Narrow 2-1 win for Rearcross U-15 Boys in Birdhill

Rearcross U-15 Boys travelled to Birdhill on Saturday morning for this derby league fixture against Birdhill FC. It was Rearcross who started the brightest and nearly scored with a move that saw Jonathan Dawson and Patrick Carr link up for the latter to play in Micheál Collins whose left footed effort was saved by Glenn Sexton in the Birdhill goals. Good pressure by Cathal Hickey and Micheál Collins forced Birdhill to lose possession and Jonathan Dawson tried his luck with a long-range shot which was just wide. The Rea boys were unlucky when another effort by Jonathan Dawson after being put through by Conor McInerney flashed across the Birdhill goalmouth. Rearcross took the lead when a Jonathan Dawson free kick from out on the right-hand side was kept in play by Cathal Hickey who played the ball to Stephen Ryan who skipped past two defenders before blasting to the net. Rea kept the pressure on as Jonathan Dawson saw another effort saved by Glenn Sexton after good football by Cathal Hickey and Micheál Collins on the right flank. Micheál Collins was in the action again minutes later with a well struck effort from the edge of the box which flew inches over the bar. The Slieve Felim side increased their advantage after Jonathan Dawson soloed past three defenders before unleashing a strike to beat the Birdhill keeper. The hosts pulled a goal back before half time when Marcos Redolat Latorre rose highest to head home from a corner kick to leave it 2-1 at the break.
It was end to end in the second half and Birdhill were unlucky not to equalize early on when Lucas Redolat Latorre’s shot finished in the side netting. Rearcross custodian Darragh Reynolds then made a brilliant save to deny Fionn Poole. A great move by Rearcross started by Liam O'Dwyer who won the ball in midfield before passing out to Patrick Carr who laid off a defence splitting pass, which set Jonathan Dawson away and who was luckless to see his effort go wide and then moments later Jonathan Dawson came close again. Darragh Reynolds stepped up to the mark again with another fine save to deny Lucas Redolat Latorre and then a long-range effort by Marcos Redolat Latorre was dealt with by Darragh Reynolds. The woodwork denied Rearcross when Patrick Carr was very unlucky to see his effort hit the bottom of the post and go wide after being put through by Cathal Hickey. Birdhill threw everything at the Rearcross rearguard for the remaining minutes but were denied again and again by James Costello and co. in what was a stalwart defensive display to leave Rearcross winners by the narrowest of margins.

Birdhill FC: G Sexton, M Redolat Latorre, J Caplis, C Kavanagh, F Croffey, B Creagh, F Poole, L Redolat Latorre, C Flynn, A Clohessy, G Galvin
Subs: G McKeogh, J Coffey, E O’Donnell, P Murnane, J Gissane

Rearcross U15 Boys: Darragh Reynolds, Conor McInerney, Matthew Ryan, Stephen Ryan, James Costello, Jack Hickey, Micheál Collins, Patrick Carr, Cathal Hickey, Jonathan Dawson, Liam O'Dwyer
Subs: Andrew Hanly

Referee: Rory Kennedy

Report by Shane Reynolds