Rearcross
'A' 9 - Shinrone 3
A Rearcross 'A' selection completed their league campaign last Sunday afternoon
against a depleted Shinrone side on a 9-3 scoreline in a league game played
in Rearcross. The opening half possession was evenly shared, however it was
Rearcross who enjoyed a two nil lead at the half way mark, Shinrone were unlucky
not to have opened their account midway through the half with successive shots
just over the top, while Rearcross keeper Simon Kennedy also denied the Offaly
men with a fine save late in the half, Rearcross however were the more clinical
finishers when Trevor Delahunty hit the target from close range in the 28th
minute, while minutes later PJ McLoughlin made no mistake when he finished
to the net after the ball broke from a corner kick. The game was over a contest
ten minutes in to the second half after a goal blitz saw the home side hit
Shinrone for four during that period with Derek O'Toole & Trevor Delahunty
finding the net, while Joey Nolan grabbed a brace. Rearcross used the remainder
of the game to utilise their full complement of subs and went on to add a
further three goals when the underage players took over the scoring with Larry
McLoughlin hitting the visitors for two while keeper turned striker Simon
Kennedy was on hand to finish from close range. Shinrone never threw in the
towel and scored three goals during that second half.
Rearcross 'A': Simon Kennedy, Declan O'Toole, John Ryan Luke, Martin
McLoughlin, Denis Kennedy, Liam O'Toole, Matthew Ryan Luke, David Ryan Luke,
PJ McLoughlin, Trevor Delahunty, Derek O'Toole.
Subs: Thomas Kennedy, Myles Devitt, Joey Nolan, Paul Murphy, Larry McLoughlin
So the curtain comes down on a season that might have been for Rearcross 'A',
a third place finishing in the league is creditable by any standards, however
finishing three points behind league winners Nenagh 'A' shows how near we
were and yet so far from the holy grail on this occasion. We can look back
on games that we might have won specifically away to Clodiagh Rangers early
in the season and at home to Arra Rovers in January when we led 2-1 with nine
minutes to go and ended up losing 4-2, however the vital game was away to
Nenagh when we lost one nil on a day when Rearcross never got in to the game.
Our thanks to the 'A' team manager Noel Deegan for his contribution during
the season, the critics were trying to understand how an aging Rearcross 'A'
could sustain their place in the Premier Division this season and ended up
challenging for the title so credit to our Manager for the teams performance
this season.