Rearcross U-16 Boys draw 2-2 with League leaders

Rearcross U-16 Boys welcomed league leaders Arra Rovers to Rearcross on Friday evening for this floodlit league encounter and played out a 2-2 draw. Rearcross had the first effort on goals when a Liam Ryan effort was just wide after being put through by Sam Hackett. The Portroe side were also having their moments as Darragh Reynolds pulled off a brilliant save to deny Arra’s Jamie Dorris. The hosts came close when Jack Nolan saw a strike on goal saved by Iarlaith Conroy in the Arra goals. The visiting side took the lead from a corner kick when an unmarked Jamie Doris headed to the net from close range. The Rearcross response was rapid with a goal from Jack Nolan after being put through by Oisin Reynolds. The Slieve Felim team upped the ante with efforts from Jack Nolan, Liam Ryan and Sam Hackett keeping the Arra goalie busy with some fine goalkeeping. Jonathan Dawson was luckless after going one on one with the Arra keeper only for Jamie Seymour to make a crucial block to deny the Rea striker. The league leaders then took the lead against the run of play after Jamie Dorris was given too much time and space to leave Arra 2-1 ahead at the half time whistle.
A well contested affair from start to finish saw Jack Nolan’s dangerous cross early in the second half, cleared by the Arra defence when the ball could easily have gone into their own net. Rearcross shot-stopper Darragh Reynolds made a brilliant save to deny Oileog O'Driscoll. The Rea boys started to dominate play with Colm Hickey really pushing Rearcross on in midfield and then the equalizer came courtesy of a brilliantly taken free kick by Jack Nolan from the edge of the penalty box. Rearcross pushed hard for a winner and were unlucky when a move started by Oisin Reynolds saw the ball played to Conor Nolan who played a one-two with Jonathan Dawson, but Iarlaith Conroy in the Arra goals came to the rescue after saving from Jack Nolan. The Arra Rovers keeper proved his worth on the evening with another save from Jack Nolan and then dealt with a long-range effort from Jonathan Dawson. Rearcross thought they had finally taken the lead when a powerful Jack Nolan effort hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced downwards, however claims for the goal went unheard to leave it all square at the full-time whistle.

Rearcross U-16 Boys Panel: Darragh Reynolds, Colm O'Meara, Oisin Reynolds, Paraic Carr, James Costello, Colm Hickey, Liam Brett, Sam Hackett, Jack Nolan, Jonathan Dawson, Liam Ryan, Conor Nolan, Stephen Ryan, Jack Hickey

Arra Rovers Panel: I Conroy, T Duffy, C Cairns, J Seymour, O Ryan, A O’Callaghan, O Hogan, R Seymour, O O’Driscoll, P Hunt, J Dorris K Laskovs

Referee: David Kyle

Report by Shane Reynolds