Match Results & Reports

Rearcross 'A' 4 - Blackcastle 'A' 2

A long series of successive defeats to Blackcastle 'A' came to an abrupt end in Rearcross last Sunday when Rearcross 'A' progressed to the quarter final of the Premier Cup with an emphatic 4-2 victory over the Templemore side. The home side had to be at their best early on to keep the visitors at bay with telling tackles from Shane Reynolds and John Ryan Luke making the difference. Val Kennedy came to the rescue in the 6th minute when he blocked down a James Ryan effort. Blackcastle threatened again three minutes later when Mel McBride released Johnny Doran, however the ball didn't fall too kindly and bobbled over the end line. Rearcross took the lead in the 14th minute when Emmet Steed waltzed through two Blackcastle defenders and finished to the net from inside the eighteen yard box. Rearcross had claims for a penalty kick turned down in the 21st minute after a combined move involving Joe O'Brien and Derek O'Toole. The Blackcastle custodian had to be at full stretch to hold Derek O'Toole's effort from the left on 27 minutes. Rearcross were let of the hook two minutes later when sloppy defending might have resulted in the concession of a spot kick. James Ryan was unlucky not to pull a goal back in the 36th minute when his headed effort wasn't far off the mark. Rearcross raced in to a two nil lead with two minutes remaining in the half when Liam O'Toole took the ball down, turned and landed a fine strike that went in off the cross bar. Rearcross were dominant after the restart and were denied two minutes in to the half when Derek O'Toole broke on the left, however the effort was over the bar. Rearcross grabbed goal number three a minute later when a long delivery from Oliver Kennedy found Liam O'Toole on the right, who nipped in and finished splendidly to the net. Blackcastle were given a lifeline in the 51st minute when Ricky O' Brien blasted to the back of the net from the penalty spot. Rearcross were reduced to ten men with half an hour remaining and were lucky to escape two minutes later when the ball flashed across the goalmouth. Johnny Doran came close for the visitors in the 64th minute when his left legged volley veered to the left of the post. Rearcross were under pressure at this stage with the Rearcross rearguard having to pull out all the stops to keep the score line intact. Rearcross looked to have sealed the issue with ten minutes remaining when Paul Murphy's curling corner kick finished in the back of the net, however Blackcastle neutralised the goal a minute later when Mel McBride got behind the defence and knocked the ball to the net from the edge of the six yard box. Rearcross had to withstand a few anxious moments thereafter but held on for an overdue victory against the Premier League champions.

Rearcross 'A': Oliver Kennedy, Declan O'Toole, Shane Reynolds, John Ryan Luke, Martin McLoughlin, Emmet Steed, Val Kennedy, Liam Nolan(B), Liam O'Toole, Derek O'Toole, Joe O'Brien,
Subs: Paul Murphy for Joe O'Brien, Sean Kennedy for Val Kennedy, Joey Nolan for Liam Nolan. Subs not used: PJ McLoughlin, Ger Kennedy

Blackcastle 'A': Mervyn Bradish, Declan Fogarty, David Fennell, Ricky O'Brien, Nigel Bradish, Johnny Doran, David Ryan, Garry Revins, Killian O'Neill, Damien McBride, James Ryan
Subs: James Fogarty for Killian O'Neill, Chris Eid for David Ryan, Stephen Fennell for Declan Fogarty.

Referee: Jimmy McCarthy