Nenagh Celtic 'A' 0 - Rearcross 'A' 1
Rearcross 'A' turned in a gritty performance last Sunday afternoon
to topple Premier League Champions Nenagh Celtic 'A' on a one nil score line
in a Tipperary Cup Quarter Final played at the Nenagh venue, Nenagh Celtic
were fast out of the traps and were causing problems for the visiting defence,
a Paul Kelly free kick in the 4th minute wasn't far off the mark, Rearcross
steadied and started to match their opponents in all sectors, a well worked
move by Derek O'Toole on 11 minutes saw John Ryan Luke getting a shot on target
which was stopped out for a corner by the Nenagh net minder. John Donnellan
got on the end of another corner kick midway through the half, the visitors
breathed a sigh of relief as the ball went over the top. Rearcross were then
forced to defend in depth as Nenagh attacked in droves, Val Kennedy got up
well to head clear in the 27th minute, Rearcross were back in the action two
minutes later when Derek O'Toole got behind the Nenagh defence, however the
Nenagh custodian closed the angle and made the save. Derek O'Toole got through
again seconds later, however play was halted for an offside infringement as
the resulting shot came back off the upright, the visitors escaped in the
32nd minute when the ball was deflected off the goal line following a corner
kick. Nenagh were looking dangerous from set pieces and Rearcross had to be
on full alert to deal with three successive corners with five minutes remaining
in the half, Rearcross prevailed and advanced up field, John Ryan Luke released
Joey Nolan on the right, however the shot from an acute angle pulled outside
the far post. Rearcross took the lead with four minutes remaining in the half
when Joey Nolan was fastest off the mark as he got under Derek O'Toole's corner
kick and headed past Shane Whyte in the Nenagh goal. Rearcross made a strong
start the to the second half, a Val Kennedy clearance in the 4th minute found
Derek O'Toole who raced down the left flank, the Nenagh keeper got out to
deny the chance, Rearcross were fortunate in the 63rd minute when the ball
ricocheted out for a corner kick after a goal mouth scramble, Derek O'Toole
put the ball in danger area in the 67th minute and followed through with a
darting run, however the ball skewed to the right of the target. The game
was finished at a hectic pace as Celtic went in search of an equaliser, Oliver
Kennedy made a point blank save in the 74th minute when a goal looked certain,
a Darren Mitchell free kick was headed to safety four minutes later by Val
Kennedy who was dominant in the air throughout, a temper flare up minutes
later wasn't going to detract from a Rearcross side who were well up for this
Cup tie, Nenagh kept battling and looked dangerous to the end, Davy O'Toole
got in the way of a Celtic pile driver with two minutes remaining, however
it was not to be for League winners as the final whistle sounded shortly afterwards.
Rearcross turned in a fine performance on the day, however further improvement
will be required if Rearcross are to progress in this competition.
Nenagh Celtic 'A': Shane Whyte, Stevie Ryan, Darren Mitchell, Darren Daly,
Derek McKenna, John Donnellan, Jason Kennedy, John Mitchell, Jimmy Hynes,
Paul Kelly, Aurthur Mitchell,
Subs: Padraig O'Meara, Neil O'Donnell, Mark McKenna (Not used)
Rearcross 'A': Oliver Kennedy, PJ McLoughlin, Joey Ryan, Val Kennedy,
Sean Kennedy, Liam O'Toole, John Ryan Luke, Matthew Ryan Luke, Liam Nolan(B),
Joey Nolan, Derek O'Toole
Subs: Davy O'Toole for Joey Nolan, Emmet Steed for Liam Nolan(B),
Subs Not Used: Declan O'Toole, Anthony Ryan, Martin McLoughlin, Ger Kennedy
Referee: Shay Donnelly