A blistering start helped our Junior A team to victory in Ballinlough against Passage in the first round of the Junior A Football Championship. Two points by full-forward Conor Kelleher in the first two minutes set us on the way. Kelleher then added another point after Passage got off the mark. Conor Buckley and John Drummy put White’s Cross 0-5 to 0-1 up. Passage then added another point before a goal from Damian Kenneally and points from Donncha Murnane and Buckley put White’s Cross into a good position. Then the green flag was waved twice more as Kelleher found the net followed by another goal from Kenneally. Damian’s brother Jonathan and wing-forward Rick Burke were instrumental in setting up each of these three goals. This gave White’s Cross a 3-7 to 0-2 lead. But then a succession of wides from White’s Cross followed which gave Passage the chance to close the gap and they did by scoring a goal and two points before half time to leave the score at 3-7 to 1-4.
Three points from Passage put them back in a good position and if it wasn’t for a great penalty save from White’s Cross keeper Billy Sheahen the gap would have been a lot closer. Then Passage scored a goal and point, while two Murt Kelleher points and another from Murnane put the score at 3-10 to 2-8. Another point from Murt Kelleher and then Drummy and one last point from Passage left the score at 3-12 to 2-9. White’s Cross now have the third round to look forward to and a clash with Bishopstown, which is fixed for Thursday, July 2nd in Ballinlough, with a 7:30 throw-in.
Team:Billy Sheahan, Sean Murnane, John O Connell, Paul Finnegan, Barry O Brien, Eoin Murnane, John Meade, Murt Kelleher(0-2), John Drummy(0-2), Rickie Burke, Conor Buckley(0-2), Donncha Murnane(0-3), Damian Kenneally(2-0), Conor Kelleher(1-3), Jonathan Kenneally