Thurles
Town 'A' 3 - Rearcross
'A' 1
Rearcross 'A' bowed out of the Premier Cup at the semi-final stage last
Sunday in the Greyhound Stadium with a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Thurles
Town 'A', Rearcross made the initial incursion with a Liam O'Toole playing
a good through ball, however the Thurles netminder advanced to gather two
minutes in to the game. Rearcross were showing composure at the back as John
Ryan Luke coolly headed back to Oliver Kennedy three minutes later. Derek
O'Toole got a shot on target in the 9th minute, which was held by the Thurles
keeper. A good move involving Liam O'Toole and Joe O'Brien in the thirteenth
minute looked threatening, however the pass to PJ McLoughlin who was ideally
positioned was deflected to safety. Thurles came close on 16 minutes when
a Noel McAllister deflected free kick was well blocked by Oliver Kennedy.
Joe O'Brien squared to Sean Kennedy three minutes later with the home side's
keeper saving the shot at the near post. Derek O'Toole made room on the left
in the 22nd minute with the resulting effort not far off the mark, Thurles
broke up the right flank from the kick out and struck a good effort from the
edge of the box that wasn't far wide of the upright. Rearcross were denied
in the 30th minute when PJ McLoughlin got through the centre only for Thurles
Town's Colm Maher to advance and avert the danger. Rearcross were well on
top at this stage and threatened when Liam O'Toole and Joe O'Brien came close
minutes later. Derek O'Toole robbed the Thurles custodian on the right with
two minutes remaining in the half and was unlucky not to get the ball through
to an unmarked Liam O'Toole at the back post. Derek O'Toole's well struck
shot from the left was over the top seconds later. Rearcross were rocked a
minute into injury time when Thurles scored against the run of play after
the ball came out to Eoin Dorney who in turn blasted to the back of the net
from the edge the eighteen yard box. Rearcross were left chasing the game
in the second half and looked to have equalised in the 62nd minute when Derek
O'Toole crossed from the left to Liam O'Toole who hit a powerful shot, however
a fine reflex save from Colm Maher knocked the ball on to the crossbar and
away from the danger area. Rearcross were fighting an uphill battle two minutes
later when possession was lost on the end line, the ball broke to John O'Connell
who rifled to the corner of the net with a left legged drive. Oliver Kennedy
made a point blank stop two minutes later when Thurles looked to be in for
goal number three. Rearcross kept battling with a Derek O'Toole effort not
far of the mark in the 76th minute. Rearcross fell three behind in the 73rd
minute after squandering possession in the danger zone, this time John Lawlor
found himself in space and finished the ball to the net with a clever chip
that left Oliver Kennedy stranded. Rearcross were given a lifeline in the
79th minute when PJ McLoughlin was on hand to knock the ball over the line
from inside the six yard box, Rearcross made a strong finish to the game and
with a bit more luck might have taken the tie to extra time, however Colm
Maher in the Thurles goal was on form and smothered Paul Murphy's attempt
in the 81st minute and then did well to turn Derek O'Toole's shot around the
upright three minutes later, PJ McLoughlin's headed effort from a Joey Nolan
free kick was inches wide of the target in the 86th minute, however it was
not to be for Rearcross as time ran out and the final whistle sounded to bring
the curtain down on the 2002/2003 season for Rearcross 'A'.
Thurles Town 'A': Colm Maher, John O'Connell, Stephen Mason, Robert
Mackey, Eoin Dorney, Ber Brophy, Noel McAllister, Brian Cleary, John Lawlor,
Willie Lawlor, Michael O'Sullivan
Subs Used: Pat Gleeson, Liam Dorney.
Rearcross 'A': Oliver Kennedy, Declan O'Toole, Shane Reynolds, Martin
McLoughlin, John Ryan Luke, PJ McLoughlin, Sean Kennedy, Liam Nolan(B), Liam
O'Toole, Joe O'Brien, Derek O'Toole
Subs: Paul Murphy for Joe O'Brien, Joey Nolan for Declan O'Toole, Val Kennedy
for Sean Kennedy
Subs not used: Adrian Hurley, Ger Kennedy
Referee: Mick Clarke