White’s Cross Club GAA made further history recently when the Club played its first football game outside the country.  They played an intermediate football side in London, named Tomás MacCurtains.  The trip was organised as part of the 50^th anniversary celebrations and included a two night stay in east-London.  White’s Cross settled early into their strange surroundings and stung the MacCurtain side early on with some well-worked scores from Brian O’ Sullivan, Kevin Buckley and Conor Kelleher.

The sole reply early-on from the London side was a point from former White’s Cross player Anthony Kelleher, who had the distinction of captaining his new club against his former in this fixture!  White’s Cross continued to pile on the pressure and with John O’ Connell, Robert O’ Brien and Eoin Murnane in total command in defence, White’s Cross dictated the game.  There were further scores before the break from Paul O’ Sullivan, Conor and Edwin Buckley.

MacCurtain’s, who were playing their first football game of the year, improved considerably for the second half.  However veteran keeper Laurence Burke ensured that they would make no big dents into the White’s Cross lead by keeping a clean sheet in terms of goals conceded.  The game drew to its inevitable close allowing the 26 member White’s Cross touring party plenty reason to celebrate!  White’s Cross GAA thanks the Tomás MacCurtain Club for their hospitality and in particular Anthony Kelleher for his assistance in organising the trip.

Members of White’s Cross GAA Club returned to school when they re-visited Upper Glanmire National School recently, with the four cups won by the adult teams in 2006. Obviously White’s Cross GAA and Upper Glanmire National School have always had close links, with the School being the primary feeder of players for our teams and we are very grateful to the teachers at the School for the part they play in this development.  More than twenty of the players involved in our two Junior teams in 2006 are past pupils of Upper Glanmire NS:

UGNS indicates that the player is a past pupil of Upper Glanmire NS

JUNIOR A CHAMPIONS: Eoin Murnane(UGNS) , Conor Kelleher (UGNS), Damian Kenneally, Paul O’ Sullivan, Bryan O’ Sullivan, Billy Sheahan, Murt Kelleher (Captain) (UGNS), Conor Buckley, Paul Finnegan, Kevin Buckley, Rick Burke (UGNS), Martin Kelleher (UGNS)  . Sean  Murnane (UGNS), John O’ Connell, Donal Kelly, John Drummy (UGNS), Sean Gorman, Victor O’ Sullivan, Edwin Buckley (UGNS), Jonathan Kenneally, John Meade (UGNS), Breandain Murnane (UGNS), Donnacha Murnane (UGNS), Pat Hennessy, Pat O’ Driscoll. 

Coach: Finbarr Kiely Selectors: Richard Kelleher (UGNS)  & TC Buckley.

JUNIOR B FINALISTS: Aidan Harte (UGNS) , Derek O Connor (UGNS), Padraig Murnane (Captain) (UGNS), Brian Humphreys, Brian Murphy (UGNS), John Hegarty , Sean Murnane (UGNS), William Casey, Breandáin Murnane (UGNS), Roy O Driscoll, Eoghan Kelleher (UGNS), Thomas Meade (UGNS), Damian Kenneally, Alfie McEvoy (UGNS), Philip O’ Connell, Paul Noonan (UGNS), Dave Buckley, Robert O Brien, Colm Sheahan, Paul O Donovan (UGNS), Colin Lawless, Paul Morly (UGNS), Jason Kelly, Don O Regan, Patrick Casey.

To parents in our locality, we would ask you to encourage your child(ren) to play with our local GAA Club – quite simply and very obviously we cannot survive without a proper under-age structure.  Today, with the increasing numbers of families moving into our area, we recognise the importance of organisations such as our own in the community of Upper Glannmire.  We are very keen to continue to work with the youth in the area.  The ideal in this respect would be to provide games and competitions for these youngsters at their age.