Junior B’s off to a flying start

JUNIOR B HURLING LEAGUE White’s Cross 0-19 Lough Rovers 2-11

The junior B hurlers got their league campaign off to the best possible start when they met Lough Rovers in a game played under lights on their Carrigrohane Road grounds on Wednesday night last.

The first half of this game was very evenly contested. White’s Cross opened the scoring when Cormac Dervan hit a fine point from the middle of the field. Lough Rovers then hit the next two points to lead by a point. Seamus Reid, who was unerring from frees all night, put White’s Cross into the lead again by one point with two frees in succession. The key moment of the first half arrived on 8 minutes. The Lough were awarded a close in free. Their centre forward surprised everybody in attendance when he opted to go low. His luck was in as he found the net. Fionnan Quinlan was having a very good game at full-forward and he reduced the deficit with a well take score shortly after before Seamus Reid equalised on 10 minutes. The score read 1-02 to 0-05 at this stage. There were no further scores for the next 10 minutes. Harry Coughlan, who had been part of Presentation Brothers College Munster Senior Cup Rugby side that played in the final of that competition on Patricks Day, made his return to the White’s Cross jersey when he was introduced as sub midway through the half. He made an immediate impression when scoring a neat point from play. The Lough responded with two frees before Seamus Reid scored his fourth free of the half to leave the sides level at the short whistle on a score of 1-04 to 0-07.

Lough Rovers introduced Jonathan English at half-time. He had a big influence on the game as his side made a whirlwind start to the second half as they added 1-02 inside the opening two minutes. Harry Coughlan, was the star player for White’s Cross, added the next two points from play to put a halt to the home sides gallop. Anthony O’Leary and Seamus Reid added points from frees in between two further Lough Rovers points from play from the hugely influential Jonathan English. English also landed a sublime point from a sideline. The last quarter belonged to White’s Cross however as points from play from Harry Coughlan, Shane O’Leary, Anthony O’Leary (from distance) and Cormac Dervan getting their second went unanswered as White’s Cross pushed for home and the home side tired. To their credit they kept battling and added the final score of the game to leave only two between them. However, it was White’s Cross that deservedly held on for a two-point win.

Team: Danny Dunphy, Ronan Quain, Chris Dunne, Richie Sherlock, Seamus Quinlan, Ross Murphy, Anthony O’Leary, Cormac Dervan, Luke Kelleher, Shane O’Leary, Cathal Kelleher, Seamus Reid, Fionnan Quinlan, Harry Coughlan. Subs Murt Kelleher.