Rearcross Youths turned in a courageous and gallant performance against pre-match
favourites Nenagh Town AFC in the Youths Shield Final played at Drombane last
Saturday afternoon and were unfortunate in the end not to have taken the title
after loosing out in the penalty shootout when the sides finished on a two
all score line at the final whistle. Nenagh went on the attack from the kick
off, however Jim Caplis in the Rearcross goal was in scintillating form and
thwarted the Nenagh attack on several occasions throughout the game, the first
save coming in the 4th minute with a fine reflex block, Nenagh surged forward
in droves and Seamus Feehan was also in top form for Rearcross and headed
clear on ten minutes. Rearcross settled after the early onslaught and a Jamie
Ryan effort wasn't far off minutes later, Nenagh took the lead in the 23rd
minute when Simon Gaynor got behind the Rearcross defence and slotted between
the posts, Jim Caplis came to the rescue for Rearcross three minutes later
when he reacted superbly to finger tip the ball around the far upright, Rearcross
came back at Nenagh who were awakening to the fact they had a battle on their
hands and Paul Hogan was unlucky to see his effort from out on the right finish
in the side netting, Nenagh should have increased their lead a minute later,
however the well struck effort was off target. Jim Caplis was again on hand
in the 33rd minute to make a point blank save, Rearcross made a blistering
finish to the half and were back on par in the 33rd minute when a Jamie Ryan
free kick broke to Colin O'Doherty who knocked to the net from close range,
Nenagh were still reeling from this set back when Rearcross took the lead
with three minutes remaining in the half after a ball through the centre showed
vulnerability in the Nenagh defence, Colin O'Doherty hassled and harried before
poking to the ball to the corner of the net. Nenagh made a strong start to
the second half and again it was the Rearcross custodian who denied the favourites
a minute in with a save at the expense of a corner kick, Jim Caplis was in
the action five minutes later with a fine body save before Derek Nolan cleaned
up with a well timed tackle, a good Rearcross move in the 55th minute saw
Paul Hogan advancing on the right with the resulting effort drifting over
the crossbar. Nenagh shot just wide in the 70th minute and then a headed effort
from George Hannigan was over the bar in the 67th minute. The Rearcross rearguard
were frustrating the Nenagh attack time on time and it was to take a contentious
equaliser with sixteen minutes remaining to let Nenagh back in to the game
when the ball was adjudged to have been over the line with the credit going
to Gordon Harding. Rearcross regrouped after this setback and played gallantly
to the end with Jim Caplis who truly turned in a man of the match performance
again to the fore, a nail biting finish saw Jim Caplis save splendidly when
the ball looked to be destined for the top corner with two minutes remaining,
and then Rearcross came agonisingly close with seconds remaining when Robert
Harrington's free kick from the edge of the box clipped the top of the cross
bar with the Nenagh keeper beaten, it was Nenagh who had the luck in the penalty
shoot out emerging victorious on a 4-2 score line, Simon Kennedy and Colin
O'Doherty converted for Rearcross, while Michael O'Gorman, Damien Mitchell,
Trevor Kennealy and Simon Gaynor were on the mark for Nenagh, North Tipperary
and District League representative Michael Leo presented the Shield Trophy
to Nenagh captain Michael O'Gorman after the game.
Rearcross:
Jim Caplis, Damien Nolan, Derek Nolan, Seamus Feehan, Simon Kennedy(Capt.)
Thomas Grace, Jamie Ryan, Liam Lynch, Paul Hogan, Robert Harrington, Colin
O'Doherty. Subs: Larry McLoughlin, Timmy Cranley, Mark Hogan, Wayne McMahon,
Danny O'Brien, Padraig Carey, James Gough
Team Management: Joey Nolan, John Sheldon, Adrian Ryan
Nenagh
Town AFC: Aaron Savage, Michael O'Gorman(Capt.), Gary Kevin, Simon
Healy, Brian Barry, Jerome Ashman, Damien Mitchell, Trevor Kennealy, Simon
Gaynor, Patrick Murphy, Subs: Mark Grace, Tim Spellman, Michael Duff
Team Management: Robert Ashman, Frank Savage, Michael Greenaway, Michael Morrissey,
Eugene Hackett
Referee: Peter Myles
Assistant Referees: Shay Donnelly, David Donnelly
Match Officials & Team Captains Picture