On a night when conditions were not the easiest to play in captain Sean Kelly opted to play with the wind at their backs and this proved to be a key move. Almost immediately from the throw in the Whites Cross boys got on the scoreboard with a well worked point from the aforementioned Kelly. This settled the lads down instantly and was followed up with a well taken score from Jordan Brandsfield playing in the full forward line. For the next five minutes it was even between the two teams and scores were hard to come by. That is until a long ball was delivered to the edge of the square where full forward Harry Fitzgerald broke the ball and Cathal O Flynn was on hand to bury the ball neatly into the net at the first time of asking. The Ballinora team replied with a pointed score and reminded the Whites Cross team that they were not going to give up too easily. At the interval Whites Cross led 1-5 to 0-2. A special mention has to go to the defence and in particular Adam Kent and Tom Casey.
The second period was going to be that bit tougher than the first as the Ballinora team were aided with the wind. Goalkeeper Cathal Quinlan organised his defence well and made sure any score for the opposition was hard to come by. Gavin Cronin who worked very well throughout at centre forward was forced off with a hand injury and was replaced by Luke Murphy who had a great game keeping the pressure on the Ballinora rear-guard. Ballinora slowly came back into the game with ten minutes gone in the second half. They had a goal and point without reply and closed the gap to just two points between the teams.
The lads showed great character through the likes of Sadiq Baker, Daniel O Hara and Peter Twomey – they kept on working the ball up field to give our attack every chance of stretching the narrow lead and this paid off with another point from Sean Kelly. Players were beginning to tire and the introduction of youngsters Conor Docherty and Fionn Hickey made a massive contribution to the team and gave them renewed energy. The latter was causing havoc in the Ballinora goal mouth and was very unlucky not to come away with two goals after some fantastic play from this duo. As the game was drawing to a close Ballinora again narrowed the gap to just two points with a well worked score. But the White’s Cross lads ensured they were going to have the last say with points from our lively wing forwards Jack Stuart and Cathal O Flynn. It ended on a score line of 1-9 to 1-5 and full credit must go to the Whites Cross lads on a magnificent and workman-like display with a well-deserved victory.