Our junior A football team played out a tight, tense football league game, typical of local derbies, in very un-summer-like conditions on Tuesday 22nd June in Whitechurch. White’s Cross got both the opening and closing scores of the opening period. Both were from placed balls. Edwin Buckley scored a goal from a penalty and finished with a point from a free just before half time. In between it was a youthful home team that dominated and scored 1-03. Indeed it could easily have been more as goalkeeper Rory Teehan pulled off two fine saves to keep White’s Cross in the game.
Edwin Buckley scored another two points from frees at the start of the second half before Bryan O’Sullivan came all the way up from full-back to land a superb point – the first from play on the day. Killian Ryan went through on goal shortly after and only a great save denied hm a certain goal. A few minutes later the same player unselfishly laid the ball off to corner forward Dylan Burke who buried the ball low into the corner of the net to get a crucial goal to give White’s Cross a 2-04 to 1-03 lead at the mid-point of second half in a low scoring game.
The home side were not done yet. There full-forward latched on to spilled ball to volley the ball into the net. This proved a big boost to the home sport. They equalised shortly after that and the momentum seemed with them. However, White’s Cross are an experienced side and this came to the fore when needed most. Players like the Buckleys – Conor, Kevin and Edwin, were able to steady the ship and keep control of the ball. Conor and Edwin Buckley were able to find the final scores of the game to secure the victory for White’s Cross. The next game for the A footballers is now next Thursday 8th July against Bishopstown.