Huge drama as Whitechurch hurlers land first Junior A title despite red cards and extra time
Whitechurch players, mentors and supporters celebrate after defeating Passage in the AOS Security JAHC final at Ballinlough. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Whitechurch created history as they won the AOS Security Seandún Junior A Hurling Championship for the first time, seeing off 2021 champions Passage in Saturday’s decider, before a sizeable attendance at Ballinlough.
They had to do this without the services of Cork panellist Micheál Mullins, who was suspended, but collected their second piece of silverware this year, after the MacCurtain Cup.
Whitechurch were in control from the start of a low-scoring first half as they converted four placed balls and got one from play. Passage played a more open game and they took a grip on proceedings even after they were reduced to 14 players midway through the opening half.
Both sides traded late points to force extra time, where Passage were down to 13 players because of double yellow cards.
Whitechurch held Passage scoreless in the opening quarter, as Cillian Egan and Mark Callanan each converted two frees.
Cian McCarthy got the game’s first point from play in the 24th minute and Whitechurch replied instantly with their first point from play by Ronan Murphy.
Passage seized the initiative as Cian McCarthy tagged on two points from play and Luke Hanlon also got a point. Ronan Harrington pointed two frees as Passage led 0-6 to 0-5 at the break.
Whitechurch upped the ante after the interval as Sean O’Reilly equalised within seconds of the restart. Egan pointed his third free for Whitechurch, before Cian McCarthy replied with a point from play for Passage.
Whitechurch added three unanswered points but Cian McCarthy converted three frees for Passage. Whitechurch responded with a point from play by Sean Keane and Egan’s fifth free.
Callanan added two points from placed-balls for Whitechurch, before Cian McCarthy drilled home the game’s opening goal for Passage from the edge of the square in the 48th minute. Whitechurch replied with a point by Dylan Burke, but Cian McCarthy was credited with Passage’s second goal, from a sideline cut with time running out.
Whitechurch tagged on two points before Cian McCarthy’s point levelled matters at 2-11 to 0-17 to send the contest to extra time.
Whitechurch raced into a lead of 0-20 to 2-11 in the first period of extra time with three unanswered points, including one free. Shane Howard equalised with a goal from the corner of the Whitechurch square and then Liam Harrington put Passage ahead at the end of the first period.
Passage got the first point of the final period of extra time. Whitechurch tagged on five unanswered points, with Burke getting three from play and Egan converting two frees.
Ryan Carroll replied with a late point for Passage, before the final whistle was greeted by the Whitechurch supporters with jubilant scenes.
C Egan 0-8 (0-7 f), M Callanan 0-5 (0-4 f, 0-1 65), D Burke 0-4, J Hegarty 0-2, K Ryan (f), R Murphy, S O’Reilly, R O’Connell, S Keane, R Dennehy 0-1 each.
Cian McCarthy 2-8 (1-0 sl, 0-3 f), S Howard 1-0, R Harrington 0-2 f, L Hanlon, L Harrington, C Coughlan, R Carroll 0-1 each.
C Mulcahy; C Kelleher, B O’Sullivan, J Dennehy; J Kelly, M Callanan, R Buckley; S O’Reilly, K Ryan; R Murphy, R O’Connell, A Kelleher; J Hegarty, S Keane, C Egan.
D Burke for Kelleher (temp 17-21, 45), A Murphy for Kelly (39), R Dennehy for O’Connell (55), B O’Reilly for Buckley (60), Kelly for O’Sullivan (66).
A Long; D McCarthy, T Harrington, K Cuthbert; Cathal McCarthy, R Harrington, R Carroll; G Carroll, S Harrington; J Kind, Cian McCarthy, T O’Neill; L Hanlon, N McCarthy, S Howard.
D Barrett for T Harrington (41), M Howard or O’Neill, L Harrington for N McCarthy (both 54), O’Neill for R Harrington (temp 68-69), N O’Connor for Cuthbert (70), N McCarthy for S Howard (77).
Niall Fahy (Brian Dillon’s).
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