From Evening Echo May 18th 2011
WHITE’S CROSS bid for their fourth consecutive Moran Hotel Junior A football championship remained on track following their comfortable win over Mayfield at Ballinlough last night.
Mayfield did not deserve a 10-point defeat but their lack of fitness in the second half was evident after putting in a good opening 30 minutes.
Both teams played good open right from throw-in and the champions got off to an excellent start with three consecutive points from Donnacha Murnane, Edwin Buckley and Conor Kelleher.
Following a slow start Mayfield got to grips with their opponents and they levelled proceedings with unanswered points by the 18th minute.
White’s Cross responded with Conor Kelleher and Donnacha Murnane kicking excellent points, they went in at the break commanding a 0-8 to 0-3 lead.
Eric Fleming had a chance of goal 30 seconds into the second period but a last-gasp interception by Sean O’Gorman denied him.
It was evident that Mayfield were tiring and that was epitomised in the 42nd minute when Murt Kelleher ran 40 yards unchallenged to drill the ball past the helpless keeper
Mayfield had a number of wasted scoring opportunities without ever looking capable of toppling the champions.
Players like Edwin Buckley, Donnacha Murnane, Edwin Buckley Murt and Conor Kelleher are all class acts that can raise their game at this level without too much effort.
The loss of Denis O’Regan (cruciate) is a huge blow for White’s Cross but they are still the team that all championship contenders will have to contend with in the coming months.
White’s Cross. Billy Sheehan, John O’Connell, James Cooney, Sean O’Gorman, Brian Murphy, Eoin Murnane , Paddy O’Brien, Murt Kelleher (1-01), Cian Smith, Paul O’Sullivan ,Conor Buckley, Edwin Buckley (0-04, 1 free), Dylan Burke, Conor Kelleher (0-04),Donncha Murnane (0-04)
Mayfield: O Bond; B Punch, G Looney, R Furney; P Scannell, I Looney, K O’Callaghan , K Ince (0-02), I Fleming , E Casey , T Lotty (0-02), A Kelly , D Buckley, J O’Donovan (0-01) E Fleming (0-01) ’Callaghan . Subs I Monaher for K O’Callaghan, (37) R Byrnes for E Casey (47) A , F Quirke for R Furney (55), P Hegarty for A Kelly
Referee: K Murphy (Nemo Rangers).