Jamie Hegarty's late sideline against Douglas sends Whitechurch into Junior A semi-final

Whitechurch 0-22 Douglas 2-15

Defending champions Whitechurch booked their place in AOS Security Seandún Junior A Hurling Championship semi-finals at Ballinlough. 

However, this defeat knocks Douglas out.

This game, which was in the balance right up to the final whistle, saw scoring opportunities for Whitechurch at a premium in the opening half. 

Douglas played a more open game as they got the game’s two goals before the interval. Whitechurch got the decisive score, courtesy of Jamie Hegarty’s second point from a sideline cut, five minutes into stoppage time.

Whitechurch raced into a two-point lead as Ronan Murphy slotted over a point from play and Hegarty pointed a free.

Douglas, who were favoured by the elements in the opening half, replied with points from play by Fionnán Barry and Cian Baldwin.

Persistent fouling was proving to be costly for Doulgas, as Hegarty slotted over three frees. Hegarty also added three points from play and he converted a 65 and a sideline cut. Darragh O’Connell added a point for Whitechurch. Doulgas responded with two points from play by Chris O’Keeffe and two frees by Diarmuid Coleman. This left the scoreline reading 0-11 to 0-6 in favour of Whitechurch.

For the last five minutes of the opening half, Douglas took a grip on proceedings as Stephen Molylan set up Stephen St Leger for the game’s opening goal.

Douglas continued to have Whitechurch pinned back as Coleman pointed his third free.

Approaching the break, Cormac Reddington set up St Leger for his second goal, which gave Douglas a half-time lead of 2-7 to 0-11.

O’Connell and Cillian Egan each slotted over points for Whitechurch in the third quarter. Hegarty converted two frees. Doulgas replied with two points, including a free by Coleman. O’Keeffe got his third point from play.

Entering the final quarter, Douglas increased their lead by 2-12 to 0-15, as Coleman and Mark Dolan each added unanswered points from play.

Egan and Baldwin exchanged points from play, before the tide turned back in Whitechurch’s favour. Egan and David O’Sullivan each added points for Whitechurch, followed by two pointed frees by Hegarty, to level matters at 2-13 to 0-19.

Entering stoppage time, Coleman converted two frees for Doulgas. Killian McIntyre and Hegarty replied with points from play for Whitechurch to set the scene for a dramatic finish.

Scorers for Whitechurch: J Hegarty 0-15 (0-8 f, 0-2 sl, 0-1 65), D O’Connell, C Egan 0-2 each, R Murphy, D O’Sullivan, K McIntyre 0-1 each.

Douglas: D Coleman 0-8 (0-6 f), S St Leger 2-0, C O’Keeffe 0-3, C Baldwin 0-2, F Barry, M Dolan 0-1 each.

WHITECHURCH: Jack Kelleher; S Dennehy, A Murphy, J Dennehy; John Kelleher, C Kelleher, M Callanan; C Egan, S O’Reilly; D Burke, J Hegarty, R Dennehy; D O’Connell, C O’Brien, R Murphy.

Subs: C Hennessy for S Dennehy (17, inj), K McIntyre for R Murphy, A Kelleher for Burke (both h-t), D O’Sullivan for R Dennehy (43), S Keane for O’Brien (49).

DOUGLAS: P O’Sullivan; S O’Donoghue, C Lucey, C Mac Phaidín; D Reddington, D Kelly, C O’Donoghue; B O’Connor, S Moylan; C Baldwin, D Coleman, C Reddington; S St Leger, F Barry, C O’Keeffe.

Subs: O Barry for O’Connor (32, inj), M Dolan for F Barry (temp, 47-52), M O’Callaghan for O’Keefe (58, inj).

Referee: David Daly (Brian Dillon’s).