Defending champions Whitechurch destroy St Finbarr's in the Seandún Junior A Hurling Championship

Whitechurch 6-28

St Finbarr’s 1-10

Defending champions Whitechurch completed their group programme in the AOS Security Seandún Junior A Hurling Championship with maximum points as they defeated St Finbarr’s in their lopsided encounter at Ballinlough, which produced seven goals on Sunday. 

This result puts Whitechurch through to the semi-finals.

While Whitechurch were on top for lengthy stages throughout the game, the Togher side’s goal came courtesy of a free by Adrian Murphy with the game’s final piece of action.

Whitechurch had an early six-point advantage, before Adrian Murphy pointed a free for the Togher side.

Whitechurch tagged on three unanswered points from play before Cillian Egan set up Darragh O’Connell for Whitechurch's opening goal in the 11th minute.

Darragh O’Connell got Whitechurch’s second goal in the 19th minute, before Jordan Millard responded with St Finbarr’s first point from play.

Whitechurch tagged on two unanswered points from play, before Adrian Murphy replied with his second pointed free for the Togher side.

Sean Keane embarked on a solo run to set up Aidan Kelleher for Whitechurch’s third goal in the 24th minute.

Whitechurch slotted over four more points from play before Adrian Murphy responded for St Finbarr’s. 

This left Whitechurch leading 3-19 to 0-4 at the break.

Two goals in the space of two minutes by Ruairí Dennehy and Darragh O’Connell extended Whitechurch’s lead to 5-19 to 0-6.

Wayward puck-outs were to be the Togher side’s undoing as Conor O’Brien slotted over two points from play for Whitechurch. 

John Kelleher also added a point.

Ciarán Steele tagged on a point from play for St Finbarr’s before Adrian Murphy converted two 65’s.

James McGrath added a point for Whitechurch before Conor O’Brien got their sixth goal on the rebound of a save by St Finbarr’s net-minder Eoin Kelleher in the 57th minute.

Entering the closing stages, Adrian Murphy slotted over his fourth pointed free to end the scoring.

Scorers for Whitechurch: D O’Connell 2-5; A Kelleher 2-1; D O’Sullivan 0-6; C O’Brien 1-2; R Dennehy 1-0; J Hegarty 0-3 (0-2f); R Buckley 0-3; S Keane, J McGrath 0-2 each; S O’Reilly, M Callanan, C Hennessy, J Kelleher, 0-1 each.

St Finbarr’s: Adrian Murphy 1-7 (1-4f, 0-2 65); C Steel, R Doyle J Millard 0-1 each.

Whitechurch: C Mulcahy; Adam Murphy, K Ryan, J Dennehy; R Buckley, M Callanan, R O’Connell; J McGrath, S O’Reilly; D O’Sullivan, J Hegarty, S Keane; D O’Connell, C Egan, A Kelleher.

Subs: R Dennehy for Keane (h/t, inj), C O’Brien for Egan (36), J Kelleher for R O’Connell (39), R Murphy for D O’Connell, C Hennessy for J Dennehy (both 42).

St Finbarr’s: E Kelleher; M Ryan, J Ryan, R O’Leary; S Goggin, C Steele, R Fitzpatrick; R Doyle, S McCarthy; S Doolan, S Harrington, M Nason; R O’Sullivan, Adrian Murphy, J Millard.

Sub: J Buttimer for Doolan (18, inj).

Referee: Cathal Egan (Glen Rovers).