Ardcroney 0 - Rearcross 3
Success is due less to ability than to zeal ......Charles Buxton
Rearcross blitzed Ardcroney with three goals in the space of five minutes to further extend their lead at the top of the NT&DL Division 1 in a game played in relatively dry conditions in Ardcroney on Sunday last. The home side came flying out of the traps and came close in the fifth minute with a fine strike by a lively Jones which was heading for the bottom right hand corner only for Jim Caplis to pull off a top class save for the travelling Rearcross men. Indeed Ardcroney were having the better of the opening exchanges yet Rearcross, clinical in front of goals of late, turned the game on its head between the 16th and 21st minute with three fantastic goals. Once again Derek O’ Toole stepped up to the plate with two goals of his own, the first individually carved, the second a great team move as Rearcross moved the ball all the way from the back to the front with a number of slick passes before dispatching to Derek who took things from there. Liam O’ Toole then topped off a good spell for the visiting side with a sidefooted strike from just inside the box which stretched the lead to three and more or less ended Ardcroney’s hopes of recovery. The home side, however, did not let the heads drop and, though clear cut chances were at a minimum as they failed to penetrate a strong Rearcross defence, they could have pulled a few goals back in the second half only for an excellent set of saves by the mercurial Caplis in the Rearcross goals. Other than another Ardcroney effort via the boot of the impressive Darcy and a few yellow cards for either side the second half passed mainly without incident. Rearcross, though guilty of sitting back after taking their three goal lead, will be happy with this victory in what was a potentially tricky fixture for the boys in green and white whereas Ardcroney, well served by Jamie Gaynor, Garry Curran and a lively midfield throughout, will look forward to the next game in the hope of securing a victory through stern defending and more clinical application in front of goal. Finally, best wishes and bon voyage to club stalwart Davy O’ Toole who has secured a work visa to the United States for the next couple of years – he will be missed.
Ardcroney FC: Dan Reddan, Paul Farrell, Dave Slattery, Kevin Prout, Robert Austin, Alan Darcy, Shane Seymour, Richard Jones, Gary Curran, Jamie Gaynor, Llewellyn Mooney
Rearcross FC: Jim Caplis, Rob Harrington, Eamon Devitt, Mark Hogan, Greg Kennedy, Declan O’ Toole, Simon Kennedy, Diarmuid Sheehy, Liam O’ Toole, Derek O’ Toole, Kieran Devitt
Subs: Davy O’ Toole for Derek O’ Toole (65mins), Tommy Ryan (L) for Eamonn Devitt (75mins), Liam Ryan (R) for Declan O’ Toole (78mins)
Referee: Tommy Lynch
Report compiled by Simon Kennedy