The under 12 footballers enjoyed a resounding victory over Brian Dillons in this football league semi-final. White’s Cross, as a result of topping the table, enjoyed home advantage. A big crowd turned up expecting a tough battle given previous meetings between the sides. However, once Bobby O’Riordan scored his side’s first goal after three minutes, the winners never looked back. The next 10 minutes saw White’s Cross miss a host of chances while the physically imposing Dillons tried to get on the scoresheet. James Buckley pulled of one fine save in the White’s Cross goal which was cleared by Aidan Docherty. In truth though, Dillons struggled to get the ball into their full-forwards at any point throughout the game as Michael Mullins and Oisín O’Connell in the half back line were out first to everything and cleared ball after ball. Often when a team puts up a big score, one automatically assumes it was the forwards were the stars of the show. While the forwards were very good, Mullins and O’Connell were crucial to this win as they had a hand in setting up the moves that lead to most White’s Cross scores.

When the forwards did start to find their range, the scores came in quick succession. Bobby Riordan added to his tally and this was accompanied by fine scores from Seán Delaney and Luke Mullins. Ronan Healy who had a great game in midfield all through soloed through the heart of the Dillons defence to bury a rocket into the bottom corner of the net to give the home side a commanding lead shortly before the half way mark. While just after, and with the last kick of the half, Mark O’Keeffe put over the point of the game with a shot from out on the wing. This left the score at 2-06 to 0-02.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first. Liam O’Connor, whose interplay with Sean Delaney at centre forward was a feature of the game, kicked three points in succession. Shane Buckley added a goal that his performance deserved while Bobby O’Riordan scored his second of the game. As the game petered out, White’s Cross’ coaches changed the team around. Eoghan Murnane, Oscar O’Connell, David Morley, Charlie O’Callaghan and Cathal Brother all came on to stake their claim for a starting position in the final. A feature of this group is the strength of the panel and players can change around positions with weakening the team or lowering the performance. This will hopefully to stand to them in the final.

Team James Buckley, Aidan Docherty, Evan Quaine, Michael Mullins, Oisin O’Connell, Mark O’Keeffe, Ronan Healy, Liam O’Connor, Bobby O’Riordan, Sean Delaney, Caolan Garde, Luke Mullins, Shane Buckley subs: Eoghan Murnane, Oscar O’Connell, David Morley, Charlie O’Callaghan and Cathal Brother