Rearcross 2 - Murroe AFC 'B' 0
Rearcross FC made a promising start to their annual pre season tournament last Monday with a resounding two nil victory over Murroe ‘B’. The home side were on the front from the start and almost took the lead in the 2nd minute when a fine shot by Derek O’ Toole forced a good save out of Murroe goalkeeper Declan O’ Connor. With pressure increasing Rearcross went a goal up six minutes later when good play from Michael O’ Gorman on the right released the aforementioned O’ Toole who drove to the roof of the net after evading a number of challenges. It was not all one way traffic however with Christopher McKenna almost equalising for the visitors in the tenth minute; Michael O’ Gorman clearing off the line for the hosts on this occasion. Murroe then had another opportunity in the 19th minute when a Darragh Ryan free kick was gathered by the oncoming Jim Caplis. This was mirrored at the other end shortly afterwards when a well struck Liam Ryan (R) free kick was on target but ultimately held by Declan O’ Connor. With a minute to go in the first half Rearcross almost doubled their advantage when a loose ball in the Murroe defence provided Simon Kennedy with a good chance only for the Murroe custodian O’ Connor to come to his side’s rescue once more with a fine foot block. Rearcross goalkeeper Jim Caplis had to be alert at the beginning of the second half and saved well from a Murroe free kick. Rearcross took control of the game once more after this and had two good efforts in the space of five minutes - Michael O’ Gorman’s pile driver crashing against the underside of the cross bar and Matthew Ryan Luke’s well struck shot whizzing narrowly over the bar. In the twelfth minute of the second half the home side eventually did get the goal they were searching for when Kieran Devitt prodded inside the post from close range after good work by Derek O’ Toole. The remainder of the half passed with little incident although Liam Ryan (R), playing in a rather unfamiliar ‘Paul Parker’ role at right back, came close on two occasions with successive long range efforts.
Rearcross FC: Jim Caplis, Liam Ryan (R), Eamonn Devit, Eamon Wade, Darren Quigley, Michael O’ Gorman, Liam O’ Toole, Matthew Ryan (L), Simon Kennedy, Derek O’ Toole, Kieran Devitt
Subs: Raymond Williams, Shane Quigley, Brendan Shanahan (all used)
Murroe AFC ‘B’: Declan O’Connor, Conor Moore, Kevin Boyle, Barry Duggan, Greg O’Loughlin, Darragh Ryan, Christopher McKenna, Ray Ryan, Dan O’Toole, Adrian Ryan, Danny Ryan
Subs: Shane Power, Niall Connelly, Paul Holmes, Mike O’Keefe, Lloyd Walsh
Referee: Tony Canning