This was the first game back for the junior A footballers after their agonising one point defeat to St. Michaels in the championship. With three games remaining in the league, the team knows that they must win all three games to qualify for the knock-out league semi-final stage. Effectively each game will be championship like in importance as the league offers the only chance to collect silverware this season. In this game, White’s Cross played with the aid of a stiff win but it was Bishopstown that got the opening score of the night. White’s Cross equalised with a fine Murt Kelleher effort from 35 yards. Conor Buckley got the next few scores through a mixture of frees and from play. On each occasion, however, it was cancelled by Bishopstown point. With twenty minutes of the first half played, White’s Cross had not really made any use of their wind advantage and only lead on a scoreline of 0-05 to 0-04. They were then hit for two hammer blows in the form of Bishopstown majors. They were two very soft goals to give away and the backs will have been extremely disappointed that they did not clear their lines when several opportunities presented themselves to do so. To be fair, however, the team can be thankful to Conor Kelleher, in goal, who pulled off a superb save prior to the first goal. Trailing by only five points, instead of a potential eight, was more manageable. Two points before half time, again from Conor Buckley, narrowed the gap to three points.
Half time came at the perfect time for the lads to regroup. The team came out fighting after half time. A great run by Billy O’Hara through the heart of the opposition defence set up Kevin Buckley for a morale boosting point. The side rallied, Conor Buckley, who scored nine points on the evening, kicked the next three points with one returned by Bishopstown. The sides were level at the midway point of the second half on a scoreline of 0-11 to 2-05. The next score was the crucial score. Another run at the defence, a feature of the game, by the outstanding Billy O’Hara set up Ruairí Murnane who calmly rounded the goalkeeper to slot home the most composed of finishes. Now leading, and playing much better, a bit of complacency set in and Bishopstown got the next three points to bring the sides level again. White’s Cross were determined to win it, however. Yet another foraging run by Billy O’Hara saw him finish the move himself for the first time. With a goal a possibility, he sensibly opted to fist over a point to put his side into the lead. Richie Sherlock was in a similar position a minute later and he chose the fisted-point option to put his side two points to the good. These scores were decisive. The last few minutes were nervous and sound of the final whistle was to the relief of the White’s Cross team, management and supporters.
Team: Conor Kelleher, Seán O’Gorman, John O’Connell, Gearóid Fleming, Max Philpott, Robert McElhinney, Séamus Quinlan, Murt Kelleher (0-1), Kevin Buckley (0-1), Billy O’Hara (0-1), Conor Buckley (0-9), Richie Sherlock (0-1), Niall Twomey, Ruairí Murnane (1-0), John Gaffney.
Subs: Aidan O’Neill for Niall Twomey, Cathal Quinlan for John Gaffney, Seán Murnane for Ruairí Murnane, Michael Osborne for Conor Buckley.