Our Junior A football team got their campaign off to the best possible start when they beat Passage in Passage on Sunday morning last. This was the opening round of the City Division Junior 1 Football league and was also the first competitive match for new coach Michael Prout and his selector Martin Reid. The game was played in excellent conditions for the time of the year. Though there was a decent breeze, it certainly did not have a major bearing on the outcome. This is perfectly illustrated by the fact that White’s Cross’ twelve point haul was split equally across both halves[ notching six either side of the half-time break.
It was the harbour side that got off to the better start with a goal inside the opening three minutes. This goal was off the very soft variety. It came from an uncharacteristic mistake at the back which left the Passage full-forward with an open goal and the easiest of finishes. White’s Cross responded very well and dominated the next period. However wides and balls dropping short meant that only Luke Kelleher’s well taken effort was the only point in the opening 10 minutes. Passage had added one more. Bryan O’Sullivan added two points -one from play and one from a free withing 30 seconds to leave the score at 1-01 to 0-03 points after 14 minutes. The home side hit a purple patch in the next 10 minutes as they rattled of five points from play with only one point in reply from White’s Cross; that another free from Bryan O’Sullivan.
Minor player Ruairi Quinlan who was outstanding throughout got a supberb individual point on the 25th minute. Luke Kelleher added his second with the last kick of the half. The score read 1-06 to 0-06 to Passage.
The second half belonged to White’s Cross. Passage were only able to add one more score thanks in the main to outstanding defending from the likes of Sean O’Leary, Seamus Quinlan and Ethan Ryan. That point when it came in the 14th minute, however, still had kept Passage in a two-point lead. Despite their dominance, only a fine Harry Coughlan point from play and a Luke Kelleher free was all the visitors had to show for their efforts. That would change in the next five minutes though. Two more Luke Kelleher frees drew White’s Cross level before two points from play by Barry Prendergast put his side into a two point lead by the 21st minute. From then to the end, it was nervy period for the Cross as they held the most dangerous and precarious of leads. Passage naturally pushed hard and one poor kickout nearly saw them get a goal and a lead that their play did not deserve. Their cause was not helped when they had their midfielder sent-off for a second bookable offence. White’s Cross held on for a morale boosting victory. It was their first victory over Passage since 2014. A very good start indeed.
Team: Murt Kelleher, Senan Ryan, Seamus Quinlan, Sean O‘Leary, Ruairi Quinlan (0-01), Ethan Ryan, Donncha Murnane, Dylan Burke, Barry Prendergast (0-02), Max Philpott, Harry Coughlan (0-01), Cormac Manning, Luke Kelleher (0-05 – 4 frees), Bryan O’Sullivan (0-03 – 2 frees), Shane Cahill.
Subs: Daniel Kelleher for Shane Cahill. Sean O’Donnell, Luke Murphy