The date of this championship clash caused huge headaches for the selector’s of the White’s Cross second team, as five of the panel were abroad on holidays.  With six players who had been part of the panel for the previous outing against St Nicks now ineligible as they played A championship in the interim, it was a big ask of this side to overcome Ballinure, essentially minus twelve players (Patrick Casey had a broken finger) who had been part of the quarter-final triumph.

However there is a great spirit in this second side and they put in a scintillating performance at Ballinlough, against all the odds.  From goal-keeper Aidan Harte, in for his first championship outing of 2006, to number 15 Damian Kenneally who caused havoc in the Nure defence, all worked diligently for the full 60 minutes.  Captain Padraig Murnane, flanked in the full-back line by Thomas Meade and Derek O Connor ensured that Ballinure’s long ball tactic proved futile.

William Casey and Breandáin Murnane dominated midfield from the off and worked ball intelligently through to the Cross forwards, where Eoghan Kelleher and Damian Kenneally pegged on early points.  Kenneally’s surging runs through the Ballinure defence paid off with a goal after 20 minutes. 

In the second period half-backs Brian Humphreys and Roy O Driscoll continued to pump in balls to the forward division where Philip O Connell also got in on the scoring act.  Kelleher continued to add to his tally, amassing 6 points from his centre-forward berth.  Half-time substitute Jason Kelly, who replaced the injured Dave Buckley, worked tirelessly as Buckley had done in the first, to win much of the breaking ball in the middle-of-the-field.

All-in-all it was a great performance and the mentors now find themselves with a fresh headache for the final against Nemo Rangers – where to make room for Colin Lawless, Seanie Murnane, Brian Murphy, Pat Casey, Paul Morley and Don O Regan…!