
Grattan United A: Keith Timothy, Anthony Peelo, David Curtin, Anthony Byrne, Anthony O’Callaghan, Michael Kent, Jake Murray, Ian Lordan, Adam Lee Reynolds, Kian O’Sullivan and Christy Bullman.
Subs: Thomas White for Michael Kent (70), Gary Coughlan for Christy Bullman (76), Morgan Griffin for Anthony Peelo (81), Anthony Harte for Ian Lordan (85).
Village Utd: Matthew Stevens, Sean O’Donovan, Scott Lawler Marah, Jake O’Keeffe, Anthony Kiniry, Patrick Mooney, Colin Hickey, Zack McCarthy, William Corcoran, John Corcoran and Alan O’Regan.
Subs: Steven Long for Patrick Mooney (62), Graham Cumins for Sean O’Donovan (64), Steven Thompson for John Corcoran (66), Shane Geraghty for Jake O’Keeffe (75), James Barry for Alan O’Regan (85).
Referee: Alan McDonagh.
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