From Evening Echo 17th August 2025
Passage completed their group programme in the AOS Security Seandún Junior A Hurling Championship with maximum points, as they defeated White’s Cross in a six-goal thriller, before a sizeable attendance at Ballinlough on Saturday. This result puts Passage through to the semi-finals. White’s Cross made the better start to this hard-fought contest, while Passage were ahead by two points at the break as they scored the only goal of the first half. Passage’s two late goals in the second half were to prove decisive.
White’s Cross raced into an early three-point lead with points from play by Cathal Quinlan and Daniel Kelleher. Eddie Coughlan also chipped in with a pointed free. Passage began to turn the screw as Niall McCarthy opened their account with a pointed free.
Luke Hanlon and Conor Coughlan each added further points to level matters at 0-3 apiece. Eddie Coughlan put White’s Cross back in the driving seat, but Passage went in front for the first time as Darragh McCarthy set up Conor Coughlan for the game’s opening goal in the 13th minute. Both sides traded points for the second quarter, as the half-time scoreline read 1-8 to 0-9 in Passage’s favour.
White’s Cross upped the ante after the interval as John McElhinney got their first goal within seconds of the restart on the rebound of a save by Passage net-minder Aiden Long. This was followed by points for White’s Cross by Aidan O’Neill and Fiachra O’Connell. Passage responded with their second goal by Hanlon in the fourth minute, before Cathal Quinlan was credited with a second goal for White’s Cross, following a melee in the Passage goalmouth. Passage had White’s Cross pinned back in the closing stages With five minutes remaining, a sideline cut by Ronan Harrington set up Conor Coughlan for their third goal. Sean Harrington added Passage’s fourth goal, following a solo run, deep into stoppage time.
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Scorers for Passage: C Coughlan 2-2; N McCarthy 0-5 (0-3f); S Harrington 1-2; L Hanlon 1-1; R Carroll 0-2; R Harrington 0-1f; T O’Neill, K O’Flynn, G Carroll 0-1 each.
White’s Cross: E Coughlan 0-10 (0-7f, 0-1 65); C Quinlan 1-1; J McElhinney 1-0; C Buckley 0-2; D Kelleher, A O’Neill, A O’Connell, B Quain 0-1 each.
Passage: A Long; N O’Connor, T Harrington, D Barrett; K O’Flynn, R Harrington, S Harrington; R Carroll, D McCarthy; L Harrington, J Kind, T O’Neill; C Coughlan, N McCarthy, L Hanlon.
Subs: G Carroll for Hanlon (43), S Howard for L Harrington (48, inj).
White’s Cross: S Cahill; M Philpott, D O’Sullivan, S Ryan; D Murnane, R Quinlan, S Quinlan; A O’Neill, F O’Connell; C Buckley, C Quinlan, E Coughlan; D Kelleher, J McElhinney, R Healy.
Subs: PJ O’Donovan for Healy (42), B Quain for Murnane (53), J Cussen for C Quinlan (59).
Referee: Cormac Dineen (Douglas).