Na Piarsaigh minors help grab Junior A semi-final place against White's Cross

Na Piarsaigh 2-14 White’s Cross 0-16

Na Piarsaigh have booked their place in the AOS Security Seandún Junior A Hurling Championship semi-finals, as they eliminated White’s Cross in their dramatic final group game at Ballinlough.

With the scoreline reading 0-16 to 1-11 in favour of White’s Cross, Na Piarsaigh’s Sean Paul Cooke set up Ian McDonnell for the winning goal two minutes into stoppage time. This left Na Piarsaigh leading by the minimum but they added three further points.

Wayward shooting was to prove costly for both sides in the opening half, but Na Piarsaigh held a five-point advantage at the break, courtesy of the game’s opening goal. White’s Cross rallied to rescue the game, while Na Piarsaigh had to wait until the 57th minute for their first score of the second half.

Conor Buckley opened the scoring for White’s Cross before Na Piarsaigh seized the initiative.

Two unanswered points by Dayne Lee and a further point by Luke Hurley gave Na Piarsaigh a lead of 0-3 to 0-1. Brendan Quain replied for White’s Cross.

Na Piarsaigh continued to have White’s Cross pinned back. Lee set up Hurley for the game’s opening goal in the 17th minute.

Evan Sheehan added a point from play for Na Piarsaigh, while Buckley responded with a pointed free for White’s Cross.

Alan Keating added two points, including a free for Na Piarsaigh. Lee and Cooke each added further points. Ronan Healy replied with a point for White’s Cross. Coughlan and Buckley both converted a free each.

This left the scoreline reading 1-8 to 0-6 in Na Piarsaigh’s favour at the interval

Whites’ Cross raised their game for the second half as they scored nine unanswered points. Donnacha Murnane, Conor Docherty and Healy each got points from play. Coughlan and Buckley converted three placed balls apiece, before the scene was set for a dramatic finish.

Scorers: Na Piarsaigh: L Hurley 1-2, C O’Sullivan 0-4 (0-1 f), D Lee 0-4, I McDonnell 1-0, A Keating 0-2 (0-1 f), SP Cooke, E Sheehan 0-1 each.

White’s Cross: C Buckley 0-6 (0-5 f), E Coughlan 0-5 (0-4 f, 0-1 65), R Healy 0-2, B Quain, D Murnane, C Docherty 0-1 each.

NA PIARSAIGH: J Lonergan; E Cronin, K Power, J Scanlan; C Joyce, P Cunningham, G Joyce; J Morrissey, SP Cooke; A Keating, S Galgey, E Sheehan; L Hurley, M Sheehan, D Lee.

Subs: C O’Sullivan for E Sheehan (h-t), C O’Brien for Lonergan (38, inj), DJ Coffey for Galgey, P Lehane for Morrissey (both 43), I McDonnell for M Sheehan (53), C O’Leary for Keating (60).

WHITE'S CROSS: S Cahill; R Quain, S Quinlan, PJ O’Donovan; G Fleming, R Quinlan, E Coughlan; A O’Neill, D Murnane; J McElhinney, C Buckley, M Goggin; B Quain, D Kelleher, R Healy.

Subs: C Docherty for Healy (51), C Dunne for R Quain (60).

Referee: Trevor Lyons (Douglas).