Lar Burke and Jonathan Kenneally, buoyed by the availability of two members of the JA squad Brendáin Murnane and John O Connell, were still going to be up against it versus a Barrs side intent on attaining revenge for their loss to the Cross in the 2011 equivalent round. 

The 15 that took to the field for this encounter showed a real mix of youth and experience, with 4 members making their junior football championship debuts, something that 4 others of the 15 would have done 20 years and more ago! 

Here the ‘novices’ acquitted themselves very well again, with Martin Reid, Conal Smith, Niall Twomey and Shane Cahill all instrumental in a titanic performance from the second White’s Cross fifteen.

Indeed another young man making a first junior championship appearance for the Cross, John McElhinney, despite carrying a knee injury which prevented him from starting, played a key role in seeing out a great 2-08 to 1-06 win, when he was introduced for the last 15 minutes.

Team:

Don O Regan
Richie Sherlock (Captain),
Martin Kelleher,
Niall Twomey
Padraig Murnane
John O Connell,
Martin Reid,
Paul Cashman
Brendáin Murnane
Conal Smith,
Alfie McEvoy
Derek O Connor
Conor Kelleher (1-8)
Shane Cahill (1-0)
Damien Murphy.

Subs: Colin Lawless for B Murnane (injured) 44 mins
John McElhinney for Twomey 47 mins.