THE semi-final line-up for the Seandún Sportsturf Sports Solutions Junior A Football Championship has been completed as St Michael’s defeated White’s Cross in last evening’s fourth quarter-final at Ballinlough to set up a meeting with Brian Dillon’s.
This was a tightly contested game as both goalkeepers produced some spectacular saves, but with the game in the balance in the closing stages Darragh Kiely proved to be the match winner for the Blackrock side with two unanswered points from play
White’s Cross made the better start as they had St. Michael’s pinned back from the throw in but wayward shooting was proving to be costly. The Blackrock side were also off target with their first attack before they took the lead with points from Donal Cremin and Paddy Lynch.
St Michael’s found themselves on the back foot entering the second quarter as Ed Buckley and Conor Buckley pointed 13-metre frees for White’s Cross before Tim Buckley gave them the lead with their first point from play.
D a l e O ’ N e i l l levelled matters with a pointed 45, but White’s Cross had the Blackrock side camped deep in their own half approaching the break. Conor Buckley scored a point for White’s Cross in the 24th minute to give his side an interval lead of 0-4 to 0-3.
White’s Cross raised their game for the second half as Ed Buckley increased the margin with the first score of the second half. O ’ Neill replied with a pointed free for the Blackrock side before Paul O’Sullivan drilled home a goal from the edge of the St. Michael’s square to open up a four-point gap.
O’Neill scored his third point from a placed-ball and Luke Carroll added a point from play. Carroll soloed from the middle of the park to score goal from the edge of the square.
Paul O’Sullivan scored two points in a minute for White’s Cross to set the scene for a dramatic finale.
Scorers St Michael’s: L Carroll 1-01; D O’Neill 0-03 (0-02 f, 0-01 45); D Kiely 0-02; D Lynch, C Cremin 0-01 each
Scorers White’s Cross Paul O’Sullivan (1-02), Conor Buckley (0-02, 0-01 f) Edwin Buckley (0-02, 0-01 f) Kevin Buckley (0-01)
White’s Cross: Michael Osborne, Richie Sherlock, Eoin Murnane, Sean O’ Gorman , Cormac Manning, Cillian Ryan, Martin Reid, Murt Kelleher, Conor Buckley, Breandan Murnane, Sean Murnane, Paul O’Sullivan, Donncha Murnane, Bryan O’Sullivan, Edwin Buckley Subs: Kevin Buckley for S Murnane (17) Dylan Burke for B Murnane (42), B Murnane for Kelleher (62)
St Michaels: M Burke, C Crowley, F Walsh, P Cummins, A Coyne, S Holland, T Cremin, I O’Keeffe, D O’Neill, D O’Sullivan, I Giltinan, P Lynch, L Carroll, D Cremin, D Linehan.
Subs: K O’Keeffe for Lynch (h/t) S Falvey for O’Neill (42) D Kiely for Linehan (62)