Nenagh Celtic 'A' 0 - Rearcross 'A' 1

Rearcross visited Nenagh Rugby Club for this preleminary round shield game against Nenagh Celtic 'A' and came away with a one nil victory against all the odds, Celtic looked dangerous in the early stages and John Ryan Luke leaped in to the air to head out of defence in the second minute, Rearcross breathed a sigh of relief two minutes later as a shot from the edge of the area whizzed past the upright. A John Ryan Luke free was well dealt with by Celtic's keeper Shane White in the sixth minute, this was about the only Rearcross incursion in the opening stages as the Nenagh onslaught continued with efforts from Mark McKenna and Darren Mitchell not far off, Rearcross managed to keep the scoreline intact and sure enough started to get in to the game as the half progressed, PJ McLoughlin met John Ryan Luke's sweetly struck free kick with a headed effort that wasn't far off the mark in the 19th minute. Joey Nolan got in a shot in the 21st minute as the Celtic keeper sprawled across the goal to get a vital touch. The home side made a stong finish to the half and Declan O'Toole had to make a vital inteception to avert a threat. Rearcross matched Nenagh Celtic man for man in the second half, a move involving Matthew Ryan Luke and Derek O'Toole saw the latter stike a left legged effort that pulled to left and wide. Shane Reynolds made a convincing clearance a minute later, Rearcross were growing in stature as the game progressed as frustration was creeping in to the home team. Emmet Steed got on the end of a Martin McLoughlin free on 60 minutes, the attempt wasn't far away. Rearcross made the vital breakthrough in the 63rd minute when John Ryan Luke put the ball through to Liam Nolan who coolly slotted to the back of the Nenagh net. Last years First Division champions weren't going down withput a battle as Oliver Kennedy had to be on the ball to gather from a Darren Mitchell free kick with 17 minutes remaining. Celtic kept the pressure on and were given a lifeline in the 80th minute when Peter Myles pointed to the spot, luckily for Rearcross the resulting penalty was wide of the target, the last ten minutes were hot and heavy, however it was Rearcross who endured and held on for the victory.

Nenagh Celtic 'A': Shane White, Mark McKenna, Derek McKenna, Lenny Ryan, Steve Gavin, John Mitchell, Darren Mitchell, Jason Kennedy, Paul Kelly, Jimmy Hynes, John Shanahan.
Subs: Darren Daly for Paul Kelly, Aurthur Mitchell for Jimmy Hynes. Sub not used: Aidan Hurley

Rearcross 'A': Oliver Kennedy(Capt), Declan O'Toole, Shane Reynolds, John Ryan Luke, Val Kennedy, Emmet Steed, Liam O'Toole, Liam Nolan(B), PJ McLoughlin, Derek O'Toole, Joey Nolan
Subs: Martin McLoughlin for Val Kennedy - injured(26th minute), Matthew Ryan Luke for Joey Nolan(53rd minute), Anthony Ryan for
Subs not used: Ger Kennedy, David O'Toole, Adrian Hurley.

Referee: Peter Myles