Mayfield defeat White’s Cross to set up a JAFC semi-final meeting with Douglas

Mayfield 3-24 (3-5-14)

White’s Cross 1-16 (1-3-10)

Mayfield defeated White’s Cross in a one-sided preliminary semi-final of the AOS Security Seandún Junior A Football Championship at Ballinlough, to set up a semi-final meeting with Douglas.

White’s Cross made the better start, but Mayfield took a grip on proceedings with a goal and five two-pointers on the board at the interval. Mayfield held White’s Cross scoreless in the third quarter, but White’s Cross, to their credit, converted two frees from outside the Mayfield 40-metre arc.

In an evenly-contested opening quarter, Eddie Coughlan, Conor Buckley and Mark Prendergast each got points from play for White’s Cross. Mayfield replied with points by Shane O’Donovan and Dilan O’Donovan. 

Dan Lucey converted the game’s first pointed free, to tie the scores at three points apiece.

Lucey gave Mayfield the lead with a two-point free. Lucey exchanged points with Sean Delaney, before Coughlan landed a two-pointer for White’s Cross, to level matters at six points each.

White’s Cross’ Ronan Healy traded points with Mayfield’s David O’Neill. 

Conor Docherty set up John McElhinney for the game’s opening goal in the 16th minute. This gave White’s Cross a lead of 1-7 to 0-7.

Dilan O’Donovan reduced the margin to a single point with Mayfield’s first two-pointer from play.

Mayfield continued to have White’s Cross on the defensive as Dilan O’Donovan set up Ronan O’Keefe for Mayfield’s first goal. Eoin O’Sullivan and Calvin O’Donovan added a two-pointer each for Mayfield. 

Ronan O’Keeffe also pointed a free from outside the White’s Cross 40-metre arc. 

White’s Cross responded with three points, including two frees by Buckley and a further point by McElhinney. 

This left Mayfield leading 1-17 to 1-11 at the break.

The second half was one-way traffic in Mayfield’s favour, as O’Keeffe and Lucey ended the game as a contest with a goal each. 

White’s Cross responded with two frees by Buckley from outside the Mayfield 40-metre arc. 

McElhinney also converted a free.

Scorers for Mayfield: R O’Keeffe 2-4 (1 2pt f, 0-2f); D Lucey 1-6 (1 2pt f; 0-1f); D O’Donovan 0-4 (2pt); C O’Donovan 0-3 (2pt); E O’Sullivan 0-2, (2pt); D O’Neill 0-2, S O’Donovan, N Kelly, MJ Coffey 0-1 each.

White’s Cross: C Buckley 0-8 (2 2pt f, 0-2f); J McElhinney 1-2 (0-1f); E Coughlan 0-3 (2pt); M Prendergast, R Healy, S Delaney 0-1 each.

Mayfield: E Cusack; A Walsh, A Hegarty, L Malone; D O’Neill, E O’Sullivan, C Moynihan; S O’Donovan, C Doherty; D O’Donovan, N Kelly, T Horgan; D Lucey, C O’Donvoan, R O’Keeffe.

Subs: B O’Leary for Hegarty, L Foley for Walsh (both h/t), MJ Coffey for Horgan (39), E Scanlon for Doherty (45), C Bond for C O’Donovan (60).

White’s Cross: R Teahan; S Ryan, K Ryan, M O’Keeffe; M Prendergast, R Quinlan, D Burke; E Coughlan, S Delaney; S Whooley, C Buckley, R Healy; C Docherty, J McElhinney, B Quain.

Subs: A Docherty for M O’Keeffe (34, inj), M Kelleher for Healy (45), L Kelleher for A Docherty (50).

Referee: Peter Finnegan (Douglas).