Rearcross Youths 1 - Arra Rovers 4

Rearcross Youths played host to Arra Rovers in this floodlit league game played on Saturday night at Rearcross FC Grounds and conceded defeat on a 4-1 score line which was not a true reflection of the game. Rearcross made a lively start and created the first chance of the affair in the 3rd minute when William Mackey squared to Shane Lenihan with the resulting shot blocked down. The Portroe side counter attacked and fired wide of the post when a goal was on the cards and then Tommy Kennedy was call in to the action with a good block on seven minutes. Dave Carroll got in to fire on goal with thirteen minutes gone, however the Arra Rovers net minder was positioned to gather. Rearcross were very much holding their own and Greg Kennedy laid off to James Deegan who drilled over with a long range effort midway through the half. Rearcross keeper Tommy Kennedy had to be alert to hold a well struck effort from Arra's Danny Ryan. The last real chance of the half came to the visitors six minutes before the break, however Sean Hickey covered ground to cut out the danger with a will time tackle.

Rearcross made a flying start to the second half and were robbed when Michéal Murphy's shot was on target, however the keeper made the block. Arra Rovers took a fortuituos lead in the 59th minute when Stephen Kennedy's speculative shot squirmed over the line. It was two nil to the visitors three minutes later when an inswinging delivery from Ivor Dillon finished inside the post. Rearcross didn't throw in the towel after this setback and created chances through Pat Stapleton, Marc Murphy and Shane Lenihan. Rearcross kept pressing and were rewarded five minutes from time when Shane Lenihan finished to the net from the right after good build up play. Rearcross pushed on in the hope of taking something from the encounter but were dealt a succour blow when William Ryan restored the Arra advantage in the 89th minute with a good finish from just inside the eighteen yard box and then Kieran Ryan wrapped up the points for the visitors in stoppage time with a fortuituous goal.

 

Rearcross Youths: Tommy Kennedy, PJ Bourke, Dave Carroll, Sean Hickey, James Deegan, Brendan Shanahan, Greg Kennedy, Pat Stapleton, Shane Fahy, Shane Lenihan, William Mackey
Subs: Michéal Murphy for Brendan Shanahan (40th minute), Marc Murphy for William Mackey (54th minute)

Arra Youths: Brian Mulompy, Paddy Flynn, James Ryan, Kieran Ryan, Kevin O'Halloran, Stephen Flynn, Stephen Kennedy, Danny Ryan, William Ryan, Cathal O'Brien, Ivor Dillon

 

Referee: Tony Canning