Whitecross and Lough Rovers to replay semi-final to determine Killavullen’s final opponents

Whitescross 0-12 Lough Rovers 1-9

AFTER being level on seven occasions it was only fitting that Whitescross and Lough Rovers should meet again to decide who faces Killavullen in this year’s County JBHC final.

On Friday evening in Pairc Ui Rinn both sides played out an evenly contested game. Conor Buckley was Whitescross main scorer accounting for 0-11 of their 0-12 tally. Equally Jonathan English was very accurate for the Rovers notching 0-7 of their 1-9 total.

Lough Rovers had the opening two points before Conor Buckley pointed in the 10th minute. Lough Rovers had their goal in the 13th minute when a mistake in the Whitescross defence allowed Cian Boyle in for a goal. Some well taken pointed frees by Conor Buckley had the sides level 1-2 to 0-5 by the 24th minute.

Both sides exchanged a point with Lough Rovers with an injury time pointed free by Jonathan English holding a slender lead at the break 1-4 to 0-6.

From the throw in on the resumption Conor Buckley levelled. Both defences were solid with Jonathan English edging Rovers ahead from a free. Conor Buckley levelled for the fourth time from a free.

Good play for ‘Cross’ by Eoin Murnane led to a point by Buckley. In the 45th minute a sideline cut by Brendan Murnane was sent over by Murt Kennedy as Whitescross went 0-10 to 1-5 clear. Jonathan English pointed a ‘65 and Sean Keane levelled 1-7 to 0-10 with six minutes to go. In the closing moments a foul on Kevin Buckley led to a free by Conor Buckley that went over off the upright. In the 60th minute Jonathan English with a long range free levelled. Whitescross seemed to be on the road to the final when Conor Buckley pointed a free in the 64th minute.

Lough Rovers came close to a winning goal when Danny Flaherty put Cian Boyle through, Whitescross keeper Shane Cahill saved well. In the goalmouth melee Rovers forced a 21 metre free. Jonathan English sent over in the 65th minute and the final whistle followed 1-9 to 0-12. WHITESCROSS: S Cahill, B Murphy, D O’Connor, J O’Connell, B Murnane, M Kelleher 0-1, C Hall, C Buckley 0-11 (8f), D Murnane, R Sherlock, E Murnane, C Smith, P Murnane, B O’Hara, K Buckley. Subs: C O’Flynn for C Smith, S Reid for R Sherlock.

N O’Sullivan, B Healy, C Keane, J Sheehan, K O’Connell, S Keane 0-1 A Moloney, P Foy, D Cummins, J English 0-7 (6f, 1 ‘65’), D Flaherty, P Prout, R O’Connor, K Kennedy, C Boyle 1-1 (0-1f). Sub: D Kiely for P Prout.

REFEREE: Ger Aherne (Canovee)

Killavullen 0-22 Rathpeacon 0-10

AFTER losing last year’s County JBHC final, Killavullen are back in this years decider following their deserved win over Rathpeacon at Pairc Ui Rinn on Friday evening.

Exchanges were close enough in the first half but on the resumption the experienced Killavullen side with Liam Cronin, Barry Murphy, Sean O’Regan, Seamus Fox and Billy Norris to the fore ran out easy winners in the end. Killavullen started well they had a series of early points by Sean O’Regan and Liam Cronin.

Rathpeacon depended mainly on midfielder Gavin Duggan who took some good scores. They were level 0-5 each at the end of the first quarter. Barry Murphy edged Killavullen ahead and they led for the rest of the game. Further points by the former Clare Ireland senior medal winner had the Avondhu side 0-8 to 0-5 clear. Alan Kelleher pointed for the City side.

On top in midfield Liam Cronin struck a brilliant point with Charlie Lillis making it 0 -10 to 0- 6. In the 28th minute Liam Cronin pointed a long range free that gave his side an interval lead 0-11 to 0- 6.

For the second half Rathpeacon moved Patrick Twomey to partner Gavin Duggan at midfield. This worked well for a while. The Seandun side had 2 points on the trot by Aidan O’Brien and Gavin Duggan (free).

From here on Killavullen gained supremacy in the half backline and midfield sectors. They scored eleven more points to just two for Rathpeacon. Sean O’Regan, Barry Murphy, Liam Cronin, Seamus Fox and Alex Notter were all among the Killavullen scores while Rathpeacon’s two points came from Gavin Duggan and John Walsh in the closing moments. KILLAVULLEN: M Cronin, S Rice, P Sheehan, P Nagle, B Norris, K Fox, P Angland, S Fox 0-2, L Cronin 0-6 (3f, 1 ‘65’), S O’Regan 0-3, I O’Gorman, T O’Regan, C Lillis 0-1, B Murphy 0-11 (4f), P Egan 0-1. Subs: E Buckley for T O’Regan, G Sheehan for C Lillis, B Hayes for S Rice, A Notter 0-1, for S O’Regan.

RATHPEACON: D Murphy, P Twomey, S Aherne, D O’Neill, B Dillon 0-1, R O’Riordan, P O’Neill, G Duggan 0-6 (5f), R McGinn, A Kelleher 0-1, J Walsh 0-1, B O’Mahony.

Subs: J Teehan for B Hallissey, B Hallissey for P Twomey, A. O’Brien 0-1 for K Furey

REFEREE: Dave Whyte (St Mary’s)