White’s Cross and Brian Dillons will have to do it all again as there was no separating the sides in a thrilling City Division junior A football championship in Ballinlough on Saturday night. In a topsy-turvy encounter throughout that saw the sides trade the lead on a number of occasions. It looked like a strong second half performance would propel Brian Dillons to victory as they edged two points in front entering the final minutes.

However, White’s Cross showed their excellent character to come back and level the tie. Edwin Buckley pointed a late free before the excellent Conor Buckley kicked a superb score from a difficult angle with the final kick of the game to ensure a second day out.

White’s Cross will wonder why they did not win this game as at times they held a commanding lead at the break 2-04 to 0-04  at half-time before extending their advantage to eight shortly after the break thanks to Kevin Buckley’s goal; 3-04 to 0-05.

They struggled to gain a foothold for the remainder of the half though as Dillons stormed into the game through Cillian Brosnan, Darren McGrath and Darragh Rodgers.

They struck 2-04 without reply, Dave Cremin and substitute Barry Triggs providing the goals to complete a 10 point swing. Dillons had started well with the opening two points bit it was White’s Cross who dictated the opening period as an Edwin Buckley free went all the way to the net before Conor Buckley finished off a superb team move to help their side into a six-point lead.

This wasn’t enough for them, however, as they were reeled in by Dillons but in the end they rallied late on to secure a well deserved draw.

White’s Cross: Michael Osborne, Eoin Murnane, Cian Smith, Cormac Manning,  Martin Reid, Kevin Buckley (1-01), Sean Scanlon,  Conor Buckley (1-02), Dylan Burke,  Donncha Murnane, Edwin Buckley (1-01 all frees), Paul O’Sullivan (0-01),  Breandan Murnane, Murt Kelleher, Bryan O’Sullivan (0 -01). Subs: Sean O’ Gorman for D. Burke (6 mins -injured) Sean Murnane for P O’Sullivan (36 minutes injured)

Brian Dillons: J Kirby, E Hussey, C Daly, M Noonan, A Murphy, C Brosnan (0-2),  C McCarthy, D McGrath (0-01),  D Brosnan, T Lawrence (0-01) , D Rodgers, S Maher (0-01), D Cremin (1-00), J Horgan (0-01 free), M Buckley (0-02). Subs: B Triggs (1-01 , 0-1free) for S Maher (36) D Coughlan for M Buckley (51) K Coughlan  for C Brosnan (60)