Rearcross 'A' 2 - Birdhill 3
Rearcross 'A' and Birdhill clashed in this Premier Division Shield quarter final in Rearcross on Wednesday evening with Birdhill shading the issue by the odd goal in five. Birdhill made a lively start and the Rearcross netminder had to be alert to gather after two minutes of play. Paul Coleman fired on target for the visitors five minutes later, however Sean Sheehy was well positioned and saved with ease. Rearcross were let off the hook on the fifteen minute mark when a glancing header from Ricky Moate was inches wide of the upright. Rearcross startied to come in to game after this a fine move involving Derek O'Toole and Paul Murphy on the left saw the latter splay across the danger area where Eamon Gleeson was unlucky not to make better contact. Birdhill looked dangerous on the break and Simon Kennedy did well to head clear on the half hour mark. Rearcross counter attacked and Anthony Ryan's well struck shot wasn't far off target two minutes later. Rearcross took the lead on 33 minutes when Eamon Gleeson turned on the style on the right before squared to Diarmuid Sheehy who was clinical with a will drilled shot to the corner of the net. Sean O'Brien found space to fire across the Rearcross goal mouth with six minutes remaining. Birdhill grabbed an equaliser two minutes before the break when Dermot O'Shea was adjudged to have been fouled in the box, Ricky Moate made no mistake from the penalty spot. Birdhill took up the running at the start of the second half and Paul Coleman's shot pulled away from the target, however Birdhill kept on the offensive and Rearcross were caught flat footed when Dermot O'Shea broke through and finished to the net from inside the eighteen yard box. Rearcross went on to enjoy long spells of dominance after this and a Kevin Mullins shot had to be parried by the Birdhill net minder, the was followed seconds later with a Paul Murphy drive which skidded to the left of the post. Simon Kennedy's shot was on target midway through the half, however the Birdhill custodian tapped over for a corner kick. Rearcross had claims for a handball turned down from the resulting corner kick. Birdhill made it 3-1 with ten minutes remaining when veteran Sean O'Brien kept his composure before coolly slotted in the ball to the corner of the net. Rearcross reduced the deficit three minutes later with a Nigel Ryan penalty. Rearcross laid seige on the Birdhill goal in the remaining minutes and came close with a headed effort from Seamus Feehan before Simon Kennedy's snap shot was right of the upright. Birdhill had done enough on the night to secure the win.
Rearcross 'A': Sean Sheehy, Declan O'Toole, Anthony Ryan, Simon Kennedy, Martin McLoughlin, Nigel Ryan, Diarmuid Sheehy, Derek O'Toole, Seamus Feehan, Paul Murphy, Eamon Gleeson
Subs: Kevin Mullins for Diarmuid Sheehy, James Gough for Kevin Mullins(Injured)
Sub Not Used: Liam O'Toole
Birdhill: PJ O'Rourke, Mike Hayes, Noel Moroney, Michael Crowley, John Vaughan, Ricky Moate, Vincent Moloney, Paul Coleman, David Hickey, Dermot O'Shea, Sean O'Brien
Sub: Cathal O'Connell for Vincent Moloney.
Referee: Jimmy McCarthy