White's Cross eliminate Whitechurch in Seandún Junior A Football Championship

White’s Cross 1-10 (1-0-10) Whitechurch 0-10 (0-2-4)

White’s Cross have qualified for the next round of the AOS Security Seandún Junior A Football Championship before a sizeable attendance at Ballinlough, while Whitechurch have been eliminated.

Despite the greasy conditions, resulting from recent heavy rainfall, both sides played an open game, with White’s Cross getting the decisive score within a minute of the throw-in, while Whitechurch got the game’s only two-point scores.

White’s Cross had Whitechurch pinned back from the start and within a minute of the start, Sean Delaney set up Conor Docherty for the game’s only goal. This was followed by a point for White’s Cross by Conor Buckley, which left White’s Cross leading 1-1 to 0-0.

Whitechurch opened their account with a point from play by Ben Carroll.

Sean Delaney tagged on two points from play for White’s Cross, before Mark Callanan and Darragh O’Connell replied with one each for Whitechurch.

Conor Docherty extended White’s Cross’ lead to 1-4 to 0-3, before Jamie Heagrty responded with the game’s first two-pointer for Whitechurch.

White’s Cross tagged on points by Murt Kelleher and Aidan Docherty in stoppage time at the end of the opening half. This left White’s Cross leading 1-6 to 0-5 at the interval.

John McElhinney slotted over a point for White’s Cross, three minutes into the second half. White’s Cross continued to have Whitechurch on the back foot, but Whitechurch’s net-minder Daniel Kelleher was pulling off some spectacular saves.

Wayward kick-outs were also proving to be costly for White’s Cross. Jamie Hegarty won possession from a White’s Cross kick-out in the 40th minute to land his second two-pointer for Whitechurch. This left the scoreline reading 1-7 to 0-7 in favour of White’s Cross.

Conor Buckley converted the game’s first free in the 41st minute, before Whitechurch replied with a point from play by Killian McIntyre. Darragh O’Connell pointed a free for Whitechurch.

Eddie Coughlan slotted over a second point from a free for White’s Cross in the final quarter.

Deep in stoppage time, Aidan Kelleher and Conor Buckley exchanged points.

Scorers for White’s Cross: C Docherty 1-2; C Buckley 0-3 (0-1f); S Delaney 0-2; E Coughlan 0-1f; M Kelleher, J McElhinney 0-1 each.

Whitechurch: J Hegarty 0-4 (2 2pt); D O’Connell 0-2 (0-1f); M Callanan, B Carroll, K McIntyre, A Kelleher 0-1 each.

WHITE’S CROSS: R Teahan; B Prendergast, M O’Keeffe, A Docherty; S Quinlan, R Quinlan, PJ O’Donovan; E Coughlan, B O’Riordan; S Whooley, C Buckley, R Healy; S Delaney, C Docherty, B Quain.

Subs: J McElhinney for O’Donovan (37, inj), M Kelleher for O’Riordan (27), E Buckley for Delaney (49, inj), D Burke for Kelleher (60+).

WHITECHURCH: D Kelleher; A Murphy, R O’Connell, D Culley; C Hennessy, S O’Reilly, S Glackin; R Dennehy, C O’Brien; J Hegarty, M Callanan, A Kelleher; B Carroll, S Keane, D O’Connell.

Referee: David Daly (Brian Dillon’s).