An understrength White’s Cross team went under by 10 points in this Junior 4 league tie played at The Green. The writing was on the wall early as Ballyphehane scored a goal and a point in the opening two minutes. However, the scores came take and fast and White’s Cross added three points in as many minutes with Edwin Buckley, Jordan Bransfield and Luke Mullins getting three fine scores from play.
Fionnan Quinlan then dispossessed his opponent in front of goal and finished to put the visitors in front on a score of 1-03 to 1-01. Ballyphehane equalised but Edwin Buckley added two more points, including one notable effort from a sideline, to leave us 1-05 to 1-03 ahead on 21 minutes This was as good as it got for the Cross and the home side began to take control. The scored a goal and a few point to lead at half time on a score of 2-06 to 1-06.
The opening 20 minutes belonged to the Hane as well and with former professional soccer player Ethan Varian and Danny Kiely (grandson of former White’s Cross coach Finbarr Kiely) running the show for them they added two more goals and tacked on several points. Points from Adam Dunne and and Edwin Buckley did little to stem the tide.
To our lads credit though, they never stopped trying. Brendan Quain capped a fine personal second half performance when he scored a fine goal late on. This put some respectability on the scoreline. However, 2 – 10 is still a vey good score on our opening day. We have a lot of injuries at the moment and in the coming weeks if these can clear up, we will have strength in numbers. Credit though to the 14 players that togged out today. They battled away until the end.
Team – 13 a side game
1 – Murt Kelleher
3 – Derek O’Connor
4 – Evan Quain
5 – Brendan Quain (1-00)
6 – Ronan Quain
7 – Sean O’Donnell
8 – Luke Mullins (0-01)
9 – Michael Mullins
10 – Jordan Bransfield (0-01)
11 – Edwin Buckley (0-07, 2 frees)
12 – Adam Dunne (0-01)
13 – James Buckley
14 – Fionnan Quinlan (1-00)
SUB USED – Adam Bransfield