From the Evening Echo September 2nd 2010
WHITE ’S CROSS remain on track for their third consecutive Silversprings Moran Hotel Junior A football championship following last night’s dogged semi-final win over Nemo Rangers at Ballinlough.
This was not for the faint-hearted but the champions, who had Denis O’Regan sent off for a second yellow-card offence in the 36th minute, dug deep to win this game.
It was evident from the throw-in that both teams were fired up and the Trabeg side got the better start.
Mark Hayes kicked a classy point in the third minute and six minutes later Nemo missed a glorios chance to raise a green flag. The experienced Joe Kavanagh caught a high ball before eluding his marker but with an open goal at his mercy his shot smashed against the crossbar.
The impressive Denis O’Regan eventually got White’s Cross motoring with a point in the 11th minute and two minutes later they were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Edwin Buckley but this time his shot was saved by Darren Farry.
Buckley was again in the thick of the action two minutes later but with a goal at his mercy he dragged his shot wide of the right post.
White’s Cross midfielder Murt Kelleher won little possession in the first half and with both teams trading points in the final quarter the game was finely poised at the interval.
The champions commanded a 0-06 to 0-05 lead and three minutes into the second half they punished their opponents with a goal of sheer quality. A sweeping three-man move saw Donncha Murnane receive the final pass as he rifled the ball to the back of the net.
The dismissal of O’Regan looked a harsh second yellow and four minutes later a class Kieran Weldon goal brought the minimum between the teams.
In the closing ten minutes White’s Cross kicked vital points as their determination got them over the finish line with Nemo’s insistence of turning the ball over coming back to haunt them.
White’s Cross: Bill Sheehan, Brian Murphy, James Cooney, John O’Connell, Donal Kelly, Eoin Murnane, Paddy O’Brien, Murt Kelleher, Denis O’Regan (0-02), Conor Buckley (0-02) , Kevin Buckley (0-01), Edwin Buckley (0 -04; 2 frees), Donncha Murnane (1-00), Ken O’Keeffe (0-01), Sean Keane
Subs Sean O’Gorman for P O’Brien (h/t injured) Dylan Burke for Sean Keane (41 mins) Stuart Kiely for Ken O’Keeffe (47 minutes) Paul O’Sullivan for Donncha Murnane (40 minutes)
Nemo Rangers Darren Farry, L McCarthy, Mick Daly, Kevin Fulignati, I Foley, S Martin, D Murphy, J Brennan, Mark Hayes (0-01), E Dilloughrey (0-01), Garry Murphy, Luke Connolly (0-01), Kieran Weldon (1-00), Joe Kavanagh (0-04 frees) JohnPaul O’Neill
Subs: P Hogan for J Brennan (30), S O’Callaghan for I Foley (55) Paul Hogan for E Dilloughrey