BALLYGARVAN inflicted a three point defeat on Cullen in the County Junior A Football Championship quarter-final in Coachford on Saturday. When the chips were down, a fresher Ballygarvan held command in the closing quarter where the exploits of two tough games in the Duhallow divisional decider drained Cullen in the warm conditions. With Mallow's Paddy Sheehan at the helm, Ballygarvan's sheer graft and teamwork carved out two vital goals in the opening half that laid the groundwork for victory. It proved not to be Cullen's day yet they offered a brave showing and remained in the hunt just up to the finish, but the goal they required to save the outcome never surfaced. Ballygarvan hit an encouraging start and though shooting two wides, Ken Ashman nosed the South East side ahead. Cullen managed to stem the tide and opened their account from points to Colin Moynihan and Iggy Dineen. The Carrigdhoun champions answered and regained the advantage on their opening goal in the 13th minute. Full of running Stephen White made a strong dash down the left flank and his centre appeared to be going no where. However, corner forward Donal Sweeney chased the ball to the end line and put his leg on the ball to hook it over 'keeper Billy O'Connor into the corner of the net for a Brazillian style finish. Cullen answered on the commanding play of Dermot Hickey, James O'Sullivan, Adrian Lynch, Pat O'Sullivan and Alan O'Regan posed plenty of tricky questions for intercounty player Ger Spillane. Indeed Cullen signalled their intent on four consecutive points from Mike Fleming, Dermot O'Sullivan, Brian Kelleher and O'Regan. Ballygarvan lifted the siege, points to Ciaran O'Sullivan and Gary White gained parity. With the towering Joe Spillane winning huge amounts of possession at midfield, Ballygarvan's position strengthened. And Cullen were caught napping just on the call of half time, a free conceded, quick thinking by White out the field found full forward PJ MacGerailt in isolation and he made no mistake on drilling a low drive to the net. Cullen replied on a point from O'Regan to reduce the leeway 2-3 to 0-7 at the interval. Little separated the pair upon the restart before Cullen moved forward with menacing purpose. Points to O'Sullivan and Lynch allowed a stalemate for the fourth occasion. Again Ballygarvan got their act together, their ferocious desire typified by the increasing workrate of the Spillanes and Whites. Back to back points from Gary White sandwiched a brilliant save by Cullen custodian Billy O'Connor from Ashman. Cullen rallied on points to Dermot O'Sullivan and Gerald O'Leary, those scores cancelled out at the opposite end by Ballygarvan wing back Damien O'Sullivan. As Cullen's game began to wilt in the trying playing conditions, not even the introduction of fresh legs could inspire a rally. Ballygarvan maintained a momentum and a Garry White pointed free wrapped up matters to set up a semi final date against Glanworth. BALLYGARVAN: G White 0-4(03f), D Sweeney 1-0, P J MacGerailt 1-0, D O'Sullivan 0-2, K Ashman and C O'Sullivan 0-1 each CULLEN: D O'Sullivan 0-3(0-2f), A O'Regan 0-2, C Moynihan, I Dineen, M Fleming, B Kelleher, A Lynch and G O'Leary 0-1 each BALLYGARVAN: J Murphy, A Murphy, D Murphy, A Quilligan, D Bouse, G Spillane, D O'Sullivan, C O'Conchúir, J Spillane, G White, S White, L Dillon, K Ashman, P J MacGerailt, D Sweeney. Subs. C O'Sullivan for Sweeney(21), A Butler for Bouse (59) CULLEN: B O'Connor, Dermot Hickey, J O'Sullivan, Denis Hickey, M Fleming, T Moynihan, A Lynch, P O'Sullivan, D Philpott, C Moynihan, A O'Regan, I Dineen, D O'Sullivan, B Kelleher, G O'Leary. Subs. C Dineen for I Dineen(28), J O'Connor for D O'Sullivan(40), S White for Kelleher(48), D O'Connell for Moynihan(54) REFEREE: D Shorten(St Mary's)