From Evening Echo on Saturday 17th August. This article does not tell the full story of the game. White’s Cross were totally dominant throughout and threw this one away. Passage did not really up their game. They openly admitted that we were by far the best team.
Passage are through to Round 3 of the AOS Security Seandún Junior A Hurling Championship, where they will meet St Vincent’s, following their dramatic last-gasp victory over White’s Cross in their opener, before a sizeable attendance at Ballinlough.
White’s Cross will meet Glen Rovers in Round 2.
The scoreline was reading 0-19 to 3-8 in favour of White’s Cross, when Niall McCarthy was credited with his fourth goal for Passage, following a melee in the White’s Cross square, with the game’s final action, a minute into stoppage time.
This game was dictated by the wind, as wayward shooting was to prove costly for Passage in the opening half, as they were restricted to four points in this period.
I n t h e s e c o n d h a l f , N i a l l McCarthy got a hat-trick of goals, which set the scene for a dramatic finish.
Eddie Coughlan opened the scoring with a pointed 65 after four minutes for White’s Cross, before Conor Coughlan equalised with the game’s first score from play.
White’s Cross tagged on three points, including a free by Eddie Coughlan, which was followed by a point from play for Passage by Niall McCarthy.
White’s Cross continued to have Passage on the back foot with three points without reply from play.
Passage responded with their f ir s t p o i n t e d f re e by Ci a n McCarthy. White’s Cross outscored Passage by 0-4 to 0-1 approaching the interval, as Eddie Coughlan converted two frees.
Conor Coughlan replied with his second point for Passage, as White’s Cross led 0-11 to 0-4 at halftime.
Passage raised their game for the second half as Niall McCarthy got goals in the 42nd and 49th minutes.
Both of these were scored from the edge of the White’s Cross square after he won possession from Passage puck-outs.
Five minutes from time, wayward puck-outs were to prove costly for White’s Cross as Cian McCarthy won possession from a White’s Cross puck-out.
He set up Niall McCarthy for his third goal for the edge of the edge of the White’s Cross square.
This moved Passage within two points of White’s Cross, to set the scene for a dramatic late winner.
Scorers for Passage: N McCarthy 4-2, Cian McCarthy 0-3 (0-2f, 0-1 65); C Coughlan 0-2; L Harrington 0-1.
White’s Cross: E Coughlan 0-11 (0-4f, 0-1 65); C Buckley, H Coughlan 0-3 each; J McElhinney 0-2.
Passage: A Long; N O’Connor, Cathal McCarthy, K Cuthbert; G Crowley, R Harrington, D McCarthy; R Carroll, D Barrett; J Kind, Cian McCarthy, T O’Neill; L Harrington, N McCarthy, C Coughlan. Sub: S Howard for L Harrington (30+, inj).
White’s Cross: S Cahill; D Murnane, D O’Sullivan, S Ryan; G Fleming M Kelleher, PJ O’Donovan; R Sherlock, H Coughlan; C Buckley, S Quinlan, E Coughlan; B Quain, J McElhinney, C Quinlan. Sub: S Whooley for C Quinlan (47). Referee: Cathal Egan (Glen Rovers).