Rearcross 'A' 1 - Ballynanty Rovers 'A' 2

Ballynanty Rovers were the visitors to Rearcross F.C. Grounds for this highly competitive friendly against Rearcross 'A' last Sunday morning, last seasons' Munster Junior Cup finalists and FAI Junior Cup semi-finalists signalled their footballing ability from the off with some deft passing movements which led to a Robert Earls effort that wasn't far over the bar in the first minute, a cross from the left was met by Ken McNamara who's header was over the top in the 4th minute. Rearcross were struggling to come to grips with Balla's neat passing and were punished in the 6th minute when Robert Earls sailed behind the Rearcross rearguard and knocked the ball past Oliver Kennedy, Rearcross fearing a trouncing, upped the tempo and started to get the edge in the midfield sector, a move on the right in the 11th minute saw Nigel Ryan break inside the Balla left full and in turn shot to the net from the edge of the eighteen yard box. Rearcross were holding their own at this stage with a Val Kennedy header just over the bar minutes later while Joey Nolan's free kick veered off target on 15 minutes. Ballananty should have taken the lead again in the 18th minute, however the penalty kick was wide of the target, a well timed tackle from John Ryan Luke neutralised a well worked Ballananty move four minutes later. Balla threatened in the 29th minute when David Dunphy fired in a fine cross to Robert Earls, however the ball didn't fall to kindly and the danger was averted for Rearcross. A second spot kick miss in the 31st minute kept Rearcross in the game as the sides remained deadlocked at the half time whistle. Exchanges were fair and even in the second half, the woodwork denied Rearcross ten minutes in to the half when Liam O'Tooles strike had the Ballananty keeper well beaten, Ballynanaty scored what proved to be the winner in the 65th minute when the ball was sliced to the net by Kilkenny City player David Dunphy after haphazard defending from Rearcross. The game opened up after this with chances falling to both sides, Ger Kennedy should have done better with two minutes left on the clock when his attempt from far out pulled to the left and out wide with the Ballynanty keeper well off his line.

Rearcross 'A': Oliver Kennedy, Declan O'Toole, Anthony Ryan, Adrian Hurley, John Ryan Luke, Val Kennedy, Liam Nolan(B), Liam O'Toole, Nigel Ryan, Joey Nolan, David O'Toole
Subs: Ger Kennedy for Davy O'Toole, Eamon O'Toole for Oliver Kennedy, PJ McLoughlin, Emmet Steed

Ballynanty Rovers 'A': Alan Johnson, Niall Kearney, Terry Bussoli, Robert McCarthy, Tom Daly, Robert Earls, Philip Collopy, Niall McNamara, David Dunphy, Ken McNamara, Dave Ryan

Referee: John Sheldon