Our Junior B hurling team bowed out of the championship on Sunday afternoon (17th of October) last in Ballinlough. The team battled throughout but the goals, when they came, seemed to knock the wind out their sails. White’s Cross started the brighter and they quickly opened up a two point lead. Mayfield got the next two scores before White’s Cross again established a two point lead when Seamus Reid pointed a free and Ross Murphy, who had a fine game at wing forward, pointed from play. However, it is the points that were missed in this period that will haunt White’s Cross. They had most of the play in this opening 20 minutes but they failed to fully assert their dominance on the scoreboard. Mayfield enjoyed a decisive purple patch before the break as they got four unanswered points.  Just before a half-time, they pounced for a decisive first goal as they were first to react to a breaking ball in the square. At half time, White’s Cross trailed 0-04 to 1 -06. 

Ronan Aherne go the first score after the break to rouse the large White’s Cross following. Unfortunately though, they had to wait until just before the 2nd water break when Max Philpott pointed before they got their next point. In the interim, Mayfield added a three further points. Kevin Walsh was in fine form for them from the frees. To the contrary, White’s Cross lost their free-taker at half-time and we were guilty of some missed chances which seemed to deflate the side that were very much in the game. 

They would not go down without a fight, however. After the 2nd water break two super points from playe from Sean O’Neill and Ross Murphy put White’s Cross very much back into the game. The final hammer-blow though came shortly as Mayfield, despite the best efforts of Danny Dunphy in goal managed to get their second goal. White’s Cross continued to fight to the end but it was the Mayfield side that got the last few points and go into the final. 

For White’s Cross, it is end of the road. The B team has been very successful this year winning a few league game and were the only team in the club to win championship games. Several new players were brought in and they really developed as side throughout the year. There is plenty of reasons to be optimistic for 2022. 

Team: Danny Dunphy, Ronan Quain, Derek O‘Connor, Richie Sherlock, Seamus Quinlan, Martin Redi, Cathal Quinlan, Max Philpott, Dan O’Sullivan, Ross Murphy, Conor Docherty, Sean O’Neill, Seamus Reid, Ronan Aherne, David Hyde: Subs Anthony O’Leary for David Hyde, Sean O’Gorman for Seamus Re