Nenagh Celtic 'B' 1 - Rearcross 'B' 1
Rearcross B made the trip to the Nenagh VEC last Sunday morning to play Nenagh Celtic B in their 3rd league game of the season. The visitors were missing a number of regulars however, despite this were on top for most of the opening half. Their first real chance of the game came after 15 minutes when Joey Nolan robbed the centre half of the ball as he tried to play the ball out of defence. However, the Nenagh keeper got down smartly to tip the strikers volley round the post to spare the defenders blushes. The Nenagh custodian was called on moments when Shane Reynolds rose highest to direct a corner kick goalwards. And when the netminder failed to hang on to his header, the rebound ricocheted agonisingly wide. Rearcross followed this up with efforts from Martin McLoughlin and Greg Kennedy and this pressure was eventually rewarded as Rearcross took the lead 10 minutes before the break. Shane Reynolds won the ball in the defence and found Martin McLoughlin in space. The midfielder played an inviting ball in behind the Nenagh defence and Greg Kennedy had the speed to beat the advancing keeper to the ball and slid the ball home. Despite all their hard work, Rearcross nearly lost their lead straight from the restart. The Nenagh striker beat the offside trap and let fly from the edge of the area but Jim Caplis was on hand to make a superb save to ensure that his side went into half time in front.
The second half was a different affair as the home side came out much more determined and Rearcross were on the back foot for much of the half. But despite dominating possession and forcing a succession of corners, the hosts struggled to break down a resolute Rearcross rearguard and had few shots that tested Jim Caplis. Jim did well to race off his line to intercept a dangerous cross from the right wing 10 minutes into the second half. Nenagh got the slice of luck they needed to draw level after 70 minutes when Darren McGrath's long range free kick somehow crept under Jim’s body and into the net. Both sides searched for a winner after this but neither created many clear cut chances. Rearcross had half chances through Paul Murphy and Greg Kennedy however the Nenagh keeper was on troubled on either occasion. In the end the teams finished all square and Rearcross returned home disappointed to have let the victory slip but happy to pick up their first point of the season.
Rearcross 'B': Jim Caplis, Eamonn Wade, Shane Reynolds, Tommy Ryan (L), Tommy Kennedy, Greg Kennedy, Paul Murphy, Martin McLoughlin, Liam Nolan, Kieran Devitt, Joey Nolan
Subs : Derek Kennedy for Martin McLoughlin
Colm Nolan for Kieran Devitt
Referee: Pat Gibson
Report Compiled by Tommy Ryan Luke