Blackcastle 'A' 2 - Rearcross 2
Blackcastle win 6-5 on penalties AET

Rearcross bowed out of the Ricky Fogarty Cup at the Quarter Final stages following a sudden death penalty shoot out defeat to Blackcastle 'A' at the Templemore venue on Easter Sunday morning. Rearcross created the first chance with Paul Murphy coming close after six minutes, then Sean Mullins intercepted a short kick out two minutes and was unlucky to see ball drag wide of the target. Blackcastle took the lead on twelve minutes when a long through ball found Mel McBride in space who in turn send the ball between the posts with the deftest of touches from just inside the eighteen yard box. Eanna Jones fired wide of the Rearcross goal midway through the half which was a let off for the visitors. Rearcross net minder Sean Sheehy gathered a headed effort from Joe Shields in the 34th minute. Rearcross got on top towards the end of the half and Paul Murphy's effort was on target, hovever the Blackcastle custodian was able to make the save. Sean Mullins linked up with Derek O'Toole two minutes later with the latter unlucky to see the ball skew left of the upright. Rearcross were back in level terms two minutes before the half time whistle when a smashing cross from Derek O'Toole out on the left was met by PJ McLoughlin before the ball scrambled inside the post. Blackcastle launched the final attack of the game however Sean Sheehy raced off his line to catch cleanly. Mel McBride's free kick effort four minutes after the re-start was wide of the mark, Rearcross counter attacked and Derek O'Toole released Sean Mullins on the left, however Dean Loughnane was able to save the low effort. Eanna Jones got in at the back post two minutes later and stretched to latch on to a long delivery, however the effort skidded wide of the Rearcoss goal. Sean Mullins got through minutes later and was luckless to see his effort go wide. Rearcross were enjoying the better of the exchanges at this stage and Liam Ryan's overhead kick was heading for the corner, however Dean Loughnane saw early and gathered under the post. Liam Ryan swung in the cross to Sean Mullins on 69 minutes, the headed effort was on target but Dean Loughnane again made the block. Blackcastle hit the front for the second time with 18 minutes to go when a fine delivery from out on the right was headed to the corner of the net by James Kavanagh in what was a fine finish. Rearcross had claims for a penalty denied when Greg Kennedy who turned in a fine performance throughout was impeded inside the box, however play was waved on. Rearcross were back in the game in the 79th minute when James Gough's shot was goal bound however the ball was blocked as the referee pointed to the spot for a handball infringement, Derek O'Toole rifled the resulting penalty to the root of the net. The home sides claims for a penalty went unheard two minutes in to the first period of extra time following Robert Harrington's well timed tackle on Mel McBride near the edge of the box and then Sean Sheehy held Stefan Leahy's free kick near the midway stage of the extra time. Exchanges were even in the second period of extra time with the best chance falling to Rearcross when Diarmuid Sheehy's menancing free kick was met by Derek O'Toole whose headed effort drifted over on the 104th minute. The sides were still deadlocked at the end of extra time so the outcome had to be decided on penalties. The first ten penalties were converted before Blackcastle custodian Dean Loughnane blocked and then Cathal Scully crashed home the winning penalty for the Templemore side. The other Blackcastle penalty scorers were Mel McBride, David Fennell, Eanna Jones, Johnny Coleman and Stefan Leahy while Derek O’Toole, PJ McLoughlin, Robert Harrington, Sean Mullins and Diarmuid Sheehy converted for Rearcross.

 

Blackcastle Utd. 'A': Dean Loughnane, David Fennell, Michael Fennell, Ricky O'Brien, Cathal Scully, Eanna Jones, Joe Shields, Johnny Coleman, James Kavanagh, Mel McBride, Stefan Leahy
Subs: Shane Scully, Sean McCormack, Declan Fogarty,

Rearcross: Sean Sheehy, Tommy Ryan Luke(Capt), Robert Harrington, Diarmuid Sheehy, Martin McLoughlin, Declan O'Toole, Paul Murphy, PJ McLoughlin, Greg Kennedy, Sean Mullins, Liam Ryan
Subs: Derek O'Toole for Paul Murphy(Injured -36th minute), James Gough for Liam Ryan (75th minute)
Sub Not Used: Davy Ryan Luke

 

Referee: Jimmy McCarthy