Rearcross U-16's were away to Nenagh Celtic last Saturday in the League. This was a very tight match where the home side would win out on a one goal margin. Despite Nenagh starting with nine men, the home side dominated most of the early possession. Nenagh were testing the Rearcross defence and only for Rearcross goalkeeper Brendan Shanahan they would have had an early lead. However it was the home side that took the lead and on on the 16th minute they scored with a fine effort just inside the box. Rearcross dug deep and in the 24th minute Tommy Kennedy scored with a fine effort which he put in the bottom corner from twenty five yards. For the remainder of the half both sides has chances to take the lead, however the score was level at half time. Nenagh started with the 11 after the break and took the lead shortly after, where the Rearcross defence was caught napping which allowed the home side to do so. Nenagh had most of the possession and only for some good defending by Sean Hickey and James Deegan Nenagh would have been further ahead. Rearcross started using more of the ball and finding their men and were rewarded when Tommy Kennedy found the net again. Rearcross started to get the better of the home side and winning the ball around midfield. In the 60th minute Rearcross took the lead where Tommy Kennedy chipped the keeper from 35 yards which has to be considered one of the of goals of the season. However after gaining the lead, Rearcross sat back and it was the home side who equalised with a good one-two movement which pulled the defence apart. With 15 minutes left there was still a lot of action left in this game. Rearcross again took the lead after the keeper was out of position and allowed James Deegan to take full advantage. With just seven minutes left it looked like the visiting team would get all 3 points but was not to be as a Nenagh player collected the ball inside his own half and went on a fine solo run which was crossed and the oncoming substitute finished. With just a minute remaining Nenagh got a controversial penalty which was scored leaving it a bad loss for Rearcross. There was a man of the match performance by Tommy Kennedy and fine performaces by Sean Hickey, James Deegan and Brendan Shanahan.

 

Rearcross Panel: Brendan Shanahan, Kieran Quigley, Sean Hickey, Michael Ryan, James Deegan, Shane Power, Tommy Kennedy, Shane Fahey, Dave Carroll, William Mackey, Danny Fabianski