Ardcroney Youths 4 - Rearcross Youths 3
Rearcross Youths kicked of their new campaign with an away league game to Ardcroney last Saturday and were unlucky in end to lose out by the odd goal in seven. Ardcroney made the early running and Rearcross keeper Bobby Carroll was called in to action in the 4th minute with a smart save at the near post. The home side took the lead on nine minutes when a delivery from the right was poked home at the back post be Louis Mooney. Ardcroney were two ahead five minutes later when Rearcross failed to clear their lines and the ball was scrambled over the line in what will go down as an own goal. Ardcroney were dominated affairs at this stage and the visitors were let of the hook midway through the half when a thirty yard pile driver rattled the crossbar. Rearcross upped the ante towards the end of the half and a Michael O'Gorman free bended just wide of the post ten minutes before the break. The woodwork was to deny Rearcross four minutes later when Michael O'Gorman's looping effort from an acute angle clipped the top of the crossbar. Rearcross were rocked three minutes later when Biran O'Meara broke through on the right before sending a low effort to the back of the net.
Bobby Carroll was called in to action seconds in to the second half with a fine block, Rearcross reduced the deficit on 49 minutes when a flowing move on the right found Kieran Devitt in space who turned a fly with a superb effort that left the Ardcroney custodian with no chance. Bobby Carroll came to the rescue again for Rearcross minutes later with a reflex save. Ardcroney restored their advantage on the hour mark when a long kick out from Robert Austin saw Sean O'Meara race through before knocking between the posts from just inside the box. Rearcross didn't throw in the towel and a Shane Lenihan free kick was headed just over by Andrew Ryan. The Rearcross custodian who turned in a man of the match performance was earning his keep and stretched to make a good save midway through the half. Shane Lenihan pulled it back to 4-2 with a well struck penalty in the 83rd minute. Greg Kennedy had the ball in the Ardcroney net two minutes however play was called back for an off side infringement. A high drama finish saw Eoin Armshaw finish to net from an acute angle on the left with three minutes left on the clock. It was all to play for at this stage and a James Holland long range effort come back off the Rearcross crossbar a minute later, Rearcross battled gallantly for an equaliser in the remaining seconds, however the home side had done enough on the day to secure the points.
Ardcroney Youths: Robert Austin, Jack Shock, Ronan Boyle, Justin Cahill, Thomas Cleary, Louis Mooney, Keith Kelly, Leon Tierney, William Cleary, Brian O'Meara, Stephen Shoer,
Subs: Alan Darcy, Jamie Heffernan, Sean O'Meara, Brian Duffy, James Holland.
Rearcross Youths: Bobby Carroll, Sean Hickey, Micheal McLoughlin, Colm Nolan, Cormac Nolan, Kieran Devitt, Brendan Shanahan, Greg Kennedy, Blane Lenihan, Michael O'Gorman, Shane Lenihan.
Subs: William Horrigan, Eoin Armshaw, Andrew Ryan, Billy Jones, Harry Williams
Referee: Jimmy McCarthy