As reported in last month’s up-date, our first Junior team beat Passage in the first round of the Junior A championship on a 3-12 to 2-9 score-line. Thus this gave us a bye to Round Three as the various First-Round losers played off in Round Two. All remaining teams were then entered into an open-draw which pitted us against Bishopstown – the first time we ever met this particular southside opposition in this competition. It was a tough draw against a club where football is currently thriving, with much minor and Under 21 success in recent times.
White’s Cross started very confidently in the opening 15 minutes and led their maroon-coloured opposition on a merry-dance for the opening quarter. Ably assisted by a strong breeze Murt Kelleher, Edwin Buckley, Conor Kelleher and Conor Buckley tacked on early points to put us four up after the quarter hour mark. Further points from the two aforementioned Buckleys and Rick Burke helped us to a 0-7 to 0-1 half-time lead.
However Bishoptown, now enjoying the wind advantage, had the ideal tonic at the start of the second half with a well-taken goal. Murt Kelleher replied immediately with a good point for the Cross but the White’s Cross attack, which had dictated matters in the first 30 minutes, now struggled to get any cohesion to their play. However the White’s Cross defence ensured that Bishopstown similarly struggled for scores. Paul Finnegan, replacing injured captain John O’Connell at full-back, did very well as did Sean Gorman in the corner, who was making his championship debut at this level. Outside them Eoin Murnane controlled matters from the centre-back berth, well assisted by the two Johns – Meade and Drummy.
Donnacha Murnane tacked on a further point from a free in the closing minutes and with keeper Billy Sheahan pulling off a great last-minute save White’s Cross held on for a win, on the minimum margin.