A late second half rally saw White’s Cross earn a deserved victory in this opening round league game played in White’s Cross on Friday night last 11th of June. There was little between the sides in the opening half. Passage got the first two scores of the game but these were cancelled out by two fine points by Breandan Murnane. Alfie McEvoy, who was making his return team after a few years away, got the next score. A long ball into the square hopped deceptively high and the goalkeeper was relieved to see it go over the cross bar. The same player followed up a minute later with the opening goal. His shot at goal took a deflection and evaded the goalkeeper as it rolled over the line. Unfortunately at this point, it was Passage that rallied and they got two goals of their own before half time. Edwin Buckley and Dan O’Sullivan replied with points for White’s Cross but it was the visitors that lead at half time on a scoreline of 2-04 to 1-05.
Passage started the second half brighter also and they were first to score. Up to the second water break they had amassed another 1-03 while White’s Cross had only one solitary Edwin Buckley free in response. However, in the final quarter White’s Cross came into their own. First Ronan Fahy was most alert to a rebound off the upright when he caught the ball and drilled it in the net to give his side hope. Edwin Buckley added a free and now there was goal in it. A few minutes later Edwin Buckley was fouled on his way to goal and the referee ordered a penalty much to the dismay of the Passage players and officials. It was Buckley who took the penalty and cooly dispatched low to the right of the keeper. 2nd half substitute Rob Troy was very lively in the full forward and a foul on him as he bore down on goal was converted again by Edwin Buckley and now White’s Cross were a point ahead. The referee played several minutes of additional time as stunned Passage pushed for an equaliser. However, they were repelled by the likes of Sean O’Gorman and captain Richie Sherlock who were resolute throughout in the backs.
Team: Michael Osborne, Padraig Murnane, Sean O’Gorman, Derek O’Connor, Richie Sherlock, Donncha Murnane, Martin Reid, Seamus Quinlan, Cathal Quinlan, Dan O’Sullivan (0-01) Edwin Buckley (1-04), Shane Cahill, Ronan Fahy (1-00), Alfie McEvoy (1-01), Breandan Murnane (0-02)