White’s Cross open their AOS Security Seandún Junior A Football Championship campaign with a win over St Michael’s

White’s Cross 4-21 (4-4-13)

St Michael’s 1-9 (1-0-9).

White’s Cross got their AOS Security Seandún Junior A Football Championship campaign off to a winning start as they defeated St Michael’s in their one-sided encounter at Ballinlough. 

This result leaves White’s Cross in pole position, ahead of Douglas, who they play next, on scoring differences. St Michael’s have been eliminated.

After a promising start by St Michael’s, the first two goals for White’s Cross were to prove decisive, as they restricted St Michael’s to a single score in the second quarter. 

White’s Cross added two more goals in the second half to end the game as a contest.

Aided by a strong wind in the opening half, St Michael’s were quick off the mark with points from Sam Murphy and Domhnaill Cremin, before PJ O’Donovan replied for White’s Cross.

Sam Murphy converted a free for St Michael’s, before his side found themselves pinned back.

Goals by Ruairí Quinlan and John McElhinney put White’s Cross in the driving seat. 

Edwin Buckley added a point from play for White’s Cross and Sam Murphy replied with his second free for St Michael’s.

In the 24th minute, O’Donovan set up McElhinney for a third goal for White’s Cross. 

Persistent fouling was also proving to be costly for St Michael’s as Edwin Buckley converted three frees. 

This left White’s Cross leading 3-5 to 0-3 at the break.

The second half was one-way traffic in favour of White’s Cross as Edwin Buckley and Healy each added points from play. 

Edwin Buckley also converted a free and Conor Buckley slotted over two frees, including one from outside the 40-metre arc.

Sam Murphy replied with three points, including a free for St Michael’s Conor Buckley added a two-pointer for White’s Cross, before Seamus Quinlan set up Sean Delaney for their fourth goal in the 48th minute.

Conor Buckley added two two-pointers, including a free, before St Michael’s seized the initiative.

Paddy Quill added a point from play for St Michael’s, and this was followed by a goal by Sam Murphy, two minutes into stoppage time.

Scorers for White’s Cross: C Buckley 0-10 (2 2pt, 2 2pt f, 0-1f); E Buckley 0-7 (0-4f); J McElhinney 2-0; S Delaney 1-1; R Quinlan 1-0; PJ O’Donovan 0-2; R Healy 0-1.

St Michael’s: S Murphy 1-7 (0-4f); P Quill, D Cremin 0-1 each.

White’s Cross: R Teehan; M Philpott, B Prendergast, A Docherty; PJ O’Donovan, K Ryan, S Quinlan; R Quinlan, E Coughlan; H Coughlan, C Buckley, F O’Connell; E Buckley, J McElhinney, R Healy.

Sub: S Delaney for H Coughlan (h/t).

St Michael’s: M Burke; T Murphy, J Heyland, M Burre; R Ahern, M Drummond, P Quill; K Leahy, S O’Sullivan; J O'Sullivan, A Nolan, L Fogarty; R Fee, D Cremin, S Murphy.

Subs: B Holland for Fee, M Carroll for J O’Sullivan, J Linehan for Burre (all h/t).

Referee: Peter Finnegan (Douglas).