Last updated at 20:34, Thursday, 03 June 2010

A WHIRLWIND hat-trick from Kells’ Paul Cullnean in the opening 13 minutes of this Division One Championship Final, killed the game stone dead.

BREAK: Broughton’s Wayne Bell on a run

Cullnean burst over from close range after just three minutes and produced another two carbon copies within the next 10 minutes to put Kells firmly in the driving seat.

Broughton were unable to hold the experienced Cullnean at close range and he also converted all three to put Kells 18-0 up and their opponents did not recover.

They had rattled up a 34-0 by the break with first Jon Wignall and then Shaun Flanagan both going over out wide and David Agnew converting both.

Then, on 32 minutes, David Dickinson broke from the back of the scrum and went down the blind side to score.

Broughton were the first on the scoreboard in the second half as they attempted to revive the game, good handling putting Matthew Woodcock in between the sticks, leaving Mark Walker an easy conversion.

But then Kells got back into their stride and the league champions were determined to add the top four trophy to their cabinet.

Grant McLoughlin began the procession to the touchline before Flanagan picked up his second, with Agnew again on target with the extras for 46-6.

Stephen McGrady got the first of his quick brace within five minutes. He cut through the static defence to go over by the corner flag.

Then Cullnean broke away and slipped the final pass to the supporting McGrady for him to collect his second and again, Agnew converted both.

It was fitting that Agnew himself should score the final try and convert it for a personal tally of 18 points, equal to that of Cullnean.

First published at 19:21, Thursday, 03 June 2010
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk