Sean Delaney's hat-trick sets up White's Cross to beat Ballyphehane and win the division 4 Football League title

White’s Cross 4-18 (4-2-14)

Ballyphehane 4-13 (4-0-13) 

(AET)

Extra time was required as White’s Cross eventually defeated Ballyphehane in an eight-goal thriller at Ballinlough, to be crowned AOS Security Seandún Division 4 Football League champions.

This closely contested encounter could have produced more goals, had it not been for wayward shooting by both sides in the opening half. 

White’s Cross pulled away in the final period of extra time, as they kept Ballyphehane scoreless.

Patrick Harrington opened the scoring with a point for White’s Cross. 

In the fourth minute, Harrington set up Sean Delaney for the game’s opening goal.

Danny Kiely and James Traynor responded with points from play for Ballyphehane. 

This was followed by a pointed free by Kiely, which reduced the deficit to 1-1 to 0-3.

Brendan Quain replied with a point for White’s Cross, before Kiely converted his second free.

Ballyphehane took the lead for the first time in the contest when Paul Mealy set up Traynor for Ballyphehane’s first goal in the 17th minute.

Delaney responded with a point from play for White’s Cross.

Ballyphehane extended their lead by four points as Conor McCarthy won possession from a Ballyphehane kick-out to set up Kiely for their second goal.

Both sides traded three points each as Ballyphehane led 2-7 to 1-6 at the interval.

Quain and Traynor exchanged points in the opening minutes of the second half, before Ballyphehane found themselves pinned back. 

Edwin Buckley converted three unanswered frees. 

This was followed by Buckley’s first two-pointer from a free. Ballyphehane replied with points by Fielding and Jamie Thompson.

Thompson set up Fielding for Ballyphehane’s third goal, but Mark O’Keeffe responded with a goal for White’s Cross.

Edwin Buckley scored a point from play, followed by his second two-pointer from a free.

Ballyphehane responded with two points to force extra time.

The sides were still deadlocked after the first period of extra time as Tyreese O’Leary scored 1-1 for Ballyphehane. 

Delaney replied with his second goal for White’s Cross. This was followed by a pointed 45 by Edwin Buckley.

In the second period of extra time, Delaney completed his hat-trick. 

Barry Prendergast and Edwin Buckley each added points, to secure victory for White’s Cross.

Scorers for White’s Cross: S Delaney 3-1; E Buckley 0-10 (2 2pt f; 0-3f; 0-1 45); M O’Keeffe 1-0; B Quain 0-3; P Harrington 0-2; M Kelleher 0-1f; B Prendergast 0-1.

Ballyphehane: D Kiely 1-3 (0-2f); J Traynor, S Fielding 1-2 each; T O’Leary 1-1; J Thompson 0-3; C McCarthy 0-2.

White’s Cross: J Buckley; R Sherlock, R Quain, E Ryan; L Murphy, M O’Keeffe, C Dunne; D Kelleher, M Kelleher; S Twomey, S Delaney, M Mullins; F Quinlan, P Harrington, B Quain.

Subs: L Mullins for M Mullins, B Prendergast for Murphy, E Buckley for F Quinlan (all h/t); C Quinlan for Twomey (45), C O’Brien for Sherlock (29), Sherlock for D Kelleher (60); Twomey for Dunne (73), D Kelleher for Delaney (74, inj).

Ballyphehane: D Luxford; P Mealy, I O’Sullivan, D Lambert; E MacSweeney, Jamie O’Birne, B O’Gorman; F Long, C McCarthy; J Traynor, J Thompson, D O’Connor; O Sweeney, D Kiely, S Fielding.

Subs: C Bowen for McSweeney (35-38 temp), for O’Gorman (42), W Long for MacSweeney (46), Z Walsh for Sweeney (53), T O’Leary for Lambert (54), M Kenneally for Fielding (59), J Buckley for Kiely (60).

Referee: Danny Duggan (Bishopstown).