Rearcross 'A' 4 - Moneygall 'A' 4
Rearcross 'A' saw their unbeaten league run of 2011 extended on Saturday night last after coming away with a share of the spoils against battling opponents Moneygall in a game played at Rearcross FC grounds. The game began at a lively pace and it was the away side that made the first inroads, Billy Hayes having a goal disallowed on the 22nd minute for an offside infringement. The home side took control of the game after this and deservedly found themselves a goal up less than five minutes later when good play from the Sheehy brothers, Diarmuid and Brian, set up player/manager Derek O’ Toole who delightfully chipped the ball over the oncoming keeper from all of 20 yards out. Two minutes later Liam O’ Toole cleared the ball off the line to preserve the home side’s lead, a lead that was duly doubled on the half hour mark when a Simon Kennedy pile driver from 18 yards out rebounded to the feet of Liam Ryan (R) who rifled to the top of the net from just inside the box. Five minutes before the break Rearcross custodian Jim Caplis, called up in place of absentee shot stopper Sean Sheehy, got down to make a good block from a low drive. A minute later Moneygall keeper Dwayne Collison denied Derek O’ Toole after advancing off his line to save at the feet of the Rearcross striker. The second half began at lightning pace with Moneygall receiving a lifeline fourteen minutes after the restart - Cathal Kennedy bundling the ball to the net following a corner kick. Rearcross were swift to react and moments later Derek O’ Toole found himself unmarked in the box and subsequently squared the ball to Liam Ryan (R) who struck a low effort to the back of the net to secure his second of the game. Moneygall weren’t for retreating into their shell however and an Eoghan Ryan effort two minutes later had the Rearcross crossbar, and the nerves of Rearcross FC’s loyal band of supporters, rattling. The visitors then reduced the deficit in the 66th minute when a delicate effort came back off the cross bar and fell to Bobby Mc Loughlin who nodded over the line from close range. Rearcross were rattled at this stage and conceded a third with twenty minutes to go in the tie when Eoghan Ryan scored from the right. Moneygall then hit the front fourteen minutes from the end when Billy Hayes obliged for the visitors and Rearcross were left faced with two choices: lay down and die, or stand up and fight. With two minutes remaining it was a case of “Cometh the hour, Cometh the man” when the imperious Martin Mc Loughlin, suffering from flu like symptoms all week in the lead up to the game, got on the end of a Derek O’ Toole corner to level the game and secure a vital point for the home side.
Rearcross 'A': Jim Caplis, Declan O’ Toole, Martin Mc Loughlin, Diarmuid Sheehy, Liam O’ Toole, David O’ Toole, Simon Kennedy, Eamon Gleeson, Brian Sheehy, Derek O’ Toole, Liam Ryan (R)
Subs: Pat Stapleton, Joey Nolan, Paul Murphy
Moneygall ‘A’: Dwayne Collison, Rob Jones, Ger Ryan, Mark Walsh, Bobby McLoughlin, Eoghan Ryan, Stephen Maher, Billy McCormack, John Kennedy, Cathal Kennedy, Billy Hayes
Subs: Eoghan Holan for John Kennedy, Tony O’Connor for Billy Hayes
Referee: Jim McGrath
"The person that said winning isn't everything, never won anything"
Mia Hamm
Report Compiled by Simon Kennedy