White’s Cross were crowned junior hurling county champions in dramatic circumstances following a nail-biting clash against O’Donovan Rossa on Friday night last. Following a similar pattern to earlier round games against Belgooly, Lough Rovers, Rathpeacon (drawn match) the large, vociferous contingent supporting the eventual winners endured frayed nerves as the team left very late to get the important scores.

White’s Cross were the better team in this game, however. This victory was deserved. Skibbereen did open the scoring in the first minute when Kevin Crowley, full-forward, converted a free. White’s Cross responded shortly afterwards with a fine point by Conor Buckley to level the match. White’s Cross played much the better hurling in the first thirty minutes and created far more scoring opportunities. Donncha Murnane was outstanding in the middle of the field and he was rewarded with a fine score and was instrumental in setting up some of the other scores for Conor Buckley who got a mixture from frees and from play. Their dominance was not reflected in the half time score, however, as the Skibbereen side were level. Some indiscipline on the part of White’s Cross plus the awarding of some dubious frees was punished on each and every occasion by Rossa. The long-distance free-taking by goal-keeper Alan Foley was a feature of the game. He converted five frees from 70 plus yards in the first half -alone with his sides only other scores coming from Kevin Crowley frees. Each free was almost a double blow to White’s Cross lads as it not only punished any indiscretion but also allowed O’Donovan Rossa slow down a game and disrupt a dominant performance from their opponents. This tactic worked as despite playing second fiddle, the sides went in at half time drawing on a scoreline of 0-07 points each.

Conor Buckley got the opening score of the second half to put White’s Cross a point to the good. O’Donovan Rossa are a good and experience side, however, having won this competition in 2013. It was inevitable that they were always going to have a period of dominance. Some astute changes by their sideline began to pay dividends. Derek O’Connor and Pádraig Murnane, the White’s Cross corner backs, who in the first half dealt comfortably with anything that came their way were presented with new challenges in the form of pacy substitutes Michael O’Donovan and Pádraig Paison. Rob Long began to have a bigger influence in the game as he moved to wing forward. He managed to get his side’s first point from play which was quickly followed by another from play. Keeper Alan Foley, who is also a selector on the side, put over another two massive frees and by the 48th minute it was the men from the west that were on course for victory. White’s Cross are an experience side, however, and they kept their composure.

The introduction of substitute Cormac O’Flynn had a big bearing of the game. He won a great ball over by the side-line and won a crucial free which Conor Buckley duly converted to leave two points between the sides. This was the turning point as you would have felt that had they fallen four points behind at that stage, it might have been too much. The introduction of another substitute also had a major impact. Fiachra O’Connell slotted into his customary wing back position and saw a plenty of ball. That move allowed experienced centre back move into to the full-forward line where he quickly made his presence felt. His point reduced the deficit to one with three minutes remaining and suddenly the believe soared in his team. Driven on by their 16th man in the stands, White’s Cross attacked O’Donovan Rossa with savage ferocity in the dying moments. Such intensity was bound to reach dividends and so it proved. Conor Buckley equalised after he was fouled while running at them. He converted the free. The sides were level. The momentum was with White’s Cross now for sure. The fourth official indicated four minutes of injury time. White’s Cross continued to attack and such pressure lead to another free being awarded. Conor Buckley, who has been outstanding in this and every game, stood over a free 60 metres from goal. This was the most pressurised free he has ever taken. He was typically composed and the free was converted to great excitement. There was one more play in the game but the winners were not letting this one slip. There were scenes of unbridled joy at the end as White’s Cross supporters celebrated with newly crowned county champions.

Kevin Buckley, the team’s inspirational captain who has battled for years in the green and white, gave a great speech outlining how much the victory meant to him, his team and his club. He remembred how to defeat to Killavullen in last year’s final drove them on for this year and would hopefully do the same for O’Donovan Rossa. To lose a county final is such circumstances is tough but no doubt they will return next year.

White’s Cross: Shane Cahill, Derek O’Connor, John O’Connell, Pádraig Murnane,Breandán Murnane, Murt Kelleher (0-01), James Cooney, Robert McElhinney, Donncha Murnane (0-01) , Richie Sherlock, Eoin Murnane, Conor Buckley (0-10 – 0-06 frees), Sean Murnane, Kevin Buckley, Edwin Buckley. Subs: Cormac O’Flynn for Richie Sherlock, Fergal Reid for Edwin Buckley, Fiachra O’Connell for Sean Murnane

O’Donovan Rossa: Alan Foley (0-07 frees), Niall McCarthy, Colm Crowley, Shane Crowley, Shane Carthy, Dan Kingston, Colin Long, Mark O’Driscoll, Alan Keane, Steve Cotter, Kevin Cotter, Jack O’Driscoll, Rob Long (0-01), Kevin Crowley (0-02 frees), Daniel Breen. Subs: Michael O’Donovan, Pádraig Paison (0-01)