The weekend of the St. Patrick’s festivities proved a particularly busy one for our under 14 footballers who sandwiched the parade around two day of hectic footballing action. On the Saturday they travelled to Aghada where in their first game of the Féile competition they beat their hosts from the East Cork barony with a polished performance. This set them up for a second game later in the afternoon with Courcey Rovers, and at the end of this keenly fought encounter the sides could not be separated. Thus the group winners of the three team section all hinged on a battle between Aghada and the Ballinspittle outfit. When a draw was again the result of this tie, White’s Cross topped the group and qualified for the Féile semi finals, which were fixed for two days later in Macroom.
Having faced teams from the Imokilly and Carrigdhoun divisions on the Saturday, next up were representatives of the Duhallow division – Boherbue. With the prospect of a county final spot in Pairc Uí Rinn awaiting the winners six days later, this game was keenly fought from start to finish. Both sides had their periods of dominance and our lads went in at the half time break four points to the good. However Boherbue had a dream start to the second half and had two goals and two points tacked on in a devastating opening 5 minutes. However our lads did not wilt, and responded with a goal of their own ten minutes in. Try as they may however they could not unlock the Boherbue defence again and thus it was the North Cork lads were celebrating at the end of this encounter.
Nonetheless there were lots of positives to be taken from this footballing weekend for the Fiachra O Connell captained White’s Cross side. Whilst the heads were down on the Bank Holiday Monday, Ciarán Allen, John Barry and their selectors will have these lads back in training and prepping them for a very busy playing football and hurling schedule in the months ahead.