Rearcross 'A' 1 - Newport AFC 'A' 1
(Rearcross 'A' win 3-2 on penalties)
It took a penalty shootout to separate Rearcross ‘A’ and Newport ‘A’ in this Tournament tie played in Rearcross on Bank Holiday Monday evening. Newport were the more dominant force in the opening half although Simon Kennedy was robbed when his headed effort from a Derek O’Toole cross thumped off the upright with nine minutes gone. Newport took the lead on 19 minutes courtesy of a Robert Ryan finish. Eamon Devitt was luckless not to snatch an equaliser for the home side on the stroke of half time with a good effort that wasn’t far away. Both sides sprung the changes in the second half, Rearcross were back in the game three minutes from time when Paul Murphy’s menacing free kick delivery saw Derek O’Toole leap highest to head home with precision to the corner of the net. Rearcross proved the more clinical in the penalty shoot out on a 3-2 score line. Simon Kennedy, Paul Doyle and Greg Kennedy netted for Rearcross, while David O’Brien and Sean O’Brien converted for Newport.
Rearcross ‘A’: Jim Caplis, Eamon Devitt, Robert Harrington, Tommy Ryan Luke, Mark Hogan, Simon Kennedy, Derek O’Toole, Greg Kennedy, Liam Ryan, Kieran Devitt, Declan O’Toole
Subs: Shane Reynolds, Pat Stapleton, Darragh Kennedy, Paul Murphy, Shane Lenihan, Owen Gormley, Paul Doyle
Newport ‘A’: Eoin Larkin, Richie Ryan, Paul Ryan, Sean Ryan, David Murray, Danny Healy, Mike O’Brien, Nigel Ryan, Robert Ryan, Sean O’Brien, Dean Lenihan.
Subs: David O’Brien, Joe Conneally, Blane Lenihan, Kieran O’Sullivan, Darren Moore