Rearcross 'B' through to Cup semi-final following 5-4 penalty shootout win

Rearcross ‘B’ travelled to Moneygall to take on Moneygall ‘B’ on Sunday afternoon in the quarter final of the Nora Kennedy Cup in what was a repeat of last season’s final. Rea started the stronger of the two sides with some promising passages of play early on. It was just before the half hour mark when Rea broke the deadlock with Gary O’Brien converting from a Donnie O’Brien corner. Rea went and extended their lead only a few minutes later when Max Carroll picked up the ball on the right wing and directed a brilliant cross into the box which Donnie O’Brien got on the end of and slotted home to make it 2-0 to the visitors just before half time.
After a very positive first half performance from Rearcross, the focus was to see the game out in the second half. The game took a turn early on in the half when the home side received 2 red cards while Rea were reduced to 10 men at the same time. Although Rea possessed a numerical advantage, it seemed to have an impact on their momentum as Moneygall started to take control of the game. Darragh Murray pulled one back for the hosts in the 71st minute to spur a new lease of life into the Moneygall team. From here on in Moneygall were going all in to bring the game to extra time and were duly rewarded when Darragh Murray secured his brace late on in the game.
Extra time was a relatively cagey affair with neither side getting any clear-cut chances. Just like last year’s final, this game was also going to have to be decided by penalties where Rearcross would get their revenge as they prevailed as 5-3 winners after banging home five on the trot through Gary Ryan, Gavin Denihan, Max Carroll, Mikey Feehan and Eamonn Devitt, while Brian Hammersley saved the 2nd penalty to hand the initiative to Rea which was taken with aplomb. The Slieve Felim side had stellar performances from Brian Hammersley, Gavin Denihan and Seán Hickey.

Moneygall ‘B’: D. Corbett, J. Coughlan, J. Powell, K. O’Grady, E. Quinlan, A. Devereux, W. Jones (Capt), D. Murray, D. Lee, J. Lee, T. Sheedy.
Subs: D. Quinlan, A. O’Connor, S. Maher, D. Coonan, C. Moloney

Rearcross ‘B’: Brian Hammersley, Gavin Denihan, Gary O’Brien, Eamonn Devitt (Capt), Seán Hickey, Max Carroll, Matty Feehan, Donnacha O’Brien, Tom O’Dwyer, Kieran Devitt, Mikey Feehan.
Subs: Brendan O’Dwyer, Colm Carey, Jayden Healy, Colm Nolan, Gary Ryan, William Horrigan.

Referee: TP Sullivan

Report by Brian Hammersley & Ger Kennedy