Rearcross
'A' 3 - Ballinahinch 1
Rearcross 'A' were forced to dig deep to grind out a well earned
3-1 result in this bottom of the table clash played against Ballinahinch at
Rearcross FC Grounds last Sunday afternoon, Rearcross made the better start
despite the heavy underfoot conditions and should have been out of sight at
the half stage after an opening half that saw the home side dominate for long
spells creating more than their fair share of chances, Rearcross went one
nil ahead in the sixth minute when PJ McLoughlin was the play maker before
sending a pin point pass to the path of Matthew Ryan Luke who made no mistake
with the deftest of touches to leave the Ballinahinch net minder with no chance,
Rearcross were on full attack after this and Paul Murphy was brave on eleven
minutes with the ball breaking to Emmet Steed whose effort was deflected out
for a corner kick, Matthew Ryan Luke was in the action minutes later when
he released Emmet Steed with the resulting strike not far off the mark. The
woodwork denied the home side on 14 minutes when Paul Murphy's powerful strike
from the edge of the eighteen yard box rattled the crossbar, Rearcross kept
on the offensive and Emmet Steed laid off to Diarmuid Sheehy in the 19th minute
whose shot pulled to the left of the upright. Rearcross edged in to a two
nil lead in the 21st minute when a quickly taken throw ball from Diarmuid
Sheehy saw PJ McLoughlin getting behind the visiting defence winning a corner
kick in the process, Shane Reynolds was unlucky when his headed touch from
the corner kick was blocked out with the ball falling to PJ McLoughlin who
let fly from edge of the box with ball sailing to the top corner. Ballinahinch
regrouped and were being well served by John Foley whose raiding runs down
the left flank were threatening and it was from one of these raids that the
visitors forced a corner kick with Martin McLoughlin doing well to get a headed
touch to the resulting delivery. Rearcross were back on the attack seconds
later when Paul Murphy forced a superb save out of Donacha McGrath who somehow
managed to keep the ball out with thirteen minutes remaining in the half,
the home side finished the half strongly with PJ McLoughlin turning the ball
inside with to Paul Murphy with two minutes remaining with the visiting defence
closing in to avert the danger. Rearcross were rocked two minutes in to the
second half when John Foley was given too much room before a delivery from
the left saw a free header blocked out by Sean Sheehy with Raphel Ryan scrambling
the ball over the line after slack defensive play from the home side. Rearcross
had to pull out all the stops at this stage and did so in admirable fashion
as the visitors were now playing with added impetuous and had claims for a
penalty turned down in 58th minute, Rearcross started to get the upper hand
again as the half progressed and sealed the victory with four minutes remaining
when Diarmuid Sheehy slipped behind the Ballinahinch rearguard, the well struck
shot was parried faultlessly by the Ballinahinch custodian to the feet of
Emmet Steed who made no mistake with a slick finish to the side netting from
ten yards to copper fasten a much needed three points for the home side.
Rearcross 'A': Sean Sheehy, Simon Kennedy, Shane Reynolds, Martin McLoughlin,
John Ryan Luke, PJ McLoughlin, Matthew Ryan Luke, Sean Mullins, Diarmuid Sheehy,
Emmet Steed, Paul Murphy.
Subs: Liam Ryan for Paul Murphy (75th minute),
Subs Not Used: Declan O'Toole, Damien Mullins, Joey Ryan,
Ballinahinch Utd: Donacha McGrath, Owen Sheehy, John Foley, Ger Sheehy,
Paudie Sheehy, Brendan Healy, Michael Fitzgerald, Michael Lynch, Tommy Kelly,
Raphal Ryan, Pat Crowe,
Subs: Matt Fahey, Ger Griffin, Shane Fitzgerald, William Lynch, Murty Ryan
Referee: Jimmy McCarthy