White’s Cross Junior A football team are back to winning ways following this narrow victory over St. Finbarr’s in a game played in glorious summer sunshine in White’s Cross on Tuesday 13th of May. The opening 10 minutes were very evenly contested. The problem though for White’s Cross was that despite Edwin Buckley’s pointed free in the second minute, we managed to hit the post twice, kicked two balls short and hit one wide. By contrast our opponents hit 1-03. This game almost mirrored our previous encounter at home to Bishopstown where their early scores also killed the game. Conor Docherty’s deflected goal in the 16th minute brought White’s Cross back into the game. They did not drive on though and a very lively St. Finbarr’s forward unit caused difficulties right until half time. Seán Delaney got one score in reply as the visitors lead 1-07 to 1-02 at the short whistle.
A very different White’s Cross side emerged for the second half. Harry Coughlan, Killian Ryan and PJ O’Donovan were outstanding in the middle third and started to dominate and attack the visitor’s back line. They resorted to coughing up cheap frees. Conor Buckley converted three of these in the opening five minutes and the difference was only two points.
A rip-roaring contest ensued as both sides took the initiative. Conor Docherty and PJ O’Donovan scored from play in between three points from the Togher side. The key moment in the game when Seán Delaney burst through the Barr’s defence. His shot rebounded off the under side of the bar. Though the ball bounced out, it had crossed the line and referee Peter O’Donovan correctly awarded the goal. The away side immediately responded with a point of their own before two mighty kicks from Conor Buckley (one two-pointer) put White’s Cross ahead for the first time in the game. Harry Coughlan extended the lead as there were eight minutes left to play.
Harry would get one more point from play in between two points from the visitors as they twice narrowed the gap. They were unable to get the equalizer as the Cross hung for a narrow but deserved victory.
TEAM
1 – Rory Teehan
2 – Senan Ryan
3 – Barry Prendergast
4 – Dan O’Sullivan
5 – Dylan Burke
6 – Killian Ryan
7 – Seamus Quinlan
8 – PJ O’Donovan (0-01)
9 – Harry Coughlan (0-02)
10 – Conor Docherty (1-01)
11 – Conor Buckley (0-06, 3 frees, 1x2pt)
12 – Fiachra O’Connell
13 – Sean Delaney (1-01)
14 – John McElhinney
15 – Edwin Buckley (0-01, 1 free)
SUBS:
off: PJ O’Donovan on: Donncha Murnane
off: Fiachra O’Connell on: Daniel Kelleher