Well deserved share of spoils for Rearcross U-13 Girls

Rearcross U13 Girls travelled to Newtown last Saturday for an 11.30AM kick off against Arra Rovers. Rearcross started this game with a very young squad, minus a few of our older girls, but Rearcross settled the fastest and with our back 3 of Lauren Hartnett Aoibheann Devitt, and Ruth Johnson dominating from the back, this was the launch pad for many early attacks. Zofia Kwiecinska and Kate Kennedy both had early efforts before Kate deftly finished to the Arra net following a great run from midfield. Rearcross dominated the first half with several efforts on the Arra Rovers goal but were denied several times by the excellent Arra Rovers keeper, our younger players in particular Ellie O’Gorman, Emma Nolan and Ewa Kwiecinska in goal performed excellently throughout with Chloe Quinlan and Anna Kennedy willing runners all day. Maria Collins battled admirably all through the game and more than held her own in centre midfield against older opponents. Although, Rearcross dominated possession and attacks on goal, Arra pulled a goal back just before halftime to leave it 1 all at the break.
Arra capitalised on this goal in the second half and drove at the Rearcross defence, who in turn defended doggedly and kept the scoreline at 1 all until about 9 minutes to go when Sarah Jane Caplis was eventually beaten by a a close-range finish. Credit to the Rearcross girls who didn’t throw in the towel with Aoibheann Devitt and Lauren Hartnett driving forward with ball from defence, counter attacking several times in a hectic finish. It was from a counter attack on the left flank by Ruth Johnson and Chloe Quinlan which saw the ball quickly put into the Arra Rovers box and with pressure from Kate Kennedy and Zofia Wieciensika, a Arra Rovers player put through their own net for a more than deserved Rearcross equaliser.
Well done to Rearcross on a great battling display where a draw was no more than they deserved with more than half of the squad underage for next season also.

Arra Rovers: K Brett, I Dumitrescu, E Hogan, M Collins, P Fitzgerald, E Creamer, K O’Connor, H McNamara, L Connolly, S O’Halloran, B Hogan, A Coyle, N Clifford

Rearcross U-13 Girls: Ewa Kwiecinska, Lauren Hartnett, Aoibheann Devitt, Ruth Johnson, Ellie O’Gorman, Zofia Kwiecinska, Maria Collins, Chloe Quinlan, Emma Nolan, Kate Kennedy, Anna Kennedy, Sarah Jane Caplis

Referee: Niall Connolly

Report by Myles Devitt