Rearcross 1 - Nenagh AFC 'A' 0

Rearcross were pulled off an unlikely one nil win over highflying Nenagh AFC 'A' in this Premier Division game played at Rearcross FC Grounds on St Patrick's morning to give the home side a lifeline in their fight for survival in the Premier Division. Rearcross were well up for this game and created the first chance of the game in the 5th minute when Michael O'Gorman harried Nenagh's Shane O'Gorman before the ball broke to Sean Mullins who drilled right off the post. Nenagh came close three minutes later when Michael O'Gorman's looping effort from the edge of the six yard box clipped the top of the crossbar. The game was being well contested and Paul Murphy's free kick effort drifted over on the sixteenth minute mark and then a Nenagh effort was deflected out at the expense of a corner kick. Rearcross were growing in stature as the game wore on and a smashing long range effort from the boot of Sean Mullins out on the right was on target, however Aaron Savage was able to back peddle to make the block. Nenagh might have taken the lead on the half hour mark when John Mitchell got behind the Rearcross rearguard, however Sean Sheehy did enough to narrow the angle as the ball flew over the bar. The Premier Division League leaders were trying to get to grips with the task at hand with Rearcross firing on all cylinders all over the field, Davy Ryan Luke did well to block down a Paul Kelly rasper ten minutes before the break. John O'Gorman made space to shoot a minute later, however the Rearcross custodian was equal to the effort. Nenagh won successive frees towards the end of the half before Sean Sheehy saved from Willie Darcy at the near post to leave sides all square at the break despite the odds.
Nenagh made a strong start to the second half and Michael O'Gorman forced Sean Sheehy to save two minutes in, Rearcross counter attacked and Rearcross striker Michael O'Gorman did well to work his way behind the Nenagh defence before prodding the ball through, however the ball dragged right of the upright. The home side were gelling all over the field and Davy Ryan Luke sent Sean Mullins through in the 55th minute, however the Nenagh keeper advanced to make the body block. Tommy Ryan Luke was in the action minutes later with a timely interception to break up a promising Nenagh attack. Nenagh were still a threat though and Thomas Sheppard flashed a header just wide after a good build up. Rearcross took the lead in the 63rd minute when James Gough kept his compusure before slotting the ball to the back of the net from inside the eighteen yard box with a clinical left footed strike. Robert Harrington had done well throughout to keep Nenagh's Michael O'Gorman under wraps and put in a timely tackle with eleven minutes left on the clock. Rearcross had victory in sight and played gallantly to the final whistle to secure a much needed win.

 

Rearcross: Sean Sheehy, Tommy Ryan Luke, Robert Harrington, Diarmuid Sheehy, John Ryan Luke, James Gough, Greg Kennedy, Davy Ryan Luke, Paul Murphy, Michael O'Gorman, Sean Mullins
Subs: PJ McLoughlin for Davy Ryan Luke (68th minute), Liam Ryan for Michael O'Gorman (78th minute), Declan O'Toole for James Gough (78th minute)

Nenagh AFC 'A': Arron Savage, Brian McGee, Paul Kelly, Shane O'Gorman, Gary Bryne, Damien Mitchell, John O'Gorman, Michael O'Gorman, John Mitchell, Willie Darcy, Thomas Sheppar
Subs: Deáran O'Gorman for Thomas Sheppard, Jerome Ashman for Damien Mitchell, David Chadwick for Gary Byrne

Subs Not Used: Leigh Tappenden, Danny White

Referee: Liam Kelly