Rearcross 'A' 0 - Cloughjordan 'A' 2

Cloughjordan might have been three nil up inside the opening eleven minutes of this floodlit Premier Divison encouter played at Rearcross FC Grounds on Friday night, however good goalkeeping and the woodwork kept the score line intact, Rearcross settled after this and were somewhat unlucky not to take something from the game in the end. The visitors bombarded Rearcross in the opening minutes and came closest when Michael Cleary's headed effort came back of the post. Rearcross got up to the pace of the game after this and Declan O'Toole's looping header a minute later clipped the crossbar, however play had been called back for offside. Cloughjordan should have hit the front on 21 minutes when Kevin Kennedy's well struck shot from in front of goal was just wide of the target. The home side grew in stature as the game wore on and Tommy Ryan Luke's long range effort forced a good save from Shane Quinlan at the expense of a corner kick. Rearcross were denied the opener seven minutes before the break when a period of sustained pressure saw Sean Mullins jump highest with the headed effort thumping off the crossbar. The Premier Division pace setters again made a strong start to the second half and two successive corners saw Benny Costello head over from the latter delivery. Rearcross retaliated and Paul Murphy's free kick floated over on 53 minutes. Rearcross were very much taking the game to their opponents at this stage and PJ McLouglin's shot forced a good block out of the Cloughjordan custodian. Eoin Hogan fired over the home side's crossbar with a good effort five minutes later. Cloughjordan edged ahead in the 65th minute when Niall Farrell got on the end of a corner kick to head the ball inside the near post. Rearcross came back at Cloughjordan and Paul Murphy's free kick from the half way line was headed on target by Diarmuid Sheehy, however Shane Quinlan had read the situation and gathered cleanly. Rearcross were robbed of a deserved equaliser with twelve minutes to go when Diarmuid Sheehy produced the trickery on the left before sending a menancing delivery across the danger area, Liam Ryan was luckless to see his first time effort finish in the side netting. Cloughjordan counter attacked and made it two nil when Michael Costello broke on the left before rifling under an outstretched Sean Sheehy. The game finished at a hectic pace with scoring opportunities falling to both sides, however Cloughjordan had done enough to secure maximum points against the home side.

 

Rearcross 'A' : Sean Sheehy, Robert Harrington, Tommy Ryan Luke, Martin McLoughlin, Simon Kennedy, PJ McLoughlin, Paul Murphy, Declan O'Toole, Liam Ryan, Sean Mullins, Greg Kennedy

Subs: Diarmuid Sheehy for Sean Mullins, Michael O'Gorman for PJ McLoughlin, Davy O'Toole for Paul Murphy
Sub Not Used: James Gough.

Cloughjordan 'A': Shane Quinlan, Seamus Williams, Kieran Gohery, Diarmuid Kennedy, Niall Farrell, Donal Costello, Michael Cleary, Brendan Costello, Micahel Costello, Kevin Kennedy, Eoin Hogan
Subs: Gary Hoare for Eoin Hogan, Jason Darcy for Gary Hoare(Injured)

Subs Not Used: Michael Walsh

Referee: Jim McGrath