Rearcross Youths 2 - Arra Rovers 4
Rearcross Youths were at home to Arra Rovers on Saturday evening in this floodlit league fixture and succumbed to a 4-2 defeat in a game where the home team never played to their potential conceding two own goals in the process. The Portroe made the better start as Eoin Daly's free kick was on target, however Darragh Ryan Luke made the block. The visitors continued to press and had claims for a penalty waved on in the 12th minute and then Eoin Daly was in the action again after latching on to Conor Ryan's corner kick with an effort that was barely over. Rearcross started to gain a foothold and took the lead on the fifteen minute mark when Gary O'Brien's free kick from distance out on the right was met by Kevin Mulcahy whose headed flick finished in the net. Arra Rovers came close three minutes later when Andy Dunne's effort skidded inches wide. It was end to end as Aidan Moloney fired over the Arra crossbar on twenty minutes. William Mackey lost possession to the visitors but made a timely recovery to block on the line. Rearcross were living dangerous and and conceded an own goal eighteen minutes before the break when Conor Ryan's low pile driver from the left flank was deflected inside the upright. Arra Rovers kept on the attack to the half time whistle and Darragh Ryan Luke had to be alert to make a save at the near post late in the half. Central defender Eoin Daly was dominant throughout for the visitors and came close with a well stuck free kick minutes after the re-start, Rearcross were again on the backfoot as Darragh Ryan Luke saved from a tight angle. The Portroe side took up a 2-1 lead on 66 minutes when Conor Ryan advanced on the left and shot to the far corner of net from a tight angle. Arra were dictating the pace and forced a second own goal when Eoin Daly's ball through the centre was turned to the net by a luckless Darragh Kennedy with twelve minutes remaining on the clock. Rearcross were chasing the game but kept battling despite the deficit and were unlucky not to score from a Gary O'Brien free kick. Conor Ryan had a fine outing for Arra Rovers and forced Darragh Ryan Luke to save five minutes from time. Rearcross were thrown a late lifeline when the referee pointed to the spot for a pushing infringement in the 89th minute, Aidan Moloney stepped home to send the keeper the wrong way notching up his twelfth goal of the season in the process. The come back was short lived as the visitors counter attacked and an over zealous tackle in front of the goals saw the concession of a penalty which was converted by Conor Ryan in injury time to cap off his hat-trick and a 4-2 win for the Portroe side.
Rearcross Youths: Darragh Ryan Luke, David Stapleton, Gary O'Brien, William Mackey, Kevin Mulcahy, Darragh McGrath, Darragh Kennedy, Ben O'Dea, Brian Carey, Tommy Lyons, Aidan Moloney,
Subs:Dylan Ryan for Tommy Lyons (62nd minute), John Shanahan for Ben O'Dea (74th minute), Luke McKenna for Darragh Kennedy(80th minute)
Subs Not Used: Gary McMahon, Martin Nolan, Jamie Russell
Arra Rovers Youths: Paul Carroll, Conor Gill, Paudie Gill, Eoin Daly, Michael Costello, Bobby Moses, Adam Coughlan, Tommy Coughlan, Andy Dunne, Conor Ryan, Keith Nealon,
Subs: Dylan Flick, Ryan McCloskey, Sean Knithingale,
Rory Mulrooney, Dan Nevin
Referee: TP Sullivan