Clodiagh
Rangers 'A' 3 - Rearcross 'A'
4
Rearcross 'A' got their new league campaign off to a flying start with a
well earned 4-3 victory over Clodiagh Rangers 'A' in Drombane last Sunday
morning, this was an entertaining encounter with the home side taking the
lead after ninety seconds when Owen Shortt was given too much space on the
right and hadn't to be asked twice as he drove past Oliver Kennedy from just
inside the eighteen yard box. Rearcross counter attacked and won a free kick,
which was floated in by John Ryan Luke to Emmet Steed who's headed effort
forced a superb save out of the Clodiagh custodian at the near post. It was
all Clodagh after this and Rearcross were rocked in the 9th minute when Eamom
Cullagh sent a thunderous shot to the back of the net from out on the left.
Joey Nolan's twenty yard strike three minutes later swerved at the last second
and struck the wrong side of the Clodiagh net support. Liam McCullagh fired
over the bar in the 14th minute after Eoin Shortt had set up the move. Clodiagh's
Michael Brown tested Oliver Kennedy in the 24th minute with the latter saving
well. Rearcross were starting to claw their way back in to the tie at this
stage and came close when a long range free kick found Emmet Steed who out
jumped the rest only for his header to loop narrowly over the crossbar. Rearcross
got the badly needed break in the 25th minute when Derek O'Toole did well
to pull the ball from the end line to Emmet Steed with the resulting shot
on goal impeded with the use of a hand, John Ryan Luke stepped up and slotted
past his namesake. Rearcross were back on level terms in the 33rd minute when
Emmet Steed got on the end of a John Ryan Luke free kick and headed to the
corner of the net. Rearcross made a strong finish to the half as Joey Nolan's
attempt was deflected over the bar two minutes before the break. The opening
exchanges of the second half were evenly shared and Oliver Kennedy had to
be alert to turn Declan Carr's shot over the bar three minutes in to the half,
Shane Reynold's had to head clear from a corner kick two minutes later, Derek
O'Toole won two successive corner kicks ten minutes in to the second half
and it was from the second of these that Rearcross took the lead when Emmet
Steed was well positioned to head to the roof of the net from the edge of
the six yard box. A quickly taken free kick in the 64th minute nearly caught
the Rearcross rearguard flat footed. Derek O'Toole got in a shot two minutes
later however the shot pulled away from the target. Jack Ryan came to the
rescue for the Drombane side in the 69th minute with a fine stop from the
boot of Emmet Steed and was equal to Joey Nolan's follow up with a good body
save. Val Kennedy stretched to get a vital touch two minutes shortly after,
however the game was set up for a hectic finish seconds later when Eoin Shortt
nipped in behind the Rearcross defence and headed over the goal line, Rearcross
reacted immediately and Davy O'Toole did well to set up Derek O'Toole two
minutes later who tapped home from close range. A Joey Nolan free was held
by Jack Ryan with twelve minutes remaining. Clodagh applied all the pressure
in the final minutes with the visiting team having to endure a few anxious
moments before the final whistle was sounded and the victory for Rearcross
'A' was secured.
Clodiagh Rangers 'A': Jack Ryan, Gerry Quinn, Alan Tierney, Denis McCullagh,
Paul Gould, Michael Brown, Declan Carr, James Ryan, Liam McCullagh, Eamon
Cullagh, Owen Shortt. Subs: Sean McGuire, Brian Ryan
Rearcross 'A': Oliver Kennedy, Declan O'Toole, Shane Reynolds, John Ryan Luke, Martin McLoughlin, Liam Nolan(B), Emmet Steed, Liam O'Toole, PJ McLoughlin, Joeu Nolan, Derek O'Toole. Subs: Val Kennedy for Martin McLoughlin(15th minute), Davy O'Toole for Liam Nolan(66th minute), Ger Kennedy for Joey Nolan(86th minute). Subs not used: Anthony Ryan, Joey Ryan
Referee: Colm Burke
Congratulation from all in Rearcross F.C. to Clodiagh Rangers who were allocated €120,000 from the 2003 Sports Capital Programme