Rearcross U-15’s played out an entertaining friendly against a Newport U-14 selection missing some regulars in a Friendly at a sunny Derryleigh Park on Sunday morning. Rearcross showed strongly in the opening minutes but it was the hosts who took the lead on seven minutes when the referee pointed to the spot following a handball infringement inside the area. Johnny Ryan stepped up to ram the ball to the roof of the net. The away side made a good recovery and came close with efforts from Aidan Bryan and Stephen Rochford. A well struck free kick from Dylan Ryan saw the Newport custodian touch the ball on to the crossbar with a one handed save. It was all square on sixteen minutes when Oran Connors was tripped in the box before Patrick Dawson converted from the spot. Rearcross hit the front fourteen minutes before the break after Stephen Rochford let fly with a cracking effort from outside the box which went all the way to the roof of the net. Newport kept plugging and nearly pegged it back level moments later when Johnny Ryan broke on the right, but Cathal Kennedy read to perfection and advanced to make a great block. The woodwork denied the visitors for a second time when Oran Connors breezed through on the right before drilling the ball against the far upright. It was 3-1 at the half time whistle when Oran Connors crossed from the right flank, Stephen Rochford was well positioned to turn the ball to the net with the deftest of back heels. Newport showed strongly at the start of the second half and nearly narrowed the deficit when a fine cross from Eoin McLoughlin and headed inches over by Diarmuid O’Riordan and then Eoin McLoughlin threatening with a looping effort. Rearcross custodian Cathal Kennedy was in the action again with twenty three minutes to go after making a brilliant one handed save to deny Diarmuid O’Riordan. The Rearcross lead was stretched to 4-1 on the hour mark when a well struck free kick whizzed all the way to the back of the net. Newport netminder Brendan Quinn followed up with a good save moments later before Paul Nolan got on the scoresheet after getting on the end of a corner kick to finish between the posts from close range. Aidan Bryan wrapped it up for Rearcross eight minutes from time after booting home from in front of goal to seal the win.

Newport AFC: Brendan Quinn, Stephen Coffey, Stephen Ryan, Darren Coffey, Daniel Egan, Eoin McLoughlin, Nathan O’Donoghue, Calum Grant, Johnny Ryan, Cillian O’Sullivan, Diarmuid O’Riordan, Lewis Maksoud, Ben O’Sullivan, Oisin Kennedy

Rearcross U-15’s: Cathal Kennedy, Danny Poyzer, Cillian Kennedy, Paul Nolan, Eoin Sheldon, Stephen Rochford, Dylan Ryan, Brian Nolan, Oran Connors, Colm Lenihan, Sean Malone, Cathal Ryan, Aidan Bryan, Patrick Dawson,

Referee: John Hayes