The first White’s Cross team illustrated in this opening round clash that they have lost none of the hunger that saw them reach the final of the 2005 competition, with this comprehensive defeat of Bishopstown at a sun-drenched Ballinlough grounds.  Team captain Murt Kelleher was quick to lead his troops into action by scoring two fine points in the opening couple of minutes.  Along with his midfield partner John Drummy, they proceeded to take a complete stranglehold of the match for most of its 60 minutes.  Inside them, Donnacha Murnane, fresh from his valiant efforts with the Seandun Senior footballers, was showing very well early on, and caused havoc in the Bishopstown defence, as we raced into a four point lead. 

However the ‘Town clawed their way back into the game with three unanswered points to leave the minimum between the sides after 15 minutes.  However between there and the break White’s Cross had six unanswered scores from Kevin Buckley, Bryan O Sullivan, Donnacha Murnane, Conor Kelleher, and a pair from the hard-working Drummy.

In the second half, White’s Cross continued to dominate, and but for some wayward shooting would have amassed a much greater tally.  Bishopstown battled all they could but were not able to break down a White’s Cross rearguard where John O Connell, Pat O Driscoll, John Meade and Eoin Murnane were all very dominant.

We now by-pass Round Two of the competition, where the ‘back-door’ series of games take place, and the remaining teams are put into the hat for the following round of ties.