Rearcross 4 - Nenagh Celtic 'B' 1
"Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all time thing. You don't win once in a while, you don't do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is habit". - Vince Lombardi
Rearcross FC progressed to the First Division Shield Final after overcoming a dogged Nenagh Celtic ‘B’ on Sunday last in what was an entertaining affair at Rearcross FC Grounds. The home side, fresh from their good win over Thurles Celtic a week prior, came out all guns blazing and almost went ahead in the 6th minute when Liam Ryan’s free kick was headed over by Eamon Wade. Unperturbed this the visitors found the pendulum swinging in their favour minutes later when Darren McGrath’s free kick effort just missed the target by a number of inches. Celtic pushed on after this and almost took the lead again on the twenty minute mark when Keith Langton came close only to be thwarted by the excellent Jim Caplis in the Rearcross goalmouth. Rearcross showed plenty of grit and determination hereafter and were rewarded minutes later when Kieran Devitt followed through to bundle the ball over the line after the Nenagh Celtic custodian failed to deal with Simon Kennedy’s low effort. The home side almost doubled their lead five minutes later when Liam Ryan danced his way up the field on a magnificent solo run – the resulting shot flying over the bar on this occasion. With fifteen minutes to go in the half Nenagh got back on level terms; Darren McGrath nestling the ball to the corner of the net from the penalty spot due to a rather overzealous tackle by Robert Harrington on the onrushing Cliff Moloney inside the box. Jim Caplis then came to the home side’s rescue saving from a Senan Stanley long range drive in the 38h minute to keep the scoreline intact. The first real action of the second half saw Eamon Wade making a last ditch tackle to avert danger, however the home side pulled their socks up after this with neat interlinking play, most notably from the Rearcross midfield, almost producing a number of goals – Matthew Ryan (L) shooting wide of the target in the 52nd minute followed by Liam O’ Toole unluckily failing to find the net when one on one with the ‘keeper five minutes later. Rearcross never gave up however and found the all elusive goal they were searching for on the turn of the hour mark when Liam Ryan’s free kick fell to Eamon Wade who capped a fine performance by slapping a left legged effort to the roof of the net. Robert Harrington then hit the crossbar in the 66th minute when his cross clipped a Nenagh Celtic defender on its way across the area. With the home side utilising their strong bench it was no surprise to see the boys in green extending their lead with twenty minutes to go when Michael O’ Gorman raced through on goal before driving a low effort to the back of the net. The mercurial Liam Ryan then copper fastened the victory for the home side with seven minutes remaining when his superb free kick from twenty yards whizzed to the back of the net, much to the delight of the home crowd. Rearcross FC now face Division 1 newcomers Ardcroney FC in the Shield Final on a date yet to be finalised.
Rearcross: Jim Caplis, Liam Ryan ®, Eamonn Devitt, Eamon Wade, Robert Harrington, Simon Kennedy, Liam O’ Toole, Matthew Ryan (L), Greg Kennedy, Kieran Devitt, Michael O’ Gorman.
Subs: Declan O’Toole for Greg Kennedy (58th minute), Tommy Ryan Luke for Matthew Ryan Luke (68th minute), Darren Quigley for Michael O’Gorman (76th minute)
Subs not used: James Deegan, Brendan Shanahan
Nenagh Celtic ‘B': Dwayne Fletcher, Robbie Carr, Keith Langton, Liam O’Meara, Robbie McCarthy, Darren McGrath, Brian Duffy, Johnny Butler, Cliff Moloney, Shane Nolan, Senan Stanley, John Nolan
Subs: Damien Dooley, Wayne Cawley, Taylor Duffy, Brian Kevin
Referee: Martin Goldsboro
Report compiled by Simon Kennedy