Share of spoils in pre-season friendly for Rearcross 'B'

Rearcross ‘B’ kicked off their new season with a well contested friendly against Birdhill on Monday evening in Rearcross with Colm Carey making his managerial debut before the game finished on 3-3 scoreline. The game started off slightly shaky for the Rearcross team with lots of the players never having played with each-other before and their first time playing a full ninety minutes since last season, Birdhill put on the pressure with a few near misses past the posts of Eamonn Devitt. About ten minutes before half time Seanie Quinlan ran onto a ball played up the line, playing it back to Gary Ryan at the left side of Birdhill’s box who placed a tidy cross onto the foot of Aidan Bryan at the back post who tapped it in to put Rearcross ahead about ten minutes before halftime. Not forty seconds later a ball was played to the right side of the Rearcross box, Ryan Shinnors attempted to cross the ball into the box but was blocked by Felim Deegan’s arm inside the box and the referee awarded a penalty which Paddy Kelly put past Eamonn Devitt right before halftime.
After half time there was a much different team on the pitch for Rae with Dylan Hyde coming off for Jack Nolan in the first half, Gary Ryan, Colm Nolan and Eoin Kavanagh coming off for Rob Harrington, Matt Feehan and Ryan Amadeo respectively. Another change that occurred after halftime was one more Birdhill goal, a corner to the back post headed in by Shane Geraghty. About twenty minutes into the second half more subs were brought on for Rae, Aaron Quinlan came on for Billy John Caplis at right back, Paddy Ryan for Seanie Quinlan on the left side of midfield, Willie Horrigan came on for Aidan Bryan and Colm Carey brought himself on for Gary o Brien in midfield. Soon after being brought on Paddy Ryan made his impact, starting with the ball before the halfway line and beating two or three defenders on his way he lobbed the keeper from just outside the box to put Rearcross even at 2-2. About twenty minutes before the final whistle Andy Lynch scored for Birdhill after a slight scramble at the goalmouth by his cohorts, making it 3-2 to Birdhill. Not long after, a free was given for Rearcross just inside the centre circle, slightly to the right of the centre, Paddy Ryan stepped up to take it. After a high, looping ball to the back post Willie Horrigan got a touch on the ball, deflecting it into the back post, making it 3-3 with about fifteen minutes to go, the rest of the match was pretty even with both Birdhill and Rearcross both getting a chance or two on goal, the game finished up 3-3. Best of luck to Colm Carey and his charges in the season ahead.

Rearcross ‘B’: Eamonn Devitt, Billy John Caplis, Adam Hurley, Eoin Kavanagh, Felim Deegan, Gary O Brien(Capt), Colm Nolan, Gary Ryan, Dylan Hyde, Seanie Quinlan, Aidan Bryan
Subs: Ryan Amadeo, Robert Harrington, Matthew Feehan, Jack Nolan, Paddy Ryan, William Horrigan, Aaron Quinlan, Colm Carey

Birdhill FC: Daire Nolan, Thomas Floyd, Matthijs O’Flaherty (Capt), Kevin Mulcahy, Caleb Byrne, Colm O’Malley, Paddy Kelly, Shane Geraghty, Ryan Shinners, Conor Hickey, Andy Lynch
Sub Stephen Kelly

Referee: Colin O’Gorman