Clodiagh
Rangers 'A' 4 - Rearcross 'A' 2
Rearcross 'A' went under to Clodiagh Rangers on a 4-2 score
line in this league encounter played at the Drombane venue last Saturday evening
in ideal pitch and weather conditions, the opening exchanges were lively and
it was Rearcross who created the first chance when good work by Jamie Ryan
saw Nigel Ryan break on the right with the resulting shot pulling just left
of the upright in the 4th minute, Clodiagh should have equalised five minutes
later when a cross from the right was headed off target from the edge of the
six yard box, the home side went ahead in the 11th minute when a corner kick
wasn't dealt with and the ball was knocked to the net from close range by
Diarmuid Delahunty. Rearcross were back on level terms two minutes later with
a fine individual strike from Jamie Ryan that left the Clodiagh net minder
stranded. Sean Sheehy was alert in the 19th minute to get the vital touch
on a Clodiagh effort from in front of goal. Derek O'Toole broke through the
Clodiagh defence in the 26th minute, however the shot was gathered by the
Clodiagh netminder. Rearcross were creating their fair share of chances and
Jamie Ryan took up a good scoring position on 31 minutes, however Jack Ryan
in the Clodiagh goals closed in to make the block. The woodwork denied the
home side on the stroke of half time when Diarmuid Delahunty's effort from
the edge of the eighteen yard box ricocheted off the upright. Clodiagh made
a bright start to the second half and a well timed tackle from Diarmuid Sheehy
in the 6th minute averted the immediate danger, however the aversion was short
lived as Clodiagh went 2-1 ahead within a minute when Diarmuid Delahunty produced
the trickery on the end line before swinging the ball across the danger area
where Jody Brennan headed to the net from close range. Rearcross were well
in the game at this stage and Jamie Ryan did well to turn the ball inside
to Derek O'Toole in the 55th minute, however play was called back for an offside
infringement, Rearcross were back in the game a minute later when a high ball
in caused consternation in the Clodiagh rearguard, Derek O'Toole hassled and
harried before tapping to the net from two yards, Rearcross fizzled out of
the game after this and it was the home side who went on the attack, Denis
McCullagh made it 3-2 in the 66th minute when he crashed the ball to the back
of the net from seventeen yards, Clodiagh went 4-2 ahead in the 82nd minute
when Jack Ryan's long kick out found Diarmuid Delahunty who raced through
and was clinical with a finish that left Sean Sheehy with no chance, Rearcross
battled on and were denied in the 91st minute when a goalmouth scramble saw
the ball coming off the crossbar before being cleared to safety, however it
mattered little in any case as Clodiagh had already done enough to secure
the points.
Rearcross 'A': Sean Sheehy, Anthony Ryan, Paul Murphy, Martin McLoughlin,
Diarmuid Sheehy, Nigel Ryan, Matthew Ryan Luke, John Ryan Luke, Liam O'Toole,
Derek O'Toole, Jamie Ryan
Subs: Kevin Mullins for Liam O'Toole (45th minute), David O'Toole for Nigel
Ryan (Injured 77th minute), Joey Nolan for Jamie Ryan (81st minute), Paul
Hogan for Anthony Ryan (86th minute), Declan O'Toole for Paul Murphy(86th
minute)
Clodiagh Rangers 'A': Jack Ryan, Paul English, Mark Cahill, Michael
Ryan, James Ryan, Declan Carr, John Dwyer, Denis McCullagh, Gerry Quinn, Diarmuid
Delahunty, Jody Brennan
Subs: Barry Murphy for James Ryan, Paddy Brennan for John Dwyer
Referee: David White