Following our surprise victory on Sunday two weeks ago in the junior A hurling league against Whitechurch, the same opposition gained a measure of revenge when they turned us over in the Junior 1 Football league encounter on Sunday last. The game was played, in contrast to the previous few weeks, in very wet and windy conditions in Whitechurch. The weather, for certain, had an impact on the scoring in the game. Whitechurch played with the aid of the wind in the first half. However, it was a Luke Kelleher point that opened the scoring and put White’s Cross into the lead for the only time in the game. Despite Whitechurch replying with 1 -01 within 5 minutes, White’s Cross were doing well to keep the score down given the considerable wind advantage that favoured the home side. After 20 minutes the score was 1-02 to 0-02. However, a lack of conviction at the back allowed Whitecurch to get in for the decisive second goal in the 21st minute. Though Conor Buckley got his second pointed free just after, Whitechurch added a further two points lead 2 -04 to 0-03 when the referee called a halt to the opening half.
White’s Cross dominated the second half and outscored the home side by seven points to two. Whitechurch scored their two points in the 10th and 12th minute which left the score at 2-06 to 0-06. Though this was the last time they would score and White’s Cross had plenty of time to come back into the game, their inability to get a run of scores and a lot of pressure from a very determined Whitechurch side meant that many of the White’s Cross moves result in turnovers. Conor Buckley and Ruairi Quinlan got two very good scores coming up the 20th minute. Those in attendances realised though that White’s Cross were going to need a goal. Whitechurch, who were lead by the outstanding Sean Keane at centre-back and Mark Callanan in midfield, chased everything down and were in no mood to let their hard-earned lead slip. Conor Buckley and Luke Kelleher both finished with frees and a goal at that point would have given their side an unlikely win. As it was, the home side held out for the win. Facing into successive fixtures against Whitechurch (one hurling and one football), White’s Cross would have expected probably to win one and lose one. This is how it turned out. The football fixture was the one that would have been earmarked to secure the league points. In that respect, having won the hurling, it’s disappointing that we could not follow up with a football win. Still, there are still plenty of positives and plenty of players to come back into the squad.
Team Ruairi Teehan, Richie Sherlock, Seamus Quinlan, Sean O’Leary, Ruairi Quinlan, Ethan Ryan, Senan Ryan, Barry Prendergast, Fiachra O’Connell, Stephen Whooly, Conor Buckley, Cormac Manning, Shane Cahill, Cathal Quinlan, Luke Kelleher
Subs: PJ O’Donovan for Cathal Quinlan, Daniel Kelleher for Shane Cahill