The junior footballers got their second league victory in succession following a hard-fought win over a dogged, resistant St Nicks side. In truth White’s Cross dominated the game for large parts and threatened at times to move well ahead. On each occasion they moved a few points ahead, however, they were rocked by a Nicks goal. Each of those goals were scored by Nick’s full-forward and former Cork senior football panellist Robert Brosnan who was the outlet for all of the Nicks attacks.
White’s Cross started the brighter. Sean Murnane and Conor Buckley scored two points each from play with Ruairí Murnane adding one to leave their side winning 0-5 to 0-2 before St Nicks got their first goal from the penalty spot. The next quarter was almost identical. Billy O’Hara scored a fisted point and some well taken points from Kevin and Conor Buckley had White’s Cross ahead again on scoreline of 0-09 to 1-03. Once again Brosnan struck again, this time for 1-01 in succession, to put his side in front for the first time. Conor Buckley scored the last point of the half to level matters. All ten of White’s Cross scores had come from play in that half.
By contrast the start of the second half saw the White’s Cross reliant on a few early frees to retake the lead again: 0-12 to 2-04. Again St Nick’s and Robert Brosnan scored their third goal of the game with a well taken finish. A lesser team would have been flattened by such a hammer blow, however, White’s Cross, knowing they needed to win, settled again. Edwin Buckley got a free to level matters before Sean Murnane kicked a great score. Kevin Buckley did likewise a few minutes later after Nicks had equalised. Conor Buckley kicked another fine point to put two between the sides. Nicks pushed hard to get back into the game but couldn’t get another score. Tempers got a little frayed at the end and both sides lost players to red cards as the game drew to a close. White’s Cross managed to hand on for victory, however, and another two valuable league points secured.
Team: Conor Kelleher, Seán O’Gorman, Donncha Murnane, Richie Sherlock , Max Philpott, Robert McElhinney, Séamus Quinlan, Murt Kelleher, Kevin Buckley (0-2), Billy O’Hara (0-1), Conor Buckley (0-7), Edwin Buckley (0-2), Cathal Quinlan, Ruairí Murnane (0-1), Seán Murnane (0-3). Subs: John O’Connell for Donncha Murnane