In the City division, local GAA enthusiasts know they have truly hit the Summer season when the football championship is put on hold and hurling matters take priority. That is the stage we have reached in the past month with both Junior Hurling teams tasting championship fray. Thus with both White’s Cross football teams safely through to the latter rounds of their championship, attention turned to our hurling matters and thus our sister-club, Whitechurch.
Both hurling teams have impressive league records to-date for the 2006 season – the A team have no defeat in their 8 encounters to-date. The second team bounced back from defeat in their opening league tie, and are undefeated in the seven games since. The A side faced up against Lough Rovers in their opening round tie, who were promoted from the B grade last season. The B team played Na Piarsaigh.
Junior A Championship
Whitechurch 4-19 Lough Rovers 1-07
The opening round of the A hurling championship turned out to be a one sided affair with Whitechurch dominating from the word go. Five of the A panel were unavailable for selection owing to injury / exams. John O’Connell – Roy O’Driscoll and Victor O’Sullivan injured while Peter O’Dricoll and Paul O’Sullivan are sitting exams. However despite their loss the panel is strong enough to bring in players equal in calibre.
A tally of 4.19 indicates the dominance with Ian Lee hitting the opening point in the first minute. Whitechurch hit a couple of wides before the Lough drew level following a free. This was the closest the Lough got to Whitechurch as the flood gates opened and in the space of 18 minutes Whitechurch notched up a further 2.05 following points from Conor Buckley, Colm Sheahan, two from Jason Kelly with Donnacha Murnane hitting 1.01 and Murt Kelleher a goal. This left the scores 2.06 to 0.01. A glimmer of hope for the Lough as they executed a good goal and followed up with a point from a free and one from play. The Whiechurch half back was dominant with captain Kevin Buckley leading by example at centre back. The remainder of the half belonged to Whitechurch and after a Donnacha Murnane shot on goal was well saved the resulting 65 was scored by Colm Sheahan. Conor Buckley hit 2 frees while Donacha hit a further 1.01 before the break and on the stroke of half time Ian Lee netted their fourth goal following great play by Murk Kelleher to leave the half time scores Whitechurch 4.10 – Lough 1.02. Despite scoring 4.10 in the first Whitechurch also accumulated 10 wides.
As a contest the game was over at the interval but it was the Lough who opened the scoring in the second half hitting a point following 2 wides by Whitechurch. Whitechurch hit the post and a well taken shot on target was saved from Murt. It took full forward Jason Kelly to get Whitechurch back scoring after striking a wonderful point from the left side. Two points from each side were scored in the next 8 minutes with Ian Lee from play and Conor Buckley from a free doing the honours from Whitechurch. Despite seeing very little of the ball Brian Murphy in goal handled all concerned with confidence and puck outs were putting immense pressure on the Lough half back line where the Whitchurch forwards were well on top.The Buckley brothers combined well for the next point after Kevin found Conor from a free in the half back line. Jason Kelly, Conor Buckley and Donnacha Murnane hit points with Eoin Murnane hitting 2 before the end to leave the score Whitechurch 4.19 – Lough 1.07. Whitechurch had a further 6 wides in the second half to leave a tally of 16 wides for the game. It is nice to get through the opening round of the Championship, however tough games lie ahead if we are to progress further alot of hard work in the training field is required.
Junior B Championship
Whitechurch 0-18 Na Piarsaigh 2-02
Not having used any subs the previous night in the A championship Whitechurch fielded a strong B Championship team against Na Piarsaigh in Kilcully. A panel of 28 players were on hand for selection. The game was delayed for almost 45 minutes after the appointed referee failed to show and a substitute referee found. Whitechurch played with the aid of a breeze in the opening half and notched up a four point lead within 6 minutes following points from play by William Casey and Seanie Murnane and two well taken frees from John O’Callaghan and Conor Kelleher. Two certain goal chances were missed by Whitechurch before the in form O’Callaghan struck 3 more points two from play and one from a free to open up a seven point lead. This was no game for the faint hearted as a physically tough but fair encounter was on hand. Whitechurch were up for the game and responded respectively and particularly on the score board and not letting Na Piarsaigh dominate. The Whitechurch full back line were strong with Paul O’Donovan dominating. The centre field combination of Seanie Murnane and Conor Kelleher was working very well with William Casey at centre forward on top. Whitechurch hit a further 3 popints before the break with Conor Kelleher pointing a free, William Casey from play and a well worked move saw Philip O’Connell set up O’Callaghan for his fifth of the half. Na Piarsaigh got on the score sheet with a goal in the 28th minute after a cross from the wing was deflected to the net by their corner forward. This left the half time score Whitechurch 0.10 – Na Piarsaigh 1.0
Despite playing against the breeze in the second half it was Whitechurch who opened the stronger with two well taken points from Philip O’Connell and William Casey before Na Piarsaigh pointed a free. John Drummy replaced Thomas Meade at wing back and immediately was involved in the action. Both sides swapped frees with O’Callaghan scoring for Whitechurch. Whitechurch at this stage were well on top and O’Callaghan hit 2 more from play to leave a 10 point margin. After 20 minutes of the second half John Hegarty replaced Ray Burke. Foir this Championship encounter we had a father and son combination. Whitechurch corner forward Ray Burke and goal keeper Dylan. I would guess it has been a while since a father and son combination appeared in a Championship match? Whitechurch never took the foot off the pedal and held their dominance throughout. Conor Kelleher fired over another free before Philip O’Connell hit his second point from play. Two further substitutions for Whitechurch followed before the end with Brian Cahill replacing Michael Meade and Damien Kenneally replacing Philip O’Connell. Na Piarsaigh goaled for the second time following a goal mouth scramble before John O’Callaghan completed the scoring hitting his nineth point of the evening to leave the score line Whitechurch 0.18 – Na Piarsaigh 2.02. This was a convincing gutsy win by the team and with a strong panel can too progress further in the Championship. The first hurdle has been completed successfully and injury free.