Moneygall 'A' 2 - Rearcross 'A' 2
Rearcross 'A' made the journey to Moneygall last Saturday afternoon for this Premier Division League encounter and had to settle for a share of the spoils in the end after Moneygall snatached an unlikely equaliser late in the game. Rearcross made a promising start to the game and Nigel Ryan's free kick in the 5th minute took a deflection which was helpful for the Moneygal keeper who made the save. Billy Hayes threatened for the home side three minutes later with a headed effort which was caught by net minder Sean Sheehy. Billy Hayes followed up again with a well directed shot minutes later, however John Ryan Luke deflected out for a corner kick. Moneygall were gaining a foot hold and John Kennedy shot over with 18 minutes gone on the stopwatch. Billy Hayes linked up with Eoghan Ryan midway through the half as Ryan's effort screamed across the goal mouth before the ball was cleared to safety.. Rearcross with fighting tooth and nail at this stage to hold possession and a flowing move on the right involving Robert Harrington, Matthew Ryan Luke and Andy Murphy saw the latter send the ball through to Declan O'Toole who turned and let fly with a splendid finish from an acute angle. Liam Ryan fired on target on the half hour make, however Dwayne Collison in the Moneygall goal parried at the expense of a corner. The Moneygall offensive continued and it was to take a double save from Sean Sheehy on 33 minutes to keep the home side at bay, however the reprieve was short lived as Billy Hayes raced through on goal two minutes later following a throw ball on the right, the strike kept his composure before sending a low drive whistling to the back of the net. Rearcross had chances to regain the lead before the break with a left legged effort from Andy Murphy which pulled wide of the post and then a Liam Ryan shot was also left of the target.
Rearcross went on to take the lead seven minutes after the restart when Nigel Ryan combined with Andy Murphy who sent a left legged shot to the left of the Moneygall shot stopper, Rearcross might have increased their lead on 59 minutes when Andy Murphy's smashing delivery from the left sailed aross the danger area when a touch was all that was needed. Rearcross goalkeeper Sean Sheehy was the busier of the two keepers on the day and made a fine save in the 62nd minute to deny the home side. Paul Murphy was in the action and did well to get back and tidy up five minutes later when the home side looked to be through on goal. Rearcross conceded a second equaliser with eleven minutes remaining when Sean Sheehy slipped in the process of kicking out the ball, the resulting kick out was delivered short and Eamon McCormack took full advantage with a lobbed effort despite the best efforts of the Rearcross custodian to recover the situation. Rearcross came back at Moneygall again and were unlucky in the end not to take maximum points. Andy Murphy released Declan O'Toole with six minutes remaining on the clock, however, the effort from in front of goal skewed to the right of the post and then Rearcross had claims for a penalty turned down when Matthew Ryan Luke was pulled to the ground as he tried to get in to knock the ball over the line, however the referee waved play on and Rearcross had to settle for the draw in the end.
Best of luck to Simon Kennedy who is emigrating to Scotland next Tuesday for a twelve month study sabbatical.
Moneygall 'A': Dwayne Collison, John Kennedy, Ger Ryan, Billy McMcCormack, Mark Moroney, Eamon McCormack, Stephen Maher, Joseph Callaghan, Adam Wallace, Eoghan Ryan, Billy Hayes
Subs: Aodhan Ryan, Brian Delaney, Gary Powell, Colm O'Brien, Martin Kennnedy
Rearcross 'A': Sean Sheehy, Robert Harrington, Adrian Hurley, Paul Murphy, John Ryan Luke, Declan O'Toole, Nigel Ryan, Matthew Ryan Luke, Liam O'Toole, Andy Murphy, Liam Ryan
Subs: Michael O'Gorman for Liam Ryan(72nd minute), James Gough for Liam O'Toole (87th minute)
Subs Not Used: Martin McLoughlin, Simon Kennedy, Greg Kennedy
Referee: Liam Kelly