Rearcross bow out of FAI Junior Cup

Rearcross welcomed Cockhill Celtic to Rearcross FC Grounds for this last 64 round tie of the FAI Junior Cup. Cockhill Celtic are defending champions so Rearcross would have to be at their very best if they were to cause an upset. Cockhill started the better of the 2 sides and were moving the ball at speed with Rearcross struggling to get near their opponents. Cockhill took the lead after 10 minutes when Rea failed to clear their lines and the ball broke to Jack Mullen inside the box and he finished to the roof of the net giving Cathal Kennedy no chance. This seemed to spur Rea into life as they enjoyed their best period of the first half. Paddy Dawson had a freekick from 25 yards out and his strike just went the wrong side of the post with the keeper at full stretch. The next chance fell to Rea again when Paddy Dawson had another effort from a freekick but this was easily saved by the Cockhill keeper. Rea at this stage were defending well and seemed to be frustrating Cockhill. However with 8 minutes remaining in the 1st half Cockhill effectively killed off the tie with a quickfire double. Lee McLaughlin's picked up the ball on the right-hand side and his mazy run saw him beat a couple of defenders and he played the ball into Stephen Duffy who produced a low finish at the near post. It was 3 nil a couple of minutes later when Garbhan Friel picked the ball up on edge of the area, he spun his marker and his cross found Stephen Duffy whose flicked finish found the corner of the net. With nothing to lose Rearcross management team changed the formation at halftime and went 2 up front with James Deegan partnering Michael O Gorman who had the thankless job of being the lone striker for the 1st half. Rea started the second half brightly and thought they had pulled a goal back when a corner was swung in from the right and deflected towards goal only for the Cockhill keeper to tip it over the crossbar. Paddy Dawson had the next chance when he found himself in on goal but his low strike was well saved. Midway through the half Cockhill made it 4 nil. Corey McBride's free was well blocked by Paddy Deegan but the ball fell to Damien Duffy and his first time strike from outside the box found the corner of the net. Stephen Duffy completed his hat trick soon after when the ball fell to him from a corner and he drilled low to the net. Rea kept battling and created the next chance. Paddy Deegan collected the ball in midfield and drove at the Cockhill defense, he played the ball through to James Deegan who strike crashed back off the crossbar with Cockhill first to react to clear the ball. In the dying moments of the game Cockhill added a 6th when Conor Graham crossed to the back post where Luke Rudden headed back across the keeper for a tidy finish. Credit to Rearcross players on the day who gave everything they had but came up against very strong opposition.
Best of luck to Cockhill Celtic for the remainder of the competition and judging on this performance they will again be in the running to win it. Big thanks to all the supporters who turned out to watch the match and also to Kennedys of Rea for providing food for both teams after the game

Rearcross ‘A’: Cathal Kennedy, Tadhg O’Siochrú, Stephen Rochford, Philip Deegan, Patrick Deegan, Paul Nolan, Patrick Dawson, Conor Nolan, Daragh O’Siochrú, James Deegan, Michael O’Gorman
Subs: Callum Wallace, Brian Nolan, James Rochford, Cillian Kennedy, Kieran Devitt, Robert Harrington, Brian Hammersley

Cockhill Celtic FC: Harry Doherty, Lee McLaughlin, Lee McColgan, Peter Doherty, Odhran O’Brien Daly, Jack Doherty Jack Mullan, James Bradley (Capt), Garbhan Friel, Christy McLaughlin, Stephen Duffy
Subs: Oisin McLaughlin, C Graham, Damian Duffy, Brendan McLauglin, J Bradley, Luke Rudden, Corey McBride

Referee: David Butler
Assistant Referees: Hannah O’Brien, Derek Halpin
Fourth Official: Jim McGrath

Report by Robert Harrington

Paddy Dawson comes close for Rearcross with a free kick effort

Cockhill Celtic keeper Harry Doherty reacts superbly to turn the ball against the crossbar

The crossbar denies James Deegan

Post match interview with Cockhill Celtic's Gavin Cullen

Post match interview with Rearcross FC's Anthony Ryan