Rearcross 'A' 2 - Nenagh Celtic 'A' 5
Rearcross were at home to Nenagh Celtic 'A' last Friday night in the quarter final of the Ricky Fogarty cup. Nenagh started brightly and went ahead on 10 minutes when Enrico Casey got in behind the Rearcross rear guard and finished smartly past Eamonn O'Toole. Rearcross regrouped quickly though and equalised in the 15th minute when Derek O'Toole turned the Nenagh defender and sent a smashing left foot effort past Aidan O'Herlihy in the Nenagh goal. Rearcross took the lead in the 17th minute when Derek O'Toole rose highest to head home Robert Harrington's pinpoint corner. Nenagh were handed a lifeline in the 25th minute when the referee penalised a Rearcross defender who was adjudged to have handled after he had cleared the ball off the line despite strong protestations fin the home side. Eamonn O'Toole went the right way for the penalty and got a hand to the ball but Christy Ryan had put enough on it to power it past. Nenagh were on the front foot now and went 3 2 ahead in the 30th minute when Sean Healy was allowed to run unchallenged from midfield before send a lovely looping shot to the top of the net. Both sides exchanged shots for the remainder of the half but the sides entered half time with Nenagh winning by the odd goal in 5. Nenagh started the 2nd half brightly and stretched their lead in the 50th minute when Rearcross failed to deal with a corner and Danny Ryan reacted quickly to finish with a low strike. Rearcross kept plugging away and came close in the 60th minute when Derek O Toole was denied his hat trick when his effort struck the bottom of the Nenagh upright. It was tit for tat after this with both sides creating half chances until the 85th minute when Nenagh copper fastened the win when Sean Healy got his second of the day finishing from a tight angle. Rearcross are unfortunately relegated from the Premier Division this year but can have hope for next year. If they manage to hold onto this current crop of players together and introduce a few of the younger players from the B team as well as welcoming back one of our more seasoned players from a trial period in South America, they should challenge for honours in the first division next year.
Rearcross 'A': Eamonn O'Toole, Eamonn Devitt, Tommy Ryan, Greg Kennedy, Eamonn Wade, Liam O'Toole, Robert Harrington, Davy O'Toole, Declan O'Toole, Derek O'Toole, Liam Ryan.
Subs: Kieran Devitt, Darren Quigley. (Both Used)
Nenagh Celtic ‘A’: Aidan Herlihy, Jamie Spain, Christy Ryan, Stevie Ryan, Davie Walsh, Danny Ryan, Loe Danagher, Michael Ryan, Sean Healy, Enrico Casey, Darren Scully
Subs: Benny Sheehan, Davie Ryan and Alan Daly
Referee: Jim McGrath
Report compiled by Eamon Devitt