Rearcross
'A' 2 - Kilmanahan Utd. 2
(Rearcross
win 5-4 on penalties)
Rearcross advanced to the 5th round of the FAI Junior Cup last
Sunday in Rearcross with a hard earned victory over Waterford side Kilmanahan
Utd following a penalty shootout, Rearcross created more than their fair share
of chances in the opening half, the first coming ten minutes in when a John
Ryan Luke free kick was floated in to the danger area as the ball rolled menacingly
across the goalmouth before being cleared to safety by the visiting defence,
Nigel Ryan broke on the right five minutes later with his well struck effort
not far away from the Kilmanahan goals. Rearcross lived dangerously in the
17th minute when a corner kick flew across the face of the goals when the
slightest of touches would have done the damage. The TSDL side got a shot
on target three minutes later, however Sean Sheehy was well positioned to
gather cleanly, Rearcross were denied on 21 minutes when PJ McLoughlin's looping
header looked to be heading for the net, however the Kilmanahan fullback somehow
managed to get back to keep the ball out, Rearcross were well on top at this
stage and Nigel Ryan's effort wasn't far off two minutes later. The upright
denied PJ McLoughlin in the 25th minute when a good lay off from Nigel Ryan
saw PJ McLoughlin's effort clip the base of the upright. Rearcross eventually
took the lead in the 36th minute when a good passing movement started from
the back saw Diarmuid Sheehy's long delivery finding Nigel Ryan on the right
who in turn raced through and knocked to the net from inside the eighteen
yard box. Kilmanahan made a strong start to the second half and came close
in the 55th minute with a well worked move, Sean Sheehy then denied the visitors
on 64 minutes with a fine reflex save. Nigel Ryan put Rearcross two nil in
front in the 79th minute with a fine individual goal following a sprint breakaway
down the right flank before slicing the ball between the posts. Rearcross
let Kilmanahan back in to the game three minutes later when a ball delivered
from the right was not attacked with conviction, Simon Kane took full advantage
with a headed goal from in front of the target, the visitors went all out
for the equaliser which came in the 91st minute when Connie Power's classy
bicycle kick effort was on target and the ball crept inside the far upright.
Kilmanahan showed strongly in extra time and Rearcross were forced to defend
in depth which was done admirably, the visitors came close with two efforts
in the second period of extra time, however with the sides still deadlocked
at the end of extra time, the outcome had to be decided on a penalty shootout
with Rearcross booking their place in the last 64 of the competition following
a sudden death shootout on a 5-4 scoreline, the marksmen for Rearcross were
Anthony Ryan, Nigel Ryan, Simon Kennedy, Paul Murphy and Emmet Steed, with
goalkeeper Sean Sheehy producing the goods with two penalty saves, the penalty
scorers for Kilmanahan were Tom Morrissey, Connie Power, Liam Walsh and Simon
Kane
Rearcross 'A': Sean Sheehy, Eamon Devitt, Anthony Ryan, Martin McLoughlin,
Diarmuid Sheehy, PJ McLoughlin, John Ryan Luke, Sean Mullins, Paul Murphy,
Emmet Steed, Nigel Ryan
Subs: Davy O'Toole for Sean Mullins(58th minute), Matthew Ryan Luke for John
Ryan Luke (89th minute), Simon Kennedy for Eamon Devitt(96th minute)
Subs Not Used: Shane Reynolds, Matthew Ryan Luke, Damien Mullins, John Berkery
Kilmanahan Utd.: Gregory Aird, James O'Donnell, Tom Morrissey, Tommy
Power, Dick Keefe, Connie Power, Patrick Walsh, Liam Walsh, Shane McGrath,
Bobby Power, Simon Kane
Subs Used: Alan Sweeney, Stephen Byrne
Referee: Shay Donnelly
Assistant Referees: Peter Moyles, David Donnelly,