White’s Cross opened their City Division Junior 1 Football League campaign with a hard-fought and encouraging victory over St. Michael’s in blustery conditions at the St. Michael’s pitches in Mahon on Sunday afternoon. It marked the first competitive outing under the new management team of John Paul Cotter, Edwin Buckley and Tadgh Lyons, and the squad responded with a determined performance to get their season off to a winning start.
Playing against a strong wind in the opening half, White’s Cross had to weather early pressure as St. Michael’s struck the first scores, with Adam Hennessy influential from placed balls. The Cross gradually settled into the contest through strong work rate around the middle third, with Dylan Burke, Eddie Coughlan and Ruairí Quinlan prominent in winning turnovers and breaking up attacks. Scores from Conor Docherty, Luke Kelleher and Conor Buckley kept the visitors in touch, but a St. Michael’s goal midway through the half left the home side narrowly ahead at the break.
With the elements in their favour after halftime, White’s Cross emerged with renewed intensity. Management introduced fresh legs early in the second half in the form of Killian Ryan and Donncha Murnane, and the impact was immediate as the visitors began to dominate possession. Buckley proved reliable from frees and open play, while sustained pressure was rewarded when Seán Delaney finished confidently to the net after the home-side’s keeper made one of his many super saves to deny Conor Docherty’s initial effort. This goal swung the momentum decisively.
White’s Cross continued to push forward, with Delaney adding an excellent two-pointer from play and Buckley contributing further scores, including a two-point free. Work rate across the pitch remained high, with Chris Dunne, Donncha Murnane and Séamus Quinlan all contributing key turnovers as White’s Cross controlled large spells of the second period.
St. Michael’s responded with scores after White’s Cross were guilty on two occasions for breaching the three-up rule. To his credit, referee Trevor Lyons, was very consistent on his implementation and interpretation of the new playing rules. White’s Cross would also benefit from 50-meter penalties for similar infractions from the home side. A late goal from the Blackrock side drew the sides level, but White’s Cross showed composure in the closing stages. Accurate free-taking from Conor Buckley helped maintain the advantage before the final whistle confirmed a deserved victory on a full-time scoreline of 1-14 to 2-09.
White’s Cross
1 – Rory Teehan
2 – Chris Dunne
3 – Dylan Burke
4 – Senan Ryan
5 – Stephen Whooley
6 – Seamus Quinlan
7 – Ruairi Quinlan
8 – Cathal Quinlan
9 – Eddie Coughlan
10 – Bobby O’Riordan
11 – Conor Buckley (0-09, 4 frees {1 Tpt})
12 – Luke Kelleher (0-01)
13 – Sean Delaney (1-02, 1 Tpt)
14 – John McElhinney
15 – Conor Docherty (0-02)
SUBS:
off: Cathal Quinlan on: Killian Ryan
off: Luke Kelleher on: Donncha Murnane
off: Bobby O’Riordan on: Ronan Healy
off: Chris Dunne on: Luke Murphy
off: Conor Docherty on: Luke Mullins
off: John McElhinney on: Brendan Quain
St Michael’s
Aaron Giltinan
Adam Hennessy
Aidan O’Brien
Brian Holland
Jack Lenihan
Jack O’Sullivan
James Dineen
Luke Fogarty
Mark Drummond
Paddy Quill
Pat Doyle
Scott O’Sullivan
Liam O’Sullivan
David Hogan
Ross Coleman