Clodiagh
Rangers 'A' 0 - Rearcross 'A' 2
Rearcross 'A' were the visitors to Drombane for this tricky league fixture
and got the New Year off to a good start with a well earned two nil victory.
Rearcross made a lively start, however Clodiagh were first to threaten when
Declan Carr's header from a corner kick wasn't far away in the sixth minute,
Emmet Steed linked up with Liam Ryan five minutes later with the resulting
effort finishing in the Clodiagh side netting. It was tit for tat at this
stage and Simon Kennedy had to be alert to thwart Eoin Shortt with a well
executed tackle on the edge of the six yard box. Nigel Ryan's lay off to Liam
Nolan midway the half saw the follow up shot pull away from the upright. Rearcross
took the lead in the 33rd minute with a superb strike from Liam Ryan who rifled
to the roof of the net from twenty yards. Rearcross showed strongly at the
start of the second half with Liam Ryan and Nigel Ryan finding space to shoot.
Clodiagh were also penetrating and Michael Brown got in a shot from the left
in the 55th minute and Sean Sheehy did well to the turn the ball away at the
expense of a corner kick, then a Denis McCullagh effort wasn't far away minutes
later. Damien Mullins headed clear from a free kick minutes to deny Clodiagh's
Declan Carr. The visitors made it two nil on 76 minutes when PJ McLoughlin
released Nigel Ryan down the right wing who advanced on goal before driving
to the net from inside the eighteen yard box. Clodiagh didn't throw in the
towel and came back at Rearcross in numbers, Eoin Shortt was through on goal
in the 79th minute, however Sean Sheehy advanced to make the save. Sean Sheehy
was in the action again five minutes later with a save at the near post. Rearcross
defended stoutly for the remainder of the game and were denied a third when
Jack Ryan got down to block Tommy Ryan Luke's effort with two minutes remaining.
Clodiagh Rangers: Jack Ryan, Paul English, James Ryan, Gerry Quinn, Declan
Carr, Matt Cullagh, Michael Brown, Denis McCullagh, Ciaran Carroll, Jody Brennan,
Eoin Shortt
Subs: Stephen Fewer, John O'Dwyer, Gearoid Crowe
Rearcross 'A': Sean Sheehy, Kevin Mullins, Derek O'Toole, Simon Kennedy,
Damien Mullins, PJ McLoughlin(Capt.), Sean Mullins, Liam Nolan(B), Nigel Ryan,
Emmet Steed, Liam Ryan
Subs: Declan O'Toole for Liam Ryan (76th minute), Tommy Ryan Luke for Emmet
Steed (85th minute)
Subs Not Used: James Gough, Jim Caplis
Referee: Toddy Sweeney