White’s Cross junior hurlers have an A championship hurling semi-final to look forward to following this nail-biting victory over rivals Whitechurch in Ballinlough on Saturday evening last (01st of August). This result would be a surprise to many given that Whitechurch were beaten finalists last year. However, it should not be a surprise to any that this special group of White’s Cross hurlers produced a performance like that. Their commitment that they have shown over the years is second to none and to a man they battled heroically on Saturday evening. They had the proverbial bit between their teeth. They wanted it more and they deserved to win. However, as the score shows it was oh so close throughout.

Whitechurch started the brighter and inside the opening three minutes they had two points on the board with James McGrath and Jason O’Riordan popping over two points. Conor Buckley scored our opening point from a free after he himself was fouled. Sean O’Reilly from wing back got the third point for Whitechurch before Conor Buckley got another point from a free after his brother Kevin was fouled following his catch direct from a puckout. Donncha Murnane got the next point which was a superb effort from play following a deft flick from Kevin Buckley. This was an equalising score but also a rallying score for the team. After Whitechurch having the better start, it should that White’s Cross were now very much in the game. Though, Whitechurch went two points ahead again on three further occasions before half-time, they were perhaps surprised by the intensity that we brought to the game. Our midfield and half forwards were dominant and piled the pressure on the Whitechurch backs. They conceded many frees and on each occasion Conor Buckley punished them with a score. On one such occasion, we may have punished them with a goal, the only such goal chance for either side in the first half. Cormac Dervin won a great ball and showing his typical burst of speed laid it off to Kevin Buckley who was in on goal. Unfortunately, Kevin got bottled up and the chance evaporated. Still, going in only one point behind playing against the wind and opponents that were now rattled was a nice position to be in. The scoreboard read Whitechurch 0-09 White’s Cross 0-08.

The opening 10 minutes of the second half were very close with neither side giving an inch. White’s Cross were more involved in the game though and following Conor Buckley’s equalising score, there would never be more than a point in it. Our third point of the half saw us go into the lead for the first time on a score of 0-11 to 0-10. Cathal Dennehy and Dylan Burke (who plays football with White’s Cross) put Whitechurch back into another one point lead. Then came the crucial score of the game. The ball broke on the 21 yard line to who else but Conor Buckley who soloed for goal. Unable to get a shot away risking being hooked, he flicked the ball over the goalkeeper’s head and into the net. The small (due to COVID 19 restrictions) but vocal White’s Cross crowd were ecstatic. This was taken up a notch when Conor Buckley, again, got a super point from play. It was all White’s Cross now. Sean O’Neill (half time substitute) had another goal opportunity which would have killed the game but his effort hit the side-netting. Nonetheless Conor Buckley added another free and we were a goal up with only five minutes remaining. Last year’s beaten finalists, seeing that they were about to be dumped out of the championship, rallied and got three quick scores to level with time almost up. White’s Cross appeared to be tiring but this team has a never say die attitude and with game in the melting pot it was the team with the biggest heart that was going to win. There was no mistaking who that team was. Ross Murphy came more into the game and he drew a foul. Conor Buckley, who gave one of his finest of many, many fine performances in the green jersey, stepped up and send it over to bring his personal tally 1-13. This would be the final and winning score in the game. Whitechurch were unable to get another attempt at a score in the remaining few minutes as they were smothered by a

disciplined White’s Cross back line lead by the outstanding Ronan Aherne at full back. There were jubilant scenes when the referee blew his final whistle! A grade hurling semi-finals are a rarity in our club history so we will relish this challenge. The draw for the semi-finals have not been made yet. So far, there is only one team in the hat for that draw. We are proud to say that that team is White’s Cross.

Team: Shane Cahill, Padraig Murnane, Ronan Aherne, Fergal Reid, John O’Connell, Murt Kelleher, Breandan Murnane, Donncha Murnane (0-01), Aidan O’Neill, Cormac O’Flynn, Kevin Buckley, Conor Buckley (1-13; 0-12 frees), Ross Murphy, Cormac Dervin, Seamus Reid. Subs: Sean O’Neill for Cormac O’Flynn and Robert McElhinney for Fergal Reid.