There was very dramatic finish to this McCurtain Cup first round game played in Church Road Blackrock on Sunday morning last when a Donncha Murnane point in the 6th minute of injury time sealed the win for White’s Cross. The same player also popped up with a late point in injury time in the previous game against Bishopstown. On that occasion it was to get a draw. This time it was to secure progression to the quarter finals of this knockout competition. In reality, the game should never have concluded in this way as White’s Cross had dominated the scoring throughout and only a late show form the home side brought them back into contention.
Once again it was 18 year old Eddie Coughlan did most of the scoring damage for White’s Cross. He scored 1-3 (one free) in the opening 12 minutes with the Rockies replying with one free. White’s Cross were completely dominant in this period and could and should have extended their lead. Unfortunately some very poor wides let them down. Only a Conor Buckley free and a first point from Donncha Murnane, who gave a man-of- match performance, were al White’s Cross had to show from a dominant first half. The score at the break was 1-05 to 0-04.
The second half saw Eddie Couglan revert back to the frees after missing a few in the second quarter. His confidence and eye were certainly back as he scored six placed balls in the opening 15 minutes with only a solitary reply from a free from the home side. White’s Cross were comfortably leading 1-11 to 0-05 by the 45th minute. At this point, they were looking set for victory. The home side had only registered one point from play up to this point and did not appear to pose much of an attacking threat. However, for the next 15 minutes they slowly started chipping away at the lead.
White’s Cross had plenty of the ball in this quarter but too often took the wrong option when attacking and saw the ball getting turned over. Only an Eddie Coughlan point from play added to the White’s Cross tally as the game tipped into injury time. However, his side still lead on a score of 1-12 to 0-12. Referee Chris Joyce, who had a fine game, added 6 minutes of injury time. As we entered the 5th minute of added time, a speculative ball into the White’s Cross box was not cleared and the Rockies wing forward calmly lifte the ball and stuck a shot low into the corner of the net. The game was level. There was still time however for one last effort from Donncha Murnane to get the win his side very much deserved.
Team Shane Cahill, Richie Sherlock, Seamus Quinlan, Senan Ryan, Cathal Quinlan, Harry Coughlan, Gearoid Flemming, Aidan O’Neill, Tom Casey, Donncha Murnane (0-02) Fiachra O’Connell, Conor Buckley (0-01 free), Eddie Coughlan (1-10, seven frees), Colin Punch, Cathal O’Flynn
Subs used Chris Dunne, Murt Kelleher, Ruairi Quinlan