White’s Cross emerged victorious in this quarter final of the Flor McCarthy Cup when they travelled to Rochestown on Wednesday night last to play the local team. It was a damp foggy evening throughout. Despite this, both of these sides played some good football. Rochestown corner forward Jason Walsh opened the scoring for them with a point from play in the fifth minute. Conor Docherty equalised with a pointed free in the tenth minute to leave the score level at a point-a-piece after a low-scoring opening ten minutes. Ronan Healy, one of many returning Leaving Cert players to the panel, scored two points in as many minutes from the 13th minute; one from his left and one from his right.
The next ten minutes belonged to the home-side though. The aforementioned Jason Walsh and center-forward Denis Dullea caused many problems for the White’s Cross backs and they rattled off five pointes in succession to lead by three. Jordan Bransfield kicked a fine point on the 25th minute to reduce the gap to two.
Just before half time, White’s Cross were dealt a blow when corner Ronan Quain, who was having a great game up to then, was shown a black card; which looked a little dubious. Still, this was the referee’s decision. Shortly after half-time, the other two members of the full-back line, Derek O’Connor and Ethan Ryan, both picked up injuries. This disjointed period saw us fall a further two points behind. However, after we rejigged the team a number of times and Ronan Quain came back on, things began to settle.
A fortuitous goal from a Conor Docherty started the resurgence and from there to the end the game belonged to the visitors. The two Mullins brothers, Luke and Michael, were outstanding around the middle and along with energy shown by substitutes Oscar O’Connell and Riain Harden epitomised the work rate and application of the White’s Cross players.
After Docherty’s goal, quick fire points from Adam Dunne, and two more from Ronan Healy (who was now back in the forwards following a stint at corner back) put the away side firmly in the driving seat. Then Rochestown got a fortuitous goal of their own. Goalkeeper Murt Kelleher came well of his line to clear a ball but was just beaten by Rochestown’s key man, Jason Walsh, who shot from a very tight angle and the greasy ball slid under diving Evan Quain who was trying to clear off the line.
White’s Cross were not deterred by this set back, however and a points from Riain Harden and Ronan Healy put them back in front. Healy then got the crucial score of the game when he palmed the ball into the net following a great team move involving Sean Twomey, the Mullins brothers and Stephen Whooley. Stephen Whooley was making his comeback and played his first 15 minutes of football since an opening day league tie against Ballyphehane in March. He was on hand then to score the third and final game which set the team up for a semi-final against Ballinure.
LINE-UPS
White’s Cross
1 – Murt Kelleher
2 – Ethan Ryan
3 – Derek O’Connor
4 – Ronan Quaine
5 – Sean Twomey
6 – Dan O’Sullivan
7 – Michael Mullins
8 – Rob Docherty
9 – Luke Mullins
10 – James McCarthy
11 – Conor Docherty (1-02, 1-01 from frees)
12 – Ronan Healy (1-05)
13 – Evan Quain
14 – Jordan Bransfield (0-01)
15 – Adam Dunne (0-01)
SUBS USED: Riain Harden (0-01), Stephen Whooley (1-01), Oscar O’Connell
Rochestown
1 – Cian O’Connor
2 – Eoin O’Sullivan
3 – Ryan Feeney
4 – David Sheehan
5 – Darragh O’Shea
6 – Ger Scannell
7 – Anthony McHugh
8 – Ian McAuliffe
9 – Paul Hartnett
10 – Michael O Riordan
11 – Denis Dullea
12 –Dylan Byrne
13 – Jason Walsh
14 – Eoin Daly
15 – Sean O’Sullivan