White’s Cross junior hurlers got their 2025 league campaign off to a winning start at a relatively warm (for time of year) and sunny Bishopstown venue. It was the home side that did most of the early running. Their lively center-forward scored two points in quick succession in the third minute and they added another from a close-in free in the eigth minute. The only goal of the game came in the 14th minute when they scored from close-range giving keeper Shane Cahill no chance. In truth only for Cahill, the commanding Dan O’Sullivan at full-bak and corners backs Max Philpott and Senan Ryan in front of him, the home side could have been much further ahead. The turned over the ball several times but were under significant pressure as we were unable to make it stick at the other end.
Our first score came in the form of a Conor Buckley free after 19 minutes. He would add two more points from placed ball – one of these as a result of a puck-out infringment from the home goalkeeper. The only score from play for White’s Cross came from Conor Docherty after superb work from Seamus Quinlan to set him up. At half time we trailed 1-04 to 0-04. Given the opening 20 minutes, this was satisfactory.
Play with the aid of a stiff breeze in the second half, we would have fancied our chances to come back into the game. Initially though we made hard work of this; with efforts falling short or going for goals when points were on. When Harry Coughlan got the first of his points in the 15th minute , it was to bring the gap back to what it was at half time. The score read 1-06 to 0-06. The last quarter though saw things click a bit better and the scores eventually came with Aidan O’Neill, John McElhinney, Harry Coughlan and Conor Buckley all getting points from play. We did have to withstand a late rally and late close in free from the the ‘Towb but it was dealt with relatively comfortably and we held on for a deserved win.
Team
1 – Shane Cahill
2 – Senan Ryan
3 – Dan O’Sullivan
4 – Max Philpott
5 – Tom Casey
6 – Gearoid Fleming
7 – Seamus Quinlan
8 – Aidan Docherty
9 – Aidan O’Neill (0-01)
10 – Patrick Harrington
11 – John McElhinney (0-01)
12 – Conor Docherty (0-01)
13 – Seamus Reid
14 – Conor Buckley (0-08, 0-05 frees/65s)
15 – Adam Dunne
SUBS:
off: Adam Dunne on: Harry Coughlan (0-02)
off: Richie Sherlock on: Conor Docherty