Rearcross U12's lined out away in Nenagh College to Nenagh Celtic in our first match of the Division 1 league campaign, Nenagh Celtic dominated proceeding from the start with their back three dominating any threat Rearcross could muster. Rearcross defence was under severe pressure but kept Nenagh at bay for the 1st 10 minutes with Eimear Carey, Ailin Rochford & Ellie Kennedy putting in a strong defence performance but with the constant onslaught and the Rearcross midfield not able to get to grips with the Nenagh side eventually something had to give. After the 10 minute mark a long Nenagh kickout wasn't dealt with by the away side allowing the ball to bounce twice before the Nenagh No. 7 ran onto the ball and rifled it to the roof of the Rearcross net. Rearcross were to suffer another set back 2 minutes later when they failed to clear the ball after several attempts before Nenagh struck again to go 2 nil up. Nenagh kept up the onslaught and were unlucky not to score again when the ball broke to the Nenagh No.9 who struck a hard shot to Cathal Malones goal but the Rearcross net minder was brave saving to his left to avert the danger. However Nenagh scored again after 20 minutes whan a mistake in the Rearcross defence presented any easy tap in to the home side. With 2 minutes left to go to half time Nenagh scored again from a poor kickout to leave the score at 4 nil at the break. In the opening 30 minutes Rearcross could not manage to get a shot at the Nenagh goal so overwhelmed were they with the skill and agility of the Nenagh side. Reacross made a few switches at half time by putting Cormac Sheedy in goal, Cathal Dervan up front and Cathal Malone in midfield to see if we could create any chances in the 2nd half. However Nenagh dominated the game again from the start of the 2nd half and 5 minutes in struck a shot from roughly 10 yards out to Cormac Sheedys right of which he saved admirably but the Rearcross defence were too slow to clear their lines and the Nenagh No. 8 tapped in from close range. Rearcross failed to gain any foothold on the game for the next 10 minutes and were unlucky to suffer an own goal at the 15 minute mark. The Nenagh No. 4 dominated proceeding all day with a great display both in the air and on the ground and with the quality of his deliveries into the Rearcross box he was able to peg Rearcross in their own half for most of the encounter. His performance would trouble any U12 side in whatever division. It was at this stage that Nenagh weakened their side by bringing on whatever players they had on the bench. Rearcross came more into the game for the final 15 minutes of the half but still struggled to apply any pressure on the Nenagh goalkeeper. Cathal Dervan made some fine runs into the heart of the Nenagh defence in the second half but was denied on each occasion with the quality of the Nenagh defence to prevent him from getting any shot off at goal. With 5 minutes to go Nenagh put together a string of passes in midfield before breaking on the left wing. A low cross into the Rearcross box and Nenagh scored again from close range to give Cormac Sheedy in goal no chance. The result could have been a lot worse only for some fine saves from Cormac Sheedy in goals in the second half.   

Rearcross U-12's: Cathal Malone, Eimir Carey, Ailin Rochford, Ellie Kennedy, Cathal Dervan, Amber Deegan, Cormac Sheedy, Felim Deegan, Cian McNamara

Referee:John Hayes

Report compiled by Darren Malone