Rearcross 4 -1 Ardcroney 1

"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens" Bo Bennett

Rearcross FC were crowned NT&DL Division 1 League Champions after seeing off the challenge of a youthful Ardcroney in a game played under lights at Rearcross FC Grounds on Friday night last. Rearcross began the game rather tentatively but even so produced three half chances within the first ten minutes - one falling to Robert Harrington, the remainder to Derek O’ Toole – all of which failed to considerably test the Ardcroney custodian. Ardcroney then produced a fine ten minute spell of their own and came close in the 14th minute when Alan Darcy crossed to Aidan Boyle who wasn’t far away with a good effort before Eamonn Devitt, immense as the sea, advanced to head clear under pressure for the boys in green and white two minutes later. Rearcross slowly began dominating proceedings soon after with Diarmuid Sheehy prodding wide with a low drive in the 24th minute before Derek O’ Toole fired across the goal from a tight angle with the Ardcroney keeper getting a touch on the effort. O’ Toole then went some way towards settling the nerves for the home side in the 29th minute when he finished between the posts with a left legged effort following good approach play involving Robert Harrington and Liam O’Toole to open the game’s scoring. Derek almost doubled his tally soon after only for a good save by the Ardcroney keeper Kieran Holland, who then went on to save again from an impressive Liam O’ Toole shot in the 35th minute. Ardcroney applied some pressure after this but just as the game looked like it could turn their way up stepped the insatiable Liam O’ Toole, finding the ball at his feet after good play by Greg Kennedy and Derek O’ Toole, who kept his composure before sending a splendid effort whizzing to the back of the net from just inside the box. Indeed it could have been three nil to the champions elect but for an outstanding one handed save by the Ardcroney keeper, who impressed throughout, from a Derek O’ Toole header following a well delivered cross from Mark Hogan out on the right in the 42nd minute, an event which was succeeded two minutes later by the last action of the half when Ardcroney’s Philip Blackwell fired inches wide from in front of goal. The score at half time, therefore, left the home side two goals to the good. Rearcross sat back on their lead at the beginning of the second half as Ardcroney, involved in a relegation dogfight themselves, battled back valiantly with Jamie Gaynor latching on to a corner kick in the 51st minute with the effort drifting wide. This was followed in the 59th minute by Ardcroney’s Robert Austins firing barely over the bar before the visitors pulled a goal back when Pat McLoughney's cross was inch perfect for Jamie Gaynor to head home at the back post. Rearcross never looked like they were going to fold however and responded well with two good efforts - the first a fierce shot by Derek O’ Toole in the 63rd minute, the second a Simon Kennedy left footed attempted chip – before yet another effort in the 72nd minute coming in the form of Mark Hogan’s low pile driver from outside the box which wasn’t far away. Ardcroney to their credit resisted throwing in the towel with Eamon Wade blocking on the line for the home side in the 77th minute before Jim Caplis made a clean catch. Rearcross came directly up the pitch after this with Greg Kennedy putting Derek O’ Toole through on goal, however the Kieran Holland in the Ardcroney goal made yet another fine save. It was game, set, match and league title a minute later however when club stalwart Matthew Ryan Luke, instrumental both on and off the pitch over the course of the season, got on the end of Derek O’ Toole’s cross to head firmly on target with what was his first touch of the game. Although the attempt did not find the net it did force a good save from the Ardcroney keeper, with the lively Kieran Devitt on hand to turn in the rebound for his 12th of the season. With nine minutes remaining on the clock Rearcross put the icing on the cake when Derek O’ Toole, who put in a man of the match performance throughout, netted his 21st of the season with a fine individual effort after harrying his way through on the byline before finishing with a deft touch. The remainder of the game passed with Rearcross keeping possession, the main highlight being Mark Hogan’s outrageous individual run from the right back position which saw him run all the way up the pitch forcing a good save from the Ardcroney keeper. The full time whistle then blew much to the joy of the sizeable home crowd, leaving Rearcross to celebrate what was only their second ever league win since joining the NT&DL 30 years ago (the previous being the capture of the Third Division by Rearcross ‘B’ in 2004/2005), an achievement which now takes its place alongside the legendary Tipperary Cup win of 2006/2007 in terms of sheer magnitude.

Rearcross FC: Jim Caplis, Mark Hogan, Eamonn Devitt, Eamonn Wade, Greg Kennedy, Simon Kennedy, Diarmuid Sheehy, Liam O’ Toole, Robert Harrington, Derek O’ Toole, Kieran Devitt.
Subs: Tommy Ryan Luke for Robert Harrington (62nd minute) , Matthew Ryan Luke for Simon Kennedy (78th minute), Liam Ryan (R) for Kieran Devitt (86th)
Subs Not Used: James Deegan, Darren Quigley, Eamon O’ Toole, Declan O’ Toole (inj)

Ardcroney: Kieran Holland, Ian McSherry, Niall Cahalan, Paul Farrell, Ollie Sheehan, Kevin Prout, Aidan Boyle, Philip Blackwell, Alan Darcy, Jamie Gaynor, Robert Austin,
Subs: Pat McLoughney for Ollie Sheehan (55th minute), Aidan Boyle for Dan Reddan (75th minute), Llewelyn Mooney for Ian McSherry (85th minute)
Subs Not Used: Francis Kelly, David Slattery

Referee: Jim McGrath

Report compiled by Simon Kennedy