Rearcross 3 - Moneygall 'A' 2 (aet)
‘You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take’ Wayne Gretsky
A Mark Hogan wonder goal deep in extra time ensured progression to the next round of the Tipperary Cup for Rearcross after they overcame a stern Moneygall challenge on Saturday night last. The game began at a -quick pace with Simon Kennedy in the thick of the action from the off - crossing to Liam O’ Toole in the 7th minute and then almost finishing to the net after Derek O’ Toole’s break through the centre forced a save out of the Moneygall shot stopper. Derek O’Toole’s in swinging corner kicks were a feature throughout the first quarter as Rearcross applied all the pressure and Tommy Ryan Luke was unlucky to head inches wide of the post with quarter of an hour gone. Rearcross had some defending of their own to do after this however, with Eamon Devitt blocking down Padraig Greene’s attempt at goal at the expense of a corner kick, followed in the 27th minute by a great reaction save by Eamon O’ Toole after Brian Delaney found space on the left to shoot from a tight angle. Rearcross deservedly hit the front two minutes later with a real gem when a trademark Derek O’Toole corner saw Greg Kennedy head back across the goal area where Simon Kennedy let fly with a volleyed effort to the corner of the net from all of sixteen yards. Moneygall rallied after this and two efforts in quick succession – one from Colm O’ Brien and the other from Padraig Greene – almost saw the visitors equalise, while Kieran Devitt almost extended the lead at the other end with a cheeky chip from outside the box which was unlucky not to dip in time to find the net. Moneygall did get the goal they were looking for with ten minutes remaining in the half however when Eamon O’Toole was adjudged to have clipped Padraig Greene on the by-line before Colm O’Brien stepped up to convert from the spot. With a minute to go in the half Tommy Ryan Luke linked up with Declan O’Toole who was luckless to see his low effort skew outside the far upright, leaving the scores level at the break. Moneygall had the ball in the home side’s net quickly after the restart with the effort being disallowed for a handball infringement on this occasion. Moneygall continued to up the ante after this and hit the front on the hour mark when Mark Hogan handled accidentally on the line and Colm O’Brien converting his second of the evening despite the best efforts of the Rearcross custodian. With the scoreline now in the visitors favour, Rearcross sprang back into life – Matthew Ryan Luke’s pile driver pulling away from the target in the 62nd minute followed a minute later by Derek O’ Toole’s header from a Simon Kennedy cross from the right. The home side mounted on the pressure after this and after successive efforts from Mark Hogan and Derek O’ Toole almost found the net, it was club captain Liam O’ Toole who saved the day with no more than five minutes remaining when he bundled Derek O’ Toole’s corner kick over the line much to the skipper’s delight. Diarmuid Sheehy, who made a huge impact on proceedings after being introduced as a second half sub, almost stole the show two seconds later when a trademark pivot and shot from outside the box was saved well by Dwayne Collison, leaving the full time score at two goals apiece. Rearcross began extra time in the same way as they finished the second half with Derek O’Toole’s effort from an acute angle finishing in the side netting following good work by Robert Harrington and Liam O’Toole. Moneygall were not without their chances in this period with Jody Troy releasing Eoghan Ryan on the left with ten minutes gone, the ball slipping wide of the mark on this occasion. However, “cometh the hour, cometh the man”, and with time pulling to a close and penalties on the horizon up stepped Mark Hogan who tiptoed around a number of Moneygall players with all the grace and elegance of a performer in Swan Lake before sending an audacious strike to the top corner of the visitors net from all of 35 yards, sending Rearcross players and fans into a state of sheer delirium. Moneygall battled hard for the remaining few minutes but sterling defending from ‘Churchquarter Colossus’ Eamonn Wade and the more experienced ‘Clonteen Casanova’ Diarmuid Sheehy sealed the win for the home side after what was a very attaining affair for all involved.
Rearcross FC: Eamon O’ Toole, Mark Hogan, Eamonn Devitt, Eamonn Wade, Greg Kennedy, Simon Kennedy, Liam O’ Toole, Declan O’ Toole, Tommy Ryan Luke, Derek O’ Toole, Kieran Devitt
Subs: Robert Harrington for Declan O’Toole (59th minute), Matthew Ryan Luke for Tommy Ryan Luke (59th minute), Diarmuid Sheehy for Kieran Devitt (69th minute)
Subs Not Used: Liam Ryan, Darren Quigley
Moneygall 'A': Dwayen Collison, Martin Deane, David Gleeson, Tadgh Kennedy, Billy McCormack, Colm O’Brien, Michael Parlon, Cathal Kennedy, Jody Troy, Brian Delaney, Padraig Greene,
Subs: John Kennedy for Brian Delaney (67th minute), Aidan Ryan for Michael Parlon (73rd minute), Eoghan Ryan for Padraig Greene(78th minute)
Referee: Jim McGrath
Report compiled by Simon Kennedy