Nenagh AFC 'A' 7 - Rearcross 0
"If you're willing to examine failure, and to look not just at your outward physical performance, but your internal workings, too, losing can be valuable. How you behave in those moments can perhaps be more self-defining than winning could ever be. Sometimes losing shows you for who you really are." Lance Armstrong (speaking prior to performance enhancing drugs scandal)
A seriously depleted Rearcross FC travelled to Islandbawn last Sunday morning for a Munster Junior Cup tie against Nenagh AFC and came away on the wrong end of a seven goal drubbing. Missing no less than 8 of their regular panel, Rearcross knew they would have it all to do against last year’s Munster Junior Cup finalists and could have been one down as early as the 3rd minute if not for some excellent goalkeeping by Jim Caplis to deny Arthur Mitchell. Caplis then came to the fore once more with a superb reactionary save in the 7th minute yet was helpless to prevent the first goal of the game five minutes later when Trevor Morrissey set Michael O’Gorman through on goal who finished with aplomb from just outside the box. Rearcross to their credit regrouped quickly and in the 14th minute a Mark Hogan free kick effort was blocked out for a corner kick. The resulting corner was scrambled over the line for what seemed to be the equalizing goal, play brought back on this occasion however for a foul on the Nenagh goalkeeper. A minute later Rearcross found themselves two down when Michael O’ Gorman waltzed through the visitors’ defence before picking his spot with a clinical finish. This was followed by another good save by Jim Caplis on the twenty minute mark at the feet of Arthur Mitchell, and a fine sliding tackle by Mark Hogan, who impressed throughout, to deny Thomas Sheppard when through on goal minutes later. With just over fifteen minutes to go the home side went three up with Michael O’ Gorman getting on the end of a cross to make it three nil. Darren Mitchell then went close from a free kick, an effort that was making its way to the top corner if not for the acrobats of Caplis in the Rearcross goals. It was four nil ten minutes before the half when Trevor Morrissey combined with Arthur Mitchell with the latter hitting the target. Mitchell almost extended his personal tally in the 43rd minute but once again Jim Caplis, by far the busiest Rearcross player on the pitch, saved the close range shot. The second half continued where the first half left off when Trevor Morrissey let fly with a cracking effort to the roof of the net to make it five for the home side - Jim Caplis preventing the scoreline from increasing further a few minutes later with yet another good block. Rearcross were defending stoutly at this stage of the game and Mark Hogan’s well timed tackle on Brian Quinn shut down a dangerous attack in the 70th minute. Nenagh’s sixth goal then came courtesy of an own goal when Arthur Mitchell’s header was deflected to the net with fifteen minutes to go to all but copper fasten the victory. Rearcross almost scored a consolation with ten minutes to go when the mercurial Mark Hogan got forward to fire a dipping effort from distance inches over the bar; an event that was followed two minutes later by more heroics from Jim Caplis in the Rearcross goal with another save. With three minutes to go Brian Quinn sealed the win for Nenagh with a well taken goal to make it seven nil and a bad day at the office for Rearcross FC.
Rearcross FC: Jim Caplis, Tommy Ryan (L), Mark Hogan, Eamon Wade, Greg Kennedy, Robert Harrington, Matthew Ryan (L), Diarmuid Sheehy, James Deegan, Darren Quigley, Eamon O’ Toole
Subs: Shane Kennedy for Greg Kennedy(45th minute), Simon Kennedy for Eamon Wade(45th minute), Liam O’Toole for Simon Kennedy (65th minute)
Nenagh AFC 'A': Aaron Savage, Derek McKenna, John Mitchell, Cathal Coonan, Paul Kelly, Darren Mitchell, Jerome Ashman, Trevor Morrissey, Michael O’Gorman, Thomas Sheppard, Arthur Mitchell,
Subs: Roy Creagh for Cathal Coonan (49th minute), Brian Quinn for Michael O’Gorman (49th minute), Mark McKenna for Jerome Ashman (56th minute)
Referee: Eoghan O'Shea
Report compiled by Simon Kennedy