THIS will count as one of the shocks of the season as Na Piarsaigh defeated White’s Cross in a pulsating SilverSprings Moran Hotel JAFC quarter-final at Ballinlough
Indeed, we witnessed what could be goal of the season deep into added time when Gavin McCarthy billowed the back of the net with a shot that any professional football player in the world would have been proud of.
Although the plaudits will rightfully go to the Farranree outfit, one must a tinge of sadness for the losers.
Having not played a championship game for 14 weeks, evident they were a bit ring-rusty while Na Piarsaigh had battled 220 minutes before eliminating Nemo Rangers in the third round.
It was evident that White’s Cross were not firing on all cylinders as their scoring ratio saw them go 25 minutes between two points in the first half. began striking points at will and in
With Alan Hogan and Gavin McCarthy posing their defence all sorts of problems, Na Piarsaigh deservedly led 0-5 to 0-2 in the 22nd minute.
Indeed, White’s Cross were fortunate to go in at the break level as Murt Kelleher punished poor Na Piarsaigh defending to drill the ball to the net from close range.
No doubt the champions needed inspiration but once again it took them 14 minutes to score a point on the restart.
Indeed both teams were struggling on the scoring front before two Colin Lynch points settled Na Piarsaigh into stride.
With game hanging in the balance the Na Piarsaigh substitute Mathew Broderick scored a crucial goal in the 55th minute.
White’s Cross to their credit kept pushing forward but when Na Piarsaigh broke out of defence in added time McCarthy that will certainly go down as goal of the season at City Headquarters.
Fortune does not always favour the brave but on this occasion Na Piarsaigh’s do-or die attitude was enough to topple the champions.
White’s Cross. Billy Sheehan, John O’Connell, James Cooney, Sean O’Gorman, Brian Murphy, Eoin Murnane , Paddy O’Brien, Murt Kelleher (1-00), Cian Smith, Dylan Burke,Conor Buckley, Edwin Buckley (0-03, 1 free), Donncha Murnane, Kevin Buckley, Sean Keane (0-02 1 free)
Subs: P O’Sullivan for D Burke (ht) S Murnane (0-01) for D Murnane (44) K Fennessy for J Cooney (55) D Murnane for S Keane (58)
Na Piarsaigh: S Hurley, D Leahy, E McCarthy, I McCarthy, C Buckley, S Hegarty, RCondon, T Lawton, G McCarthy (1-04, 3 frees), J Coker, L Cunningham, A Hogan (0-04, 2 frees), K Butterworth, C Lynch (0-02, L Connery.
Subs: J Condon for R Curtin (36) M Broderick (1-00) for L Connery (50) M Clifford for J Curtin (57)