White's Cross thanks to 1-11 from Eddie Coughlan beat Blackrock in the Seandún Junior A Hurling Championship
Referee Pat Lyons accompanied by captains Ruairí Quinlan (White's Cross) and Luke Fogarty (Blackrock)
White’s Cross got their campaign in the AOS Security Seandún Junior A Hurling Championship off to a winning start, as they defeated Blackrock, before a sizeable attendance at Ballinlough on Sunday.
This result also leaves White’s Cross in pole position, ahead of Na Piarsaigh on scoring differences.
White’s Cross got the game’s decisive goals in either half, while Blackrock, who could not penetrate a stubborn White’s Cross defence, were unlucky not to convert a goal-scoring opportunity in a game which produced a one-sided second half.
Blackrock’s Peter Leneghan put his side in front within seconds of the throw-in, but White’s Cross seized the initiative, as Conor Buckley tagged on two unanswered points.
Peter Cotter levelled matters with a point from play for Blackrock, but Eddie Coughaln restored the lead for White’s Cross with the game’s first pointed free.
Blackrock’s Jack O’Sullivan and Buckley exchanged points from play.
This was followed by Blackrock’s first pointed free by net-minder Paul O’Brien. This tied the scores at four points apiece.
Entering the second quarter, White’s Cross began to take a grip on proceedings and Ruairí Quinlan set up Coughlan for the game’s opening goal.
Blackrock replied with two points, including a free by Tom Grainger and Robert Cregan also added a point.
Coughlan replied with the game’s only point from a 65 for White’s Cross and he also added a point from play.
Grainger added his second point before Blackrock found themselves pinned back approaching the break.
John McElhinney and Buckley each scored points for White’s Cross. Coughlan also slotted over two frees, to leave the half-time scoreline reading 1-10 to 0-8 in favour of White’s Cross.
Persistent fouling was proving to be costly for both sides after the resumption.
Cotter got the only point from play in the opening minutes of the second half. Buckley and Grainger both converted two frees apiece.
With the wind in their favour, White’s Cross had Blackrock on the defensive.
They tagged on seven unanswered points from play, to open up a ten-point gap.
Cotter replied with a point for Blackrock to reduce the deficit to 1-18 to 0-12.
In the 49th minute, Ruairí Quinlan set up Daniel Kelleher for a second goal for White’s Cross, to increase their lead to 2-18 to 0-12.
Buckley added his seventh point for White’s Cross to increase their lead to 13 points.
Ten minutes from time, James Walsh set up Cregan for a goal for Blackrock, to leave ten points between the sides.
White’s Cross regained the initiative as Coughlan tagged on four unanswered points, including three frees.
Ruairí Quinlan also chipped in with one. Blackrock replied with points from play by Grainger and Cotter.
E Coughlan 1-11 (0-8f, 0-1 65); C Buckley 0-7; D Kelleher 1-1; J McElhinney, B Quain, G Fleming, R Quinlan, M Goggin 0-1 each.
T Grainger 0-6 (0-3f): R Cregan 1-1; P Cotter 0-4; C O’Brien 0-1f; P Leneghan, J O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
S Cahill; E Quain, S Quinlan, C Dunne; R Quain, G Fleming, PJ O’Donovan; R Healy, R Quinlan; M Goggin, C Buckley, E Coughlan; D Murnane, D Kelleher, J McElhinney.
A Docherty for Healy, B Quain for Murnane (both 39).
P O’Brien; C Long, T Harrington, D McClafferty; K Morgan, L Fogarty, J O’Sullivan; L de Burca, T Grainger; P Leneghan, P Cotter, D Garvan; J Wlash, P Lynch, R Cregan.
J O’Donovan for Long (42).
Pat Lyons (Bishopstown).
App?
