Seandún junior champions Whitechurch edge out Passage at Ballinlough

Whitechurch 1-18 Passage 1-16

Defending champions Whitechurch recorded their first victory of the AOS Security Seandún Junior A Championship, as they defeated Passage in a nail-biting encounter, before a good-sized attendance at Ballinlough.

This result sees Passage in second place behind Douglas, while Whitechurch are propping up the table on scoring differences.

Whitechurch led by four points at the interval, as this closely contested game went down to the wire, with Whitechurch securing victory, courtesy of two unanswered points.

Passage’s Dylan Barrett and Liam Harrington exchanged points with Whitechurch’s Mark Callanan.

Ronan Murphy levelled matters for Whitechurch with the game’s first free, before Whitechurch seized the initiative. Ronan Murphy got two points, including a 65. Aidan Kelleher, John Kelleher and Jamie Hegarty each added further points, to give Whitechurch a lead of 0-7 to 0-2.

Entering the second quarter, Passage responded as Tomás O’Neill, Sean Harrington, Callum Griffin and Barrett each tagged on points from play, to leave the minimum between the sides.

Ronan Murphy added two points, including a free for Whitechurch, before Conor Coughlan replied for Passage.

John Kelleher and Callanan each tagged on points for Whitechurch in stoppage time, to leave Whitechurch leading 0-11 to 0-7 at the break.

Hegarty increased Whitechurch’s lead to five points, two minutes after the restart. Passage reduced the deficit to two points as Liam Harrington set up Scott Coughlan for the game’s opening goal.

Passage regained the lead courtesy of a point from play by Conor Coughlan, followed by frees by James Kind and Liam Harrington.

Whitechurch were awarded a penalty midway through the second half and Hegarty drilled home a goal to put Whitechurch back in the driving seat.

In the final quarter, Hegarty added three points, including two frees for Whitechurch. Liam Harrington responded with three points for Passage, which included two from placed-balls.

Scorers for Whitechurch: J Hegarty 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-2f); R Murphy 0-5 (0-2f, 0-1 65); J Kellehr, M Callanan 0-2 each; A Kelleher, S Keane, D O’Connell, D O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Passage: L Harrington 0-5 (0-1 s/l; 0-2f); S Coughlan 1-0; C Coughlan 0-3; C Griffin, D Barrett 0-2 each; J Kind 0-1f; D McCarthy, S Harrington, T O’Neill 0-1 each.

WHITECHURCH: Jack Kelleher; S Dennehy, A Murphy, J Dennehy; John Kelleher, K Ryan, R O’Connell; H Woulfe, M Callanan; A Kelleher, J Hegarty, R Dennehy; D O’Connell, D Kelleher, R Murphy.

Subs: C Kelleher for A Murphy (28, inj), D O’Sullivan for D Kelleher, K McIntyre for A Kelleher (both 13), S Kenae for R Dennehy (50), C O’Brien for R Murphy (54).

PASSAGE: A Long; N O’Connor, T Harrington, S White; K O’Flynn, S Harrington, D McCarthy; D Barrett, C Grffin; C Coughlan, J Kind, T O’Neill; O O’Donovan, L Harrington, S Coughlan.

Subs: J Healy for O’Donovan (12, inj), R Carroll for Kind (46), G Carroll for Healy (59).

Referee: Pat Lyons (Bishopstown).