Rearcross U-14’s welcomed Cappamore Celtic to Rearcross FC Grounds for this Monday evening encounter with both teams producing a highly competitive affair as the hosts claimed the plaudits on a 6-3 score line, however the Limerick side had two efforts which came off the woodwork in the opening half that might have put a different complexion on the final outcome. The game was played at a lively pace throughout, the first action saw the upright come to the rescue for Rea Boys when the ball ricocheted off the post in the 4th minute. The opener came on ten minutes when Patrick Dawson’s corner kick was met by Oran O’Conner who turned a delightful header to the roof of the net. Ben Coleman was a threat throughout and fired over Cathal Kennedy minutes later. The Cappamore no 10 was in the action again, this time the Rearcross custodian raced off his line to make a brave save. The away side got back level when the ball broke to Michael Gleeson from a corner kick who drove between the posts from inside the six yard box. A looping effort from distance clipped the home side’s crossbar five minutes before the break and then the follow up attack saw Stephen Rochford pace down the right, but the Cappamore keeper read well and came off his line to shut out the danger to leave it all square at the half time whistle. Rearcross restored their advantage four minutes in to the second half when Dylan Ryan’s effort from outside the box went all the way to the net. Cappamore pressed hard for a period as Ben Coleman fired over and then Brian Nolan tracked back to put in a crucial tackle before Cathal Kennedy gathered on the edge of the box. The equalizer came twelve minutes in to the half after Ben Coleman’s shot took a deflection before the ball nestled inside the post. Stephen Rochford was unlucky not to finish from close range as the visiting custodian recovered the situation at the expense of a corner kick. Cathal Kennedy denied Ben Coleman again with another fine save and then Patrick Dawson was unlucky not to open his account with a chance from in front of goal. Oran O’Connor put the Neill Ryan Joinery sponsored outfit back in front with a superb effort from out on the left midway through the half and then Oran O’Connor capped off a fine individual performance with his third of the evening to leave Rearcross with a 4-2 lead. The Limerick County & District League side weren’t finish though as Ben Coleman rammed over and then Liam O’Donnell’s effort from outside the box was barely off the mark, while at the other end Dylan Ryan’s low shot crashed against the butt of the post. The visitors pulled it back to 4-3 with ten minutes to play when Gary Bargary broke on the right and chipped to the net despite the best efforts of the Rearcross keeper. The hosts picked it up again as Dylan Ryan netted his second moments later with a low drive to the far corner, Stephen Rochford clinched the win two minutes from time with a cracking finish from the right wing to leave Rearcross with a scoreboard win of 6-3 but in truth the game was an awful lot closer than the score line suggests. Thanks to Cappamore Celtic for accommodating the Monday night friendly.
 
Rearcross U-14’s: Cathal Kennedy, Eoin Sheldon, Cathal Ryan, Colm Lenihan, Brian Nolan, Dylan Ryan, Paul Nolan, Stephen Rochford, Cillian Kennedy, Patrick Dawson, Oran O’Connor, Sean Malone, Aidan Bryan, Danny Poyzer, Andy Kinane

Cappamore Celtic: Josh O’Connor, Paddy McMahon, Liam O’Donnell, Sean Whelan, Liam Kett, Eoin Smith, PJ Hogan, Michael Gleeson, Ben Coleman, Ciaran Kennedy, Gary Bargary, Tadgh Ryan, Sean Lynch, Stewart Schott

Referee: John Hayes