Rearcross Youths 1 - Borrisokane 0

Rearcross Youths had to battle all the way to take maximum league points from this floodlit league encounter against Borrisokane at Rearcross FC Grounds on Tuesday night. The home side should have been out of sight at the midway stage, however the elusive breakthrough goal proved difficult to come by on the night. Rearcross went on the attack from the kick off and Shane Lenihan swung in the cross from the left to Pat Stapleton whose glancing header wasn't far away. Pat Stapleton was in the action with two more efforts, however the Borrisokane netminder got two late touches to quell the danger. Sean Reynolds combined with James Deegan on fourteen minutes whose header wasn't far away. Rearcross were creating all the chances and a flowing move involving Sean Reynolds and Shane Lenihan saw the latter square to Pat Stapleton with the resulting effort on target however Shane Stapleton in the Borriskane did enough to make the save. James Healy crossed to Sean Reynolds ten minutes before the break who headed inches over the bar. It was proving to be a difficult outing when Pat Stapleton did well to get through on goal on 40 minutes, however the low effort riocheted against the bottom of the post. Borrisokane counter attacked and Rearcross keeper Dave Carroll swung in to action with a supberb reflex save when the ball was destined for the net. Rearcross regrouped at the half time break and made a lively start to the second half, Rearcross had the ball in the visitors net on 53 minutes when James Deegan got behind the defence to finish the ball to the net from the tightest of angles, however play was called back for an offside infringement. Rearcross kept the pressure on with James O'Connor and Sean Reynolds controlling affairs in the middle of the field. The locals eventually got the breakthrough in 68th minute when James Deegan scored from outside the box with a smashing free kick effort that few to the corner of the net. Sean Reynolds came close to getting a second with a headed effort, however the visiting keeper was well positioned to gather. William Mackey was a threat when introduced for the home side and raced through on goal with thirteen minutes to go only to be denied by an advancing keeper. Rearcross custodian Dave Carroll came to the rescue late on with two good blocks under pressure. William Mackey was in the action again in the 88th minute when a fine effort that dragged barely wide of the far upright, however James Deegan's goal was to prove the difference on this occasion in a game that produced telling contributions from one to fourteen which the back five of Dave Carroll, PJ Bourke, James Healy, Sean Hickey and Greg Kennedy to be commended on a perfect defensive display.

 

Rearcross Youths: Dave Carroll, PJ Bourke, James Healy, Sean Hickey, Greg Kennedy, James Deegan, Shane Fahy, James O'Connor, Sean Reynolds, Shane Lenihan, Pat Stapleton.
Subs: William Mackey for PJ Bourke, Brendan Shanahan for Pat Stapleton, Micheál Murphy for Shane Fahy

Borrisokane Youths: Shane Stapleton, Dave Kennedy, Dave Fox, Andy Nevin, Peter McSharry, Mike Fox, Niall Cahalan, Ger Reddan. Dave Nevin, Jack Torpey, Brian Donnelly

 

Referee: Jimmy McCarthy