Both White’s Cross Junior Football sides finally re-entered the championship arena again after long lay-offs, since early round victories for both sides during April. The Junior A side, who defeated Rathpeacon in their opening round encounter, were next pitted against St. Michaels in a third round clash. White’s Cross emerged victorious from this tussle with the lads from Blackrock on a 1:14 to 2:4 score-line. This set them up for a quarter final clash with Na Piarsaigh. These northside rivals had beaten White’s Cross in the 2005 Final, while we avenged somewhat that defeat at the semi-final stage on route to our maiden championship crown in 2006.
The latest clash was set alight by a powerful early goal by White’s Cross corner-forward Paul O’ Sullivan, who scored superbly after some quick thinking by the hard-working Edwin Buckley. Buckley, after being fouled played a quick free inside to Conor Kelleher who hand-passed the ball to the on-running O’ Sullivan, and he placed it expertly into the corner of the Piarsaigh net. The goal set up the Cross very nicely and a succession of points saw us lead at the short whistle 1:7 to 0:3.
Another well-placed ball from Buckley after 41 minutes, this time to Stuart Kiely put the tie beyond doubt, as Kiely goaled again for White’s Cross. However the plaudits for this win must be attributed to a very hard-working defence. Goal-keeper Billy Sheahan pulled off two excellent saves during the second-half, while John O Connell was always in control at full-back. Outside him, Eoin Murnane held the centre, while Donal Kelly and John Meade always worked hard. The midfielders John Drummy and Paddy O Brien must also be praised for their excellent work-rate up-and-down the field.
In the end White’s Cross won out on a 2:9 to 0:7 score-line, to set themselves up for a semi-final pairing with Douglas. Nemo Rangers await the winners in the final, having come through from the other side of the draw.