White's Cross have too much firepower for St Michael's in Seandún JAFC

White’s Cross 3-18 (3-3-12) St Michael’s 1-8 (1-0-8)

White’s Cross have booked their place in the AOS Security Seandún Junior A Football Championship semi-final, after they defeated St Michael’s in their one-sided preliminary quarter-final, before a good-sized attendance, at Páirc Mhichíl. 

White’s Cross will meet Mayfield.

Michael’s opened the scoring with a goal in the sixth minute, but had to wait 14 minutes for their next score. The second half was one-way traffic in favour of White’s Cross, who landed three two-pointers, followed by two late goals. 

Michael’s missed a penalty, two minutes from time. St. Michael’s were also dealt a blow as they were reduced to 14 players for most of the second half.

Niall Cashman set up Pat Doyle for the game’s opening goal.

With the elements in their favour in the opening half, White’s Cross seized the initiative as Eddie Coughlan and Brendan Quain each scored unanswered points. White’s Cross continued to have St Michael’s pinned back as Conor Buckley gave them a lead of 0-5 to 1-0 with three points, including a free.

St Michael’s responded as points by Ryan Sweeney and Ollie McAdoo tied the scores at 1-2 to 0-5. In the 23rd minute, Stephen Whooley set up John McElhinney for a goal, which put White’s Cross back in the lead.

Buckley and Lee O’Sullivan exchanged pointed frees as White’s Cross led 1-6 to 1-3 at the interval. 

White’s Cross had Michael’s on the back foot from the resumption. Buckley landed a two-pointer from play and he also converted a free outside the 40-metre arc. Ronan Healy also got a point, to increase the margin to eight points.

Michael’s responded with Sweeney’s second point, before they found themselves back on the defensive.

Buckley landed his third two-pointer. Ruairí Quinlan added two further points. Whooley and Healy added further points to increase White’s Cross’ lead to 1-17 to 1-4.

Ian O’Keeffe got a point for Michael’s, but Bobby O’Riordan set up PJ O’Donovan for White’s Cross’ second goal.

Jack O’Sullivan traded points with Delaney. Michael's were awarded a penalty. McAdoo’s shot was saved by White’s Cross net-minder Rory Teahan, but McAdoo got a point on the rebound.

With time almost up, Delaney got the third goal, before McAdoo got his third point.

Scorers for White’s Cross: C Buckley 0-10 (0-2 f, 1 2pt f, 2 2pt), S Delaney 1-1, PJ O’Donovan, J McElhinney 1-0 each, R Healy, R Quain 0-2 each, S Whooley, B Quain, E Coughlan 0-1 each.

St Michael’s: P Doyle 1-0, O McAdoo 0-3, R Sweeney 0-2, L O’Sullivan (f), I O’Keeffe, J O’Sullivna 0-1 each.

WHITE'S CROSS: R Teahan; S Ryan, K Ryan, M O’Keeffe; S Quinlan, R Quinlan, D Burke; E Coughaln, B O’Riordan; S Whooley, C Buckley, R Healy; C Docherty, J McElhinney, B Quain.

Subs: PJ O’Donovan for S Quinlan (18, inj), S Delaney for Docherty (49), B Prendergast to for Burke (54).

ST MICHAEL'S: M Burke; J O’Sullivan, A Ó Drisceoil, Aidan O’Brien; O McAdoo, A Nolan, J Dineen; N Cashman, P Doyle; S Ahern, M Drummond, D O’Sullivan; L O’Sullivan, L Fogarty, R Sweeney.

Subs: I O’Keeffe for Doyle (h/t), D McClafferty for Drummond (49), M Burre for Fogarty (54).

Referee: Peter Finnegan (Douglas).